2023 ended on a sad note for NASCAR. Cale Yarborough’s tragic demise at the age of 84 sent ripples of sadness through the community. He was a winner in the truest sense; his die-hard racing style made him an instant fan favorite. Following his death, drivers, and fans paid their respects to the former champion, reminiscing about one of the finest in American motorsports.

While his on-track exploits are as famous as they get, his off-track experiences are a lesser-seen side of him. In an upload on NASCAR’s official YouTube channel, the video takes us through Cale Yarborough’s life away from racing in the 1970s, his rise to fame, and the sturdy mentality that made him a feared driver on the race track.

A peek into Cale Yarborough’s off-track life in the 1970s

The video begins with Cale Yarborough driving by the countryside in his hometown of Timmonsville. The local people were proud of how well he represented them nationally, earning him the moniker ‘The Pride of Timmonsville.’ As the video progressed, in one of the instances, the narrator stated a phrase that underlined Yarborough’s mentality. “The year he said he wanted to win the Grand National Championship, he did,“ narrated the voice.

Away from the high-speed cars and the bustle of race tracks, Cale Yarborough had tried his hand at the welfare of society. He even ran for a position on the County Council once, and as he did on the race track, he won.

A fan favorite and a hero for the locals, Yarborough claimed, “When I decided to run for county council, these people took me seriously, and when they went to the polls, they proved it.”

Cale Yarborough had also been a nuisance for NASCAR. Having participated in the Grand National Championship before turning the allowed age of 21, he was reprimanded three times during the race. However, on his fourth attempt, he crashed. For context, Yarborough made his Grand National debut at 17 in Darlington.

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Alongside the legendary crew chief, Junior Johnson, a young lad bursting with energy had arrived on the scene. But little did Johnson know that the youngster would be one of the best drivers the sport has ever seen. As the video moves ahead, Johnson can be seen commending Cale Yarborough’s mentality, which resonated with his.

The 3-time Cup champ hated losing more than anything

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You might have heard that failures often shape a man for his success. While many great personalities have shown this trait, no one was named Cale Yarborough. He simply despised the idea of a P2 finish in a race.

On that note, he said, “I have never in my life gone into a race thinking that I was going to finish second,” claimed Cale Yarborough. “I’m just not satisified with anything but first. I’m a poor loser. I don’t like to lose, and I don’t intend to lose any more than I can. I love competition. I think the name of the game is racing instead of riding.”

Cale Yarborough is often considered one of the cornerstones that laid the foundation for modern NASCAR racing. At the 1979 Daytona 500, a livid Yarborough locked horns with 2024 Hall of Fame inductee Donnie Allison after a last-lap crash that ruined each other’s races. The two visibly furious drivers didn’t give a second thought and instantly threw fists at each other.

To Cale Yarborough, a fan’s investment in the race also meant a driver’s utmost commitment. “I think that the people in the grandstands pay to see a man run hard all day,” said the 1977-78 champion. “This is the way that I started racing. It’s the way I like to race. Sometimes, it’s probably cost me a race or two along the line, but I think the fans will be able to say that he gave us our money’s worth, and that’s what I’m after.”

To his crew chief, Junior Johnson, the resonance in their mindsets was necessary for the duo to win. Transitioning into the voice behind the team radio role didn’t take away Johnson’s hunger for the win either. “When they drop the green flag, I got a job to do,” stated Johnson. “I felt the same way when I was a driver. My job then was to beat everybody else. My job now is to still beat everybody else. I try to figure out if Cale’s got problems and, what happened when I had problems as a driver, and what’s the best thing for him to do under the circumstances.”

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Junior Johnson further highlighted their relationship by saying, “Cale basically is our type of driver.” Looking at the aggression, the passion, and the journey to fame, it wouldn’t make sense to say Cale Yarborough was lucky. Maybe he was fortunate to have Junior Johnson by his side, but ultimately, his immense talent behind the steering wheel bonded them.