Jeff Burton honors Cale Yarborough: ‘Everything I wanted to be as a driver’

“Thank you Cale Yarborough for everything you did for NASCAR,” Burton wrote on X. “He was one of the greatest, and my favorite driver growing up… Everything I wanted to be as a driver. He could win at any track, and was as tough as the come. Rest in Peace.”

In a career spanning over three decades, Yarborough raced his way to victory lane 83 times in the Cup Series, tied for sixth all-time with Jimmie Johnson. He won three consecutive Cup Series championships from 1976-78, the first driver to accomplish the feat. Only Johnson has since done it, winning five in a row from 2006-10. Yarborough notched four Daytona 500 wins (1968, 1977, 1983, 1984). Only Richard Petty (seven) has claimed more victories in the “Great American Race.”

Yarborough will forever be remembered for his last-lap duel with Donnie Allison in the 1979 Daytona 500. The two frontrunners went side-by-side down the backstretch before crashing together, paving the way for Richard Petty to steal the win. Yarborough fought both Donnie and brother Bobby Allison in the infield as officials attempted to intervene. The race was the first NASCAR event to feature live flag-to-flag coverage on TV.

NASCAR exec speaks on death of Cale Yarborough

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France issued a statement to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports on the passing of Yarborough.

“Cale Yarborough was one of the toughest competitors NASCAR has ever seen,” France said. “His combination of talent, grit and determination separated Cale from his peers. Both on the track and in the record book. He was respected and admired by competitors and fans alike and was as comfortable behind the wheel of a tractor as he was behind the wheel of a stock car. On behalf of the France family and NASCAR, I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Cale Yarborough.”