LeeRoy Yarbrough, American race car driver (b. 1938)
Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough (September 17, 1938 – December 7, 1984) was an American stock car racer. His best season was 1969 when he won seven races, tallied 21 finishes in the top-ten and earned $193,211 ($1,195,387.39 when inflation is taken into account). During his entire career from 1960–1972, he competed in 198 races, scoring fourteen wins, 65 finishes in the top-five, 92 finishes in the top-ten, and ten pole positions. Yarbrough also competed in open-wheel racing, making 5 starts in the USAC Championship cars, including 3 Indianapolis 500s, with a best finish of 3rd at Trenton Speedway in 1970. His racing number was 98. When asked about his passion, Yarbrough described racing as "what I call my life."
Yarbrough was admitted to a mental institution on March 7, 1980 after trying to kill his mother by strangulation. All attempts to rehabilitate him (both in Florida or in North Carolina) failed and LeeRoy eventually died in 1984 after a fall. In 1990, he was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. LeeRoy Yarbrough is not related to NASCAR champion Cale Yarborough.
1984Dec, 7
LeeRoy Yarbrough
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Events on 1984
- 7Jan
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). - 5Jun
Indira Gandhi
The Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, orders an attack on the Golden Temple, the holiest site of the Sikh religion. - 4Aug
Burkina Faso
The Republic of Upper Volta changes its name to Burkina Faso. - 20Sep
Beirut
A suicide bomber in a car attacks the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing twenty-two people. - 26Sep
Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong
The United Kingdom and China agree to a transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, to take place in 1997.