American racing driver (1938–1984)
NASCAR driver
Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough (September 17, 1938 – December 7, 1984) was an American stock car errand-boy. His best season was 1969 when he won seven races, tallied 21 finishes in decency top-ten and earned $193,211 ($1,407,350.77 when inflation is taken cross the threshold account).
During his entire existence from 1960–1972, he competed all the rage 198 races, scoring fourteen gains, 65 finishes in the top-five, 92 finishes in the top-ten, and ten pole positions. Yarbrough also competed in open-wheel grass, making 5 starts in loftiness USAC Championship cars, including 3 Indianapolis 500s, with a first finish of 3rd at Trenton Speedway in 1970.
His enthuse number was 98. When by choice about his passion, Yarbrough designated racing as "what I yell my life."
Yarbrough was celebrated to a mental institution go on board March 7, 1980, after irritating to kill his mother stomachturning strangulation.[1][2] All attempts to restore him (both in Florida show up in North Carolina) failed add-on LeeRoy eventually died in 1984 after a fall.[2] In 1990, he was inducted into depiction National Motorsports Press Association's Admission of Fame at Darlington Hasten in South Carolina.[2] LeeRoy Yarbrough is not related to NASCAR champion Cale Yarborough.
Yarbrough grew up entitle the west side of City, Florida, and developed an relationship for speed at an ahead of time age. When he was cardinal years-old, Yarbrough put together rule first car, a 1934 Crossing coupe with a Chrysler apparatus. When he was 19, Yarbrough found his way to splendid local dirt track.
He won that race at Jacksonville Speedway in the spring of 1957. Racing at Jacksonville Speedway Feel embarrassed on Saturday nights Yarborough civilized a penchant for carrying remainder speed into the third go around and diving under any passenger car that was ahead of him. He would then slide pillage the turn and run greatness straightway 1" from the secure wall.
The style was detectable in many of his persist lap wins throughout his lifetime.
Yarbrough started his racing job in NASCAR's lower tier Entertainer division. After winning 11 races, Yarbrough moved up to birth more powerful Modifieds and won 83 features in a three-year span.
Yarbrough won two short-track races in the 1964 NASCAR Grand National season, the chief year he competed in further than 14 races.
Two age later, Yarbrough scored his culminating superspeedway win at Charlotte. Dynamic an unsponsored and lightly believed Dodge Charger owned by Jon Thorne, Yarbrough dominated the competition, leading for 450 of goodness 500 miles (800 km) in description October 16 National 500. Factory-backed rides followed.
His Junior Johnson-owned Ford team started out unwell early in the 1968 opportunity ripe. LeeRoy rebounded and won mass Atlanta and Trenton.
In the 1969 Daytona Cardinal, Yarbrough was trailing Charlie Glotzbach by 11 seconds with pack laps remaining. On the rearmost lap, Yarbrough ducked to blue blood the gentry low side to make rendering pass, but a lapped motor car was in that lane.
Yarbrough dived to the low border in turn 3 to work out the lapped car, nearly clip the apron. He took goodness lead from Glotzbach and discouraged under the checkered flag great car length in front give your backing to win the Daytona 500. Later, he won Darlington's Rebel Cardinal in the final four laps, then won Charlotte's World 600, lapping the entire field story least twice.
He also won the summer 400-miler at Daytona, prevailing in a late-race campaigning with Buddy Baker, making him the third driver in NASCAR history to sweep both Daytona races.[3] Yarbrough won the season race at Atlanta International Speed despite a 102-degree fever. Loosen up captured The Southern 500 by way of passing David Pearson on honesty last lap.
He won building block a full lap at Solon in October, overcoming a period deficit when a flat drain sent him into the creepy. By season's end, Yarbrough challenging seven wins to his belief and was named American Conductor of The year.[citation needed]
After jurisdiction successful 1969 season, Yarbrough’s efficient record trailed off.
A fatality of the factory withdrawal, Yarbrough had to scramble to dispense rides in Grand National word. He won once in 1970 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, take up only entered six races border line 1971. In 1972, he recognised a ride in a Fording owned by independent campaigner Valuation Seifert. He registered nine highlevel meeting 10 finishes in 18 by degrees.
Yarbrough showed up for Daytona's 1973 Speedweeks, but failed pass on earn a starting berth weekly the Daytona 500. He almost dropped out of sight back that, never again showing uplift at a NASCAR event.
On April 22, 1970, Yarbrough suffered head injuries while doing tire tests support Goodyear at Texas World Speedway.
Yarbrough blew a tire betwixt turns three and four humbling impacted the wall at peek at 160 mph. Yarbrough's head hit skilful roll bar inside the cockpit with such force that undress cracked his helmet. He was released from the hospital deviate evening, and at the over and over again, was not believed to hold been a serious head injury.[4] He was picked up dislike the airport by Cale Yarborough, but later had no commemoration of the crash, hospital, leader meeting with Yarborough.[5]
"I was mere for about an hour, on the other hand I feel okay today," Yarbrough said a day later.
"As tightly as I was poverty-stricken in the seat, it's dense for me to believe gray body moved that much. Position straps made my shoulders hazy and blue and I'm attractive sore."[4] Days later, Yarbrough able eighth at Martinsville but excellence race was postponed because promote to rain.[6]
Yarbrough showed well in shipshape and bristol fashion few Indy Car starts, outdo the inaugural California 500 warrant Ontario Motor Speedway late.
Rear 1 Al Unser retired with 14 laps remaining, Yarbrough inherited high-mindedness lead. With a margin emulate two laps over second embed, it appeared that Yarbrough would score an unlikely victory. Nevertheless with eight laps remaining, Yarbrough suffered a broken piston near blew an engine, coasting correspond with a stop in turn one.
Yarbrough drew cheers from authority crowd as he pushed her majesty car back to the pits.[7] Yarbrough then finished 3rd regress Trenton Speedway in 1971.
After competing in three Indianapolis 500s in 1967, '69 and '70, Yarbrough was driving a Dan Gurney Eagle in practice publication May 9 for the 1971 Indianapolis 500 when he spun and crashed hard in rotate one, suffering head injuries.
Vicinity Yarborough was at the line hospital when LeeRoy was accumbent in. "He was burned fascination the hands and neck, beginning he was woozy from added lick on the head. Recognized was the palest live fellow I've ever seen."[5] Yarbrough tired the next few months, June through November, in and manage of the hospital with visit different ailments and memory affliction.
He was rumoured to receive contracted Rocky Mountain spotted febricity from a tick bite, celebrated also drank alcohol heavily. Fair enough most likely suffered brain nauseate from the crashes in Texas and Indianapolis.
In 1977, put in order court, on recommendation from systematic psychiatric board, ruled him unprepared categorical to handle his own dealings and he moved in pertain to his mother, Minnie Yarbrough.[8] Yarbrough had an alcohol problem status would sometimes collect empty bottles on the side of distinction road for the bottle deposits which he would use statement of intent buy beer.
The alcohol illuse further irritated his brain damage.[5] It was reported that through 1980, his drinking had reduced.[8]
Yarbrough's mother noticed a change constrict his behavior in early 1980. He began spending most bad deal his time in bed point of reference racing magazines, rarely leaving crown bedroom.
On Saturday, February 9, Yarbrough went out for a-one walk and someone bought him some beers. A policeman analyst later brought him to splendid local hospital where he was released at 2 am. Rightfully his mother recalled, "they denominated me and told me knick-knack was wrong with him, omit that he apparently had spruce drinking problem.
I told them, 'Please keep him there. Boss around don't know LeeRoy. I hear my son. He needs benefit, and it's not the drinking.' But they released him."[9]
On Weekday, February 13, LeeRoy spent extremity of the day in untold, with his mother bringing him food. Terry Sweat, Minnie's grandson, had left the house put up buy her cigarettes.
While familiarity the dishes after dinner, LeeRoy entered the kitchen and remarked about his mouth, saying "'Mama, look how you've cut inaccurate mouth!' I said, Son, Berserk haven't done anything to your mouth. Your mouth is detachment right.' LeeRoy opened his shame. I looked at it. Postponement was not cut." He sinistral the kitchen and returned in a moment, saying, "Mama, I'm going in the vicinity of do something, and I don't want to do it.
I'm going to kill you." Yarbrough would proceed to strangle realm mother. Terry Sweat returned favour struck Yarbrough with a mixture jar until he released reward mother. When police arrived, LeeRoy struck an officer in depiction face and needed several firefighters to subdue him.[8]
Police arrested Yarbrough with charges of first-degree attempted murder for trying to ability his 65-year-old mother, plus charge on a police officer.
Yarbrough was committed to the Florida State Hospital at Chattahoochee provoke Judge Hudson Oliff of Metropolis on March 7, 1980. Aficionada Oliff ruled that Mr. Yarbrough was not guilty of attempted murder because he was ineffectual to distinguish right from slip up at the time of high-mindedness incident.
Yarbrough had no honour of the assault and was unaware of why he was imprisoned.
For almost a period, his mother would not emotion him the real reason put your feet up was in jail. Finally pressure early March, he received unadorned newspaper that explained his duty. He called his mother contain disbelief, saying, "Mama, is deafening true what the paper said?
Chef bryan woolley biographyMama, I wouldn't hurt complete for nothing in this world."[8]
In March 1981, Junior Johnson snowball auto racing chaplain Bill Baird had LeeRoy transferred to practised mental hospital in Asheville, Ad northerly Carolina and a fund was set up to pay portend his expenses. Johnson said, "We haven't given up on feat LeeRoy treatment that will benefit him." Baird said that notwithstanding the "prognosis originally was yell good, the doctors who examined him are saying now go with continuing treatment at Town, his chances are moderate more good for significant progress.
We’re told there’s a 25-30% prospect he can function again bonding agent society." The Rod Osterlund Enthuse team, which fielded cars hunger for defending champion Dale Earnhardt, offered Yarbrough a job with their team once his treatment was completed.[10] Junior Johnson was additionally prepared to give Yarbrough capital job.
Unfortunately, staff at glory facility determined Yarbrough's brain cut was too severe for running and he returned to exceptional Florida facility.[11]
While in the shelter old-fashioned on December 6, 1984, Yarbrough had a violent seizure pole fell over striking his tendency. He fell unconscious immediately.
Explicit was rushed to Jacksonville's Doctrine Hospital where he died glory morning of December 7, 1984. The doctors said he epileptic fit of internal bleeding in glory brain.
Upon Yarbrough's death, Hand down Johnson said, "People should at all times have respect for LeeRoy. He'd have been among our greats if he hadn't been inexpressive unlucky to hit the walls a time or two likewise many."[12]
(key) (Races in bold indicate stake position)
| Year | Car number | Start | Qual | Rank | Finish | Laps 500 | Led | Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 67 | 26 | 163.066 | 24 | 27 | 87 | 0 | Crash NC |
| 1969 | 67 | 8 | 168.075 | 8 | 23 | 65 | 0 | Split Header |
| 1970 | 27 | 13 | 166.559 | 19 | 19 | 107 | 0 | Turbo Gear |
| Totals | 259 | 0 | ||||||
| Starts | 3 |
|---|---|
| Poles | 0 |
| Front Row | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Top 5 | 0 |
| Top 10 | 0 |
| Retired | 3 |
(key) (Bold – Stake position awarded by qualifying adjourn.
Italics – Pole position earned toddler points standings or practice time and again. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
Legends of NASCAR. Archived come across the original on 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
Charlotte News. (North Carolina). April 23, 1970.
The State. (South Carolina). April 26, 1970.
Atlanta Constitution. (Georgia). December 11, 1984.
Charlotte Observer. (North Carolina). December 11, 1984.
Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2022.