FLORENCE, S.C. – The Pee Dee area and the broader auto racing world began 2024 with a profound sense of loss as the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve. The Florence region, particularly Timmonsville, mourns the passing of one of its cherished figures, while NASCAR bids farewell to a true legend.
Cale Yarborough, a respected NASCAR Hall of Famer and the first driver to secure three consecutive championships (1976-78), passed away at the age of 84.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012, Yarborough amassed an impressive 83 Cup race wins over his distinguished career, ranking him tied for sixth on the all-time list with the legendary seven-time Cup champion, Jimmie Johnson.
Among his numerous accomplishments, Yarborough triumphed in the Southern 500 five times (1968, ’73, ’74, ’78, ’82), celebrating his first victory at Darlington Raceway in 1968, a win he considered the pinnacle of his career. “You know, I was born and raised around here, and when I won the 1968 Southern 500, that was the best thing that ever happened to me in my whole career,” Yarborough recalled. “That was my first Southern 500 win, and it was the last race on the original Darlington racetrack.”
The community continues to navigate through various events, including the closure of a local business, a holiday basketball classic, and numerous sports achievements across the Pee Dee region.
Yarborough’s impact extended far beyond South Carolina, with four Daytona 500 victories (1968, ’77, ’83, ’84). During his championship streak, he dominated the competition, securing 28 wins over three seasons: nine in 1976, nine in ’77, and ten in 1978. Richard Petty was his nearest competitor, trailing by 195 points in ’76, while Yarborough had a commanding 474-point lead over Bobby Allison in ’78.
Despite achieving a career-high ten wins in 1974, Yarborough fell short of the championship by nearly 600 points. His last Cup race win came in 1985 at the Miller High Life 500 in Charlotte, with his final race taking place in 1988 at Atlanta.
“Cale Yarborough was one of the toughest competitors NASCAR has ever seen,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France, reflecting on his passing. “His unique blend of talent, grit, and unwavering determination set him apart from his rivals, both on the racetrack and in the record books. He earned the respect and admiration of fans and fellow competitors, being just as at home behind the wheel of a tractor as he was in a stock car.”
Yarborough played a significant role in the rise of NASCAR’s popularity in 1979, particularly due to his dramatic post-race confrontation with Bobby and Donnie Allison after the Daytona 500. This historic race was the first to be broadcast in full by CBS, marking a turning point in sports television.
The race was later recognized in an Associated Press survey as the most unforgettable NASCAR event in the circuit’s 75-year history, showcasing the legendary rivalry between Yarborough and the Allison brothers, who eventually became friends.
The racing community has expressed deep sorrow at his passing. Donnie Allison shared his condolences on Facebook, saying, “So sorry to hear about the passing of Cale. I’m happy to say I visited him last year and spoke with him a few times. A fierce competitor, he will be missed by the racing community. Condolences to his family. R.I.P. Cale.”
Yarborough’s legacy was honored as one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers in 1998, and he was named among the top 75 in May during NASCAR’s throwback weekend at Darlington. Throughout his career, he earned the title of National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year three times and was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame in 1994, as well as the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978.
Former Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp reflected on Yarborough’s impact, saying, “Cale Yarborough was as tough as they get. His hard-charging, fearless driving style put him in a class of his own. (Darlington Raceway) lifts his family and friends up in prayer. Rest easy Cale. We will miss you dearly.”
