Born in Ridgeburg, S.C. in 1919, Baker lived in Hartsville, Florence, Chester, Rock Hill and Spartanburg during his life.  He began competing on the fledgling NASCAR tracks in 1949 and won his first race in Columbia in 1952.  He went on to win three Southern 500s (1953, 1960, 1964).  Baker, father of SCAHOF inductee Buddy Baker, became the first driver to win back-to-back NASCAR championships; he also finished second in the standings in 1955 and 1958.  He retired in the 70's with 46 Grand National victories and hundreds of short-track wins.  Baker operated a driving school in the 80's and died in 2002 at age 83.  He is a member of the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame and the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame.  In 1999, he was selected as one of NASCAR's 50 top drivers as part of the circuit's 50th anniversary.