Sad News: Legendary racing mechanic Henry "Smokey" Yunick passed away this
morning at his home after a yearlong battle with leukemia. The 77 year old
mechanic, who was born in Tennessee, settled at Daytona Beach in 1946 after
serving as a bomber pilot with the Air Force during World War II. His first
glimpse of Daytona Beach was from the pilot seat of a B-17 bomber plane.
After one look, he decided to call this area home once his tour of service
was complete. In 1947 he opened an automobile repair shop on Beach Street
that he dubbed "The Best Damn Garage In Town." He closed the garage to the
public in the mid-1980s but continued his research and development projects
deep in the bowels of the massive structure. According the Stock Car Racing
Encyclopedia, Yunick had 61 starts as a car owner scoring eight career
victories. He won more than 50 times as a crew chief, chief mechanic or
engine builder. He scored 49 victories working with Herb Thomas. He was in
the first group of 20 men inducted into the prestigious International
Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990. Yunick's family will announce funeral
service information later today.
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