Cale Yarborough

American NASCAR driver who won three consecutive Cup Series championships (1976-1978) and became one of stock car racing's greatest champions.

William Caleb Yarborough was born on 27 March 1939, and developed into one of the most dominant NASCAR drivers of the 1970s and 1980s, competing across a 31-year Cup Series career that included 560 race starts. Yarborough became the first driver in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships, claiming the title in 1976, 1977, and 1978, a feat that established him among the sport's greatest competitors of his era. He was named National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year three times, in 1977, 1978, and 1979, and American Driver of the Year in 1977. Yarborough also competed in IndyCar events during his career, and was such a prominent figure in American motorsport that a special edition of the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II was named in his honour. Yarborough was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1993, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1994, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012, and was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998 and 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. He died on 31 December 2023, at age 84.

Aggressive, fearless driver known for close racing and fierce competitiveness

One of NASCAR's greatest drivers, helped establish the modern era of stock car racing

• NASCAR Cup Series Champion 1976
• NASCAR Cup Series Champion 1977
• NASCAR Cup Series Champion 1978
• Daytona 500 Winner 1968
• Daytona 500 Winner 1977
• Daytona 500 Winner 1983
• Daytona 500 Winner 1984
• Southern 500 Winner 1968
• Southern 500 Winner 1969
• Southern 500 Winner 1972
• Southern 500 Winner 1974
• Southern 500 Winner 1978
• NASCAR Winston Cup Series Most Popular Driver Award 1977
• NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee 2012
• International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee 1994