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'Hang in there buddy': Cale Yarborough's fans send prayers after family reveals NASCAR legend, 84, is ill and ‘not doing well’

Cale Yarborough won the Cup three times consecutively. He won four NASCAR races in 1968 before winning major titles through the 1970s

SARDIS, SOUTH CAROLINA: Former Winston Cup Series driver Cale Yarborough has reportedly fallen ill and is "not doing well." Fans of NASCAR legend have sent their thoughts and prayers after hearing the sad news. This comes after John Dodson, VP of business alliances and NASCAR at Universal Technical Institute, took to Twitter to confirm that Yarborough, 84, was sick and urged fans to share warm wishes for the racer and his family. 

"The toughest race car driver I ever worked for is not doing well. Please keep Cale Yarborough in your prayers. The Yarbrough [sic] family has asked for no phone calls or visits for now. Praying for Cale and the family," Dodson wrote on Twitter. Not much information about Yarborough's condition has been reported. Netizens shared their love for the athlete by reminiscing their favorite memories of his triumphs. "With Cale in all of our thoughts here’s a good reminder that no one has led more laps in the Modern Era than Cale Yarborough, and likely nobody ever will. Cale led 27,243 of his 102,924 laps in the Modern Era, an incredible 26.5%," user Trey Ryan wrote. 

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'Hang in [there] buddy!'

"Cale Yarborough one of the best wheelman ever... Thoughts and prayers go out to The Yarborough family as Cale is very ill," An account called 'NASCAR weekend warrior' wrote. "Heard this morning that Cale Yarborough is ill. Prayers for one of the toughest racers to ever grip a steering wheel. Hang in [there] buddy!" another NASCAR fan said. 

'Appreciates all of your support'

Yarborough's daughter reportedly shared a post on Reddit, which is now unavailable, saying that Yarborough was sick. The post apparently said he "appreciates all of your support," adding that people should refrain from visits and phone calls. "Sorry to hear that. One of the absolute legends of this sport and one of those few people who are on a NASCAR Mount Rushmore to me. Drove was among the very best at the most dangerous and tough time of the sport. Seeing your heroes get old and have health issues like this sucks. Definitely praying for Cale and his family right now. They don’t make them like that anymore and when they’re gone our world is a worse place," another user wrote, as per the Daily Mail.

Yarborough, who won the Cup three times consecutively, was born on 27 March 1939 in Timmonsville, South Carolina. He won four NASCAR races in 1968 before moving forward and winning major titles through the 1970s. He married Betty Jo Thigpen in 1961, with whom he shares three daughters Julie, Kelley, and BJ.