Oh, sure...he was a great racer in his day, but as I got word of his passing from lung cancer today at age 74, Buddy was so much more to everyone he met.
His nickname was a huge part of who he was -- the "gentle giant." At 6-foot-6 (hey, that's how tall I am, so I relate well), the moniker fit mainly off the track.
On the track, he was more of a raging bull not to be messed with.
Baker had exactly 700 starts in a Winston Cup career that lasted from 1959 to 1992. He won 19 times, including the 1980 Daytona 500. In some of the more memorable words from Baker brought out on the feeling, he initially seemed to have a hard time processing the moment.
Once it sunk in, though, he let out a yell from his Oldsmobile that could probably be heard from the track to Jacksonville.
Heck, I think Buddy Baker was Dale Earnhardt before Earnhardt was Earnhardt. Baker won the 500 on his 16th try, and even more incredible, it was only the second time he finished a 500 on the lead lap.
But that's how Baker was behind the wheel. Mash the pedal to the floor, and if the parts and pieces held out, that made the finish all the better.
In a sport where racers push themselves to the edge for the sake of perfect speed, Baker was at peace when he announced he was leaving SiriusXM on July 7. Little did we know that one day short of five weeks later, Baker would pass away from the disease.
They say only God knows when it's time to go. In Baker's case, it was almost as fast as a lap around Daytona.
True to Baker's attitude, sadness for his passing wasn't an option.
"Do not shed a tear. Give me a smile when you say my name," Baker was quoted as saying on "Late Shift" on the night of July 7.
When you leave this world having done all you possibly could, it gave Baker a peace we all can strive for.
Rest in peace, Gentle Giant. May heaven give you free track access for life.
Tom Zulewski welcomes comments and new Twitter followers @Tomzsports.
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