Cale Yarborough is rightly recognized as one of the best and most successful NASCAR drivers on the planet, and is one of just two men who have managed to win three-consecutive Sprint Car Cup championships. He was also a deeply profound man, even if he didn’t realize it, and Yarborough is a name still muttered with respect in motorsports circles.
So when we saw one of the last race cars Yarborough ever raced pop up on eBay for sale, we knew we had to share it with you readers. If you’ve got $300,000 burning a hole in your pocket, and you love yourself some NASCAR, this ride is for you.
Marked a 1978 chassis, this 1980 Olds 442 sits on its original chassis and uses many original components, though as you can see it has been properly restored using period-correct methods. 1981 was the year NASCAR mandated all drivers move to cars with a 110-inch wheelbase, which meant this was also the last year for the big Oldsmobiles to compete in NASCAR. This car was owned by Junior Johnson, and was raced in nine events, and always finishing in the Top 10.
It was also the year that Yarborough lost what would have been his fourth championship win to an up-and-coming racer named Dale Earnhardt, and by just 19 points. After the 1980 season Yarborough went to part-time racing, and today he has mostly retired from motorsports, and was named NASCAR’s sixth-greatest driver of all time.
No wonder RK Motors wants $300,000 for it.