The Crazy Stories of Buddy Baker

January 25, 2025

^{Jan 25, 2025 | Edition #128}

👋 Dear Motorheads,

Is it just us, or does the name 'Buddy Baker' bring a smile to your face too? We ask because it happens to be the Legend's birthday today. And we can't help but feel a little wistful that he's not here to celebrate with us.

The stories from his career are just incredible! And in case you haven't heard them, you're in for a treat! Because on this special day, we've curated the best ones just for you.

So even though the first story might seem a bit longer today, the Lucky Dog promises you it's gonna be worth your while!

🗝️ From the Vault

Remembering the ‘Gentle Giant’ of NASCAR

You already know who we are talking about. It is Buddy Baker, the gentle giant who stood at an astonishing 6'5" or 6'6" (we're still not sure, but we're pretty sure he had to duck to avoid hitting his head on most doorways). Today, we're celebrating what would've been his 84th birthday, and to do so, we’re fixing to share some of his wildest, most side-splitting stories with you all!

Starting off with our favorite… Buddy, his friend Tiny Lund, and NASCAR Hall of Fame writer Tom Higgins, once crammed onto a tiny fishing boat on Santee Cooper Lake in South Carolina. It was hotter than a June day in the Deep South, and Tiny was going on and on about the alligator attacks in that area.

Despite all that, Buddy, being the free spirit that he was, decided to take a dip in the lake to cool off. And that’s where things got interesting.

As he was wading into the water, he didn’t notice Tiny sneaking off the other side of the boat. And then, just as the water was reaching Buddy's broad shoulders, he felt something clamping down hard on his…ahem…manhood.

As expected, Buddy let out a blood-curdling scream, thrashed around wildly, and scrambled to get back into the boat. In all fairness, he was convinced an alligator's got him in its jaws! But here's the thing: once he was safely back in the boat, he heard Tiny's laughter echoing across the lake, as he had been playing a prank on Buddy the whole time!

This, however, wasn’t the only time Buddy was a victim of Lund’s crazy antics.

This one time, Buddy and Tiny were attending a pre-race party. But Tiny, being the sneaky fella he was, slipped away early without Buddy noticing. Fast-forward to later that evening, Buddy strolled back to his hotel room, tuckered out. Not even bothering to turn on the lights, he just stripped down to his birthday suit and jumped into bed.

But just as he was drifting off to sleep, he heard a strange growl. Thinking it was his imagination, he tried to ignore it. But then he heard it again. This time, he was curious. So he flipped on the lamp and came face-to-face with a live cheetah!

Now, we reckon most folks would've just frozen in terror, but not Buddy Baker. Oh no, he decided to make a break for it, becoming the fastest naked man to ever run down a hotel hallway.

He screamed like a madman, thinking a cheetah’s hot on his heels. But fortunately, the cheetah ran in the opposite direction.

Making the situation worse, Buddy even ran into Tiny, who thought Buddy was after him for pulling off the prank. So, Tiny took off like a scalded dog, and Buddy thought he was also running away from the cheetah, so he ran even faster.

Finally, though, Buddy realized there was no cheetah after him. He then high-tailed it back to his hotel room, only to find the door was locked, and the cheetah had pulled a Houdini. So, what did he decide to do? He grabbed a nearby wastepaper basket, busted out the bottom, and wore it down to the front desk to get a key. You can only imagine the series of emotions the receptionist would have gone through at that point.

Now, the Lucky Dog’s not sure how Buddy got even with Tiny for pulling off that prank, but we’re glad that he still lives among us with his absurd stories.

Watch This: The Time Buddy Baker Fell Out of a Moving Ambulance and Got Almost Run Over by Other Race Cars

🗣️ Talk of the Town

Red Bull Is Back in NASCAR!

We've got some exciting news to share, and it's just the shot in the arm that NASCAR needs. With big-name sponsors like FedEx and Hooters leaving the sport, there’s been a bit of a dark cloud hanging over the track. But fear not, folks, as Red Bull is coming to the rescue!

Now, you might be wondering who's the lucky driver getting to rep the iconic Red Bull colors. Look no further than Shane van Gisbergen, the Aussie sensation who's been tearing it up on the track. The guy's got skills for days, with 3 championships, 78 wins, and 47 poles under his belt in the Australian Supercars series. And let's not forget, he's been part of the Red Bull family for nine years, so you know they're invested.

So, what's the plan? Well, SVG is fixing to make his Cup Season debut, and Red Bull's got five races lined up for him. Now, that might not seem like a whole lot, but trust us, it's a start. And when you see that #88 car decked out in Red Bull's signature colors, you'll be hooked. Check it out here!

But, there's more! Red Bull is also sponsoring a sixth race for Connor Zilisch's debut with them at COTA. This kid's talented, to say the least, and we wouldn't be surprised if he pulls off a win on his debut as SVG did. That'd be a real game-changer for Red Bull, who may just decide to expand their NASCAR commitments.

Now, we know what you're thinking: Red Bull's been here before, and it didn't exactly end well. They were here from 2007 to 2011, but it was a bit of a disaster (with only two wins in 324 starts). Yeah, that's a tough pill to swallow. But we've got a feeling that this time around, they're in it for the long haul. They've learned from their mistakes, and they're coming back with a vengeance. Or, at the very least, with a solid game plan.

🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll 🏁

How Do You Feel About F1 Champions – Red Bull Entering NASCAR?

🗞️ NASCAR Shorts!

Toni Breidinger Sets the Media Day on Fire

Meet Toni Breidinger, the newest NASCAR driver who's already making headlines. If you've caught her ARCA runs, you know she's got the skills to make some serious noise on the track. But right now, what's really got everyone talking is her recent Truck Series photoshoot. Let's just say she lit up an otherwise dull media day! Check out the photoshoot here.

But Toni's not new to breaking the internet with her photoshoots. Just a few weeks ago, she featured in a swimsuit shoot for Sports Illustrated, leaving fans speechless. Here are the snaps that had everyone buzzing!

📈 Trending News

NASCAR’s Releasing Two New Documentaries

We’re more excited for “The Clash” this year than ever before. A Cup Series race at the Madhouse. It just doesn’t get better than this. And NASCAR is doing everything possible to make it a grand comeback!

So, the first documentary is about Bowman Gray Stadium. Not much is known yet. But what we gathered from the NASCAR synopsis is… it's about the history of BGS, preparations for ‘The Clash’, and more. In short, the documentary is the answer to the question: ‘Why it’s called the Madhouse?’ If you want to know the answer now, that is something we covered very recently.

Since NASCAR and Fox want everyone glued to the screens when the race green flags, the release date is set for the 27th Jan (followed by the race on 3rd Feb). The kind of emotion the trailer has evoked, the film might do justice to it. You can watch the trailer here.

NASCAR claims to have interviewed many veterans for this, hopefully telling untold stories about the BGS. But the one we are most interested in hearing from is Leonard Wood, the man behind the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team.

After the clash, there is another documentary coming out. It’s called “So Damn Close: Atlanta ’24.” If the name confuses you, here’s a refresher: It was the 2024 Ambetter Health 400. As Ryan Blaney was leading the final lap, he found himself in a 3-wide finish with Kyle Busch and Daniel Suarez.

You know who won! It was a movie in itself. While we don't yet have the trailer for this one, here’s the clip of that epic moment.

Coming out on Feb 13th, this one’s also got interviews, from all three drivers revisiting the moment, plus some untold stories from that day. So, mark your calendars!

🔮 Lucky Dog’s Perspective

Start of Another Great NASCAR Tale?

Justin Haley's on the cusp of greatness, and the Lucky Dog’s calling it. This guy's got the talent, but he's never had the right opportunity... until now.

Let's take a look at his resume: ARCA Menards East champion, top-three finishes in both Truck and Xfinity Series, and a Cup win at Daytona in 2019. Not too shabby, right?

But here's the thing: his first Cup season was with Spire, a young team that wasn't exactly the best fit for a young driver. Then he moved to Kaulig, which was a step up, but still not the top-tier team he deserved. Last season, he ran with Rick Ware Racing... and, well, let's just say it wasn't exactly a dream come true.

Fast-forward to 2025, and Haley's back with Spire, but this time, things are different.

They've made some major changes, and the biggest game-changer is having Rodney Childers as his crew chief. Childers is like a Midas – whatever he touches turns to gold. Just ask Kevin Harvick, who won a championship with him, or David Reutimann, who went from struggling to winning a crown jewel with Childers' guidance.

Even Childers thinks Haley's never had the right opportunity, and that includes something as simple as being fitted into a car the right way. But now, with his expertise, Haley's got a real shot at greatness. As Childers put it, Haley's gonna have a "holy crap" moment when he feels the comfort he's never had before. We're betting on Haley to make some serious noise this season. Playoffs, anyone?

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