My Journey with NASCAR Legend Buddy Baker
- Brian Cleary
- Dec 23, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
As a kid growing up in Daytona Beach, Florida in the 1960s, I was lucky enough to pick up a camera and create a career photographing race cars. This journey led me to photograph many drivers who were once my childhood heroes. One such driver was Buddy Baker, a legend in the world of NASCAR.
The Early Days of My Photography Career
I started working in the NASCAR series in the early 1980s. By then, Buddy was past his prime, and I never got to photograph him in victory lane. Still, I enjoyed documenting him at the racetrack. His sheer physical size commanded attention. Yet, there was an air of gentleness and kindness about him. He had a quiet professionalism and a genuine interest in what was happening around him.
A Memorable Dinner with NASCAR Legends
My Buddy Baker story has its roots in a promotion by a local radio station leading up to the 1969 Daytona 500. It’s a true story, and I still have an old reel-to-reel tape of me being interviewed on the radio as an 11-year-old race fan.
The story began when one of my older sisters, Kathy, won a contest staged by a Daytona Beach radio station. The winners could choose their favorite NASCAR driver to have dinner with at the King's Cellar, a popular Daytona restaurant at the time. There were five winners, and they would dine in a group with their chosen drivers.
One of the contest winners couldn’t make it, and my sister asked if I could replace them. Strings were pulled, and in a simpler time, I became the sixth guest at the dinner. The drivers included Richard Petty, Chargin' Charlie Glotzbach (who I chose), Lee Roy Yarbrough, Cale Yarborough, and of course, Buddy Baker.
The dinner was fantastic. All the drivers and NASCAR VIPs were incredible. I was somewhat of a novelty, being so young, and I was chosen to be interviewed live on the radio. I even received a handwritten "good-for-any-race" pass to the press box at Ontario Motor Speedway from the track's president. I never used it, but I still have it.
A Special Moment at the Firecracker 400
My Buddy Baker story took place a few months later when the NASCAR tour returned to Daytona for that summer's Firecracker 400.
In those days, there was a little parade through downtown Daytona in July leading up to the race. A local car dealer provided convertibles for some of the top drivers to drive in the parade. I was there, standing roadside with my mom and dad, waving as the drivers rode past.
When Buddy Baker approached our vantage point, he looked over, saw me, and stopped his car. He waved me out to the middle of the road. He had recognized me from the February dinner and wanted to say "Hi" and shake my hand.
This moment cemented my NASCAR fandom and made me a lifelong Buddy Baker fan. Years later, every time I saw him at the track (by this time, of course, he had no idea who I was) or pressed the shutter button to capture his image, my mind flashed back to those moments in Daytona in 1969.
The Legacy of Buddy Baker
Buddy Baker's legacy lives on in the hearts of many fans. His impact on NASCAR is undeniable. He was not just a driver; he was a symbol of the sport's spirit. His kindness and professionalism made him a beloved figure among fans and fellow drivers alike.
I often think back to that dinner and the moments that followed. It reminds me of the power of sports to connect people. It’s not just about the races; it’s about the stories, the friendships, and the memories we create along the way.
Photo Stories at BCPIX.com
Original photography and firsthand visual history by Brian Cleary.
All images © Brian Cleary. Editorial licensing available.
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