Former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner Robert Yates has been named as the recipient of the prestigious Smokey Yunick Award and will be honored during pre-race ceremonies prior to the start of the NASCAR Banking 500 Saturday evening at the Lowes Motor Speedway.

Yates became a NASCAR team owner after purchasing the #28 team from Harry Ranier in 1988 and fielded Fords for driver Davey Allison. Yates and Allison finished second in their first race together, the 1988 Daytona 500 which was won by Bobby Allison.

The Yates team acquired Larry McReynolds as crew chief in 1991 and contended for the NASCAR championship in 1992 in a heated contest with Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki which was decided in the final race of the year at Atlanta.

Allison drove the #28 RYR Ford until his tragic helicopter accident in 1993. Several drivers filled the seat for Yates until Ernie Irvan was hired to drive the car full time later in the season.

Robert Yates hired Dale Jarrett to drive the #28 after Irvan was seriously injured at Michigan in 1994. Yates expanded to two teams when Irvan returned, with Jarrett moving to the yates prepared #88. Jarrett brought Yates his first NASCAR championship title as a car owner in 1999.

Yates' last victory as car owner came at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2005 with Dale Jarrett behind the wheel.

The Smokey Yunick Award, instituted by legendary car owner and mechanic Smokey Yunick several years ago, annually recognizes an individual whose lifelong efforts have had a major impact on the motorsports industry.

HardcoreRaceFans.com wishes to thank Robert Yates for his contributions to the world of motorsports and congratulates him on receiving this honor.

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