Buddy Baker Diagnosed With Lung Cancer
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| Buddy Baker |
The Petty Family is saddened to hear of the recent health news of Buddy Baker. Baker raced for Petty Enterprises in 1971 and 1972, winning one race each season. "Buddy has been a part of the NASCAR family for a long, long time, and he's also a part of our family. He raced with us, shared his stories with us and became our friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Buddy and his family at this time."
07/08/15 74-year old Buddy Baker, a retired NASCAR competitor and co-host of SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, announced Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Baker said that doctors found a "huge tumor" in his lung that is cancerous and inoperable. As a result of his diagnosis, Baker is stepping down from his role as co-host of SiriusXM NASCAR Radio effective immediately.
“There comes a time when you talk to the doctor and say what are my chances and there’s a dead silence," Baker said Tuesday night during The Late Shift on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “I went how long. ‘Well, we don’t own the hotel, we don’t know when we check out. It’s something that we cannot fix.’ "
Baker won 19 races during his lengthy NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career, which started in 1959. He made a total of 700 career Sprint Cup Series starts, with his biggest victory coming in the 1980 Daytona 500 at Daytona Int’l Speedway while driving for Harry Rainer.
He also became the first driver to exceed 200 mph on a closed course when he did it in 1970 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.