LeeRoy Yarbrough

With a total of 17 wins in 198 races, 65 top five finishes, 10 poles and 92 top ten finishes, in his racing career from 1960-1972, LeeRoy Yarbrough began racing at an early age. He put together his first car, a 1934 Ford coupe at the age of 12, and started dirt track racing at the age of 19.

LeeRoy started his NASCAR racing career in the Sportsman division, and clinched 11 wins in it. He soon graduated to the Modified division and in three years had 83 features wins under his belt.

His NASCAR debut was at the Grand National season in 1964, and he competed in nearly 14 races in his first season itself. LeeRoy Yarbrough was often confused with the other Yarborough, Cale, and it only grew worse when they both competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, in 1968, with eight victories among them, two by LeeRoy and six wins by Cale.
1969 was LeeRoy's most successful season, where he won seven races and earned $193,211 and also clinched 21 top-10 finishes. After wins at the Coca-Cola 600, Daytona 500 and the Southern 500, LeeRoy would have certainly won the Winston Million program, had it been in place then.

LeeRoy Yarbrough died after a long illness in December, in 1984. In the year 1990, he was honored with an induction into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame at Darlington Raceway.