Robert Yates (NASCAR Team Owner)
Encyclopedia
Robert Yates was the owner of the longtime NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series team Yates Racing
, now owned by his son Doug. He purchased the team from Harry Rainer in 1988, with driver Davey Allison.
in the late 1950s. During his formative years, he moved to Wake Forest to live with his sister's family. In 1961, he graduated Wake Forest High School
a straight-A student. In 1964, Yates graduated from Wilson Technical College
in North Carolina, earning a degree in mechanical engineering.
, being edged by Davey's father and NASCAR legend Bobby Allison
.
In 1991, Larry McReynolds [now a NASCAR analyst with Fox and Speed Channel] joined the team as crew chief and led Davey to five victories. In 1992 the Yates Racing started the season with a bang with Davey winning the Daytona 500, joining his father Bobby a three time Daytona 500 winner. The win also put the Allisons in an exclusive club, joining Lee
and Richard Petty
and Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr as the only father/son winners of the Daytona 500.
In 1992 Davey again had another dominant year winning five races again, despite a broken hand suffered at Pocono in June and a cracked rib. Davey also experienced a personal tragedy in August when his brother Clifford was killed in Busch race at Michigan International Speedway
. Going into the last race at Atlanta all Davey had to do was finish sixth or better to clinch the Winston Cup title, but a collision with Ernie Irvan on the 251st lap damaged Allison's car and knocked him from contention. The Yates racing crew worked feverishly to get Davey back out to get as many points as possible, which they did. Allison completed 34 more laps and was running at the finish. With Davey eliminated from title contention it was down to a two man race between Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki, Elliott won the race, but Kulwicki led one more lap than Elliott to win the title by ten points. Davey would finish fourth in the final points standings.
In 1993 the team struggled, although Davey did win the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond in March. This was Davey's last win before he was killed in a helicopter crash at Talladega in July. Several drivers filled the seat of the #28 car including Lake Speed and Robby Gordon until Yates lured Ernie Irvan away from Morgan-McClure Motorsports
. With Irvan behind the wheel the team won at Martinsville in a car setup by Alison, the team also won at Charlotte in the Mellow Yellow 500 when Irvan led all but six of the races 334 laps.
In 1994 the team got off to a fast start with Irvan finishing second to Sterling Marlin
[which was Marlin's first win in 276 races] at the Daytona 500, two weeks later Irvan won at Richmond just like Davey Allison did the year before, Irvan would follow that win up a week later by winning the Puralator 500 at Atlanta. In May the team won at Sonoma, California
. In August Irvan came within ten laps of winning the Inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, before cutting a tire and handing the race to Jeff Gordon. Irvan was in contention for the Wiston Cup title before he was critically injured in practice crash at Michigan a week later. Kenny Wallace finished out the year in the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford Thunderbird
.
In 1995 Dale Jarrett
took the wheel of the #28 car while Irvan continued to recover from his injuries, Jarrett won at Pocono in July. In October Irvan returned to the truck driving a second Yates car #88 sponsored by Texaco-Havoline in a race at North Wilkesboro, N.C. Irvan led six laps and finished sixth.
Robert Yates was given his first championship as a NASCAR owner in 1999 with Dale Jarrett.
His engines had won championships with him as an engine builder before, notably 1983 with Bobby Allison
and DiGard Motorsports
, and also with Darrell Waltrip
.
After that season the team began to slump a little. Eddie D'Hondt joined the team as Manager after leaving Evernham Motorsports and the team seemed to be heading in the right direction with the hiring of Mike Ford
. Ford hired several key members including Russ Salerno, as his Pit Crew Coordinator. Shortly after that RYR found itself with a team that was improving and becoming a contender again.
Elliott Sadler
joined Robert Yates Racing for the 2003
season and won two races for Yates in 2004.
As of July 2007, Yates' last win was with Dale Jarrett at Talladega Superspeedway
in October 2005.
Yates retired as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Team Owner after 2007, giving Yates Racing
to his son, Doug.
In 2010 he came out of retirement to form a new company, Robert Yates Racing Engines, with his son-in-law Chris Davy as his partner. The business is the exclusive supplier of the NASCAR-Approved Spec Engine.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series team Yates Racing
Yates Racing
Yates Racing was an American stock car racing racing team that competed in NASCAR until the 2009 season when it merged with Richard Petty Motorsports. Previously known as Robert Yates Racing, the team was owned by Doug Yates, who has officially owned the team since his father Robert's retirement on...
, now owned by his son Doug. He purchased the team from Harry Rainer in 1988, with driver Davey Allison.
Biography
Robert Yates, the son of Rev. John Clyde Yates, grew up as one of nine children in Charlotte, North Carolina. As a youth, he raced his own dragsterDrag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
in the late 1950s. During his formative years, he moved to Wake Forest to live with his sister's family. In 1961, he graduated Wake Forest High School
Wake Forest-Rolesville High School
Wake Forest-Rolesville High School, is a four year high school located in Wake Forest, North Carolina.Dr. Tina Hoots served as principal, taking over from Mr. Andre Smith in early 2009 when he was promoted to district superintendent. However, Mr Clinton Robinson took over as principal for the...
a straight-A student. In 1964, Yates graduated from Wilson Technical College
Wilson Community College
Wilson Community College is a member of the North Carolina Community College System. It is a two-year accredited college able to grant associate degrees, diplomas and certificates...
in North Carolina, earning a degree in mechanical engineering.
Races
The team finished second in its first race, the 1988 Daytona 500Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, being edged by Davey's father and NASCAR legend Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
.
In 1991, Larry McReynolds [now a NASCAR analyst with Fox and Speed Channel] joined the team as crew chief and led Davey to five victories. In 1992 the Yates Racing started the season with a bang with Davey winning the Daytona 500, joining his father Bobby a three time Daytona 500 winner. The win also put the Allisons in an exclusive club, joining Lee
Lee Petty
Lee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:...
and Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
and Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr as the only father/son winners of the Daytona 500.
In 1992 Davey again had another dominant year winning five races again, despite a broken hand suffered at Pocono in June and a cracked rib. Davey also experienced a personal tragedy in August when his brother Clifford was killed in Busch race at Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
. Going into the last race at Atlanta all Davey had to do was finish sixth or better to clinch the Winston Cup title, but a collision with Ernie Irvan on the 251st lap damaged Allison's car and knocked him from contention. The Yates racing crew worked feverishly to get Davey back out to get as many points as possible, which they did. Allison completed 34 more laps and was running at the finish. With Davey eliminated from title contention it was down to a two man race between Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki, Elliott won the race, but Kulwicki led one more lap than Elliott to win the title by ten points. Davey would finish fourth in the final points standings.
In 1993 the team struggled, although Davey did win the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond in March. This was Davey's last win before he was killed in a helicopter crash at Talladega in July. Several drivers filled the seat of the #28 car including Lake Speed and Robby Gordon until Yates lured Ernie Irvan away from Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Morgan-McClure Motorsports is an American auto racing team that competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time until 2007 and now occasionally attempts races. It has been in operation for 27 years, starting in 1982. The team is most notable for running the #4 from 1983 to 2009.-Starting...
. With Irvan behind the wheel the team won at Martinsville in a car setup by Alison, the team also won at Charlotte in the Mellow Yellow 500 when Irvan led all but six of the races 334 laps.
In 1994 the team got off to a fast start with Irvan finishing second to Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He is the son of late NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who sometimes races in the Nationwide Series....
[which was Marlin's first win in 276 races] at the Daytona 500, two weeks later Irvan won at Richmond just like Davey Allison did the year before, Irvan would follow that win up a week later by winning the Puralator 500 at Atlanta. In May the team won at Sonoma, California
Sonoma, California
Sonoma is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past. It was the capital of the short-lived California Republic...
. In August Irvan came within ten laps of winning the Inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, before cutting a tire and handing the race to Jeff Gordon. Irvan was in contention for the Wiston Cup title before he was critically injured in practice crash at Michigan a week later. Kenny Wallace finished out the year in the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
.
In 1995 Dale Jarrett
Dale Jarrett
Dale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
took the wheel of the #28 car while Irvan continued to recover from his injuries, Jarrett won at Pocono in July. In October Irvan returned to the truck driving a second Yates car #88 sponsored by Texaco-Havoline in a race at North Wilkesboro, N.C. Irvan led six laps and finished sixth.
Expansion
In 1996 Yates expanded to two full-time teams with Irvan back behind the wheel of the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford and Dale Jarrett driving the #88 car with sponsorship from Ford Qualitycare/Ford Credit. The new team wasted no time showing its muscle with Jarrett, under the leadership of rookie crewchief Todd Parrott won the Busch Clash at Daytona and the Daytona 500. Irvan secured the outside pole for the Daytona 500 alongside Dale Earnhardt Sr. who was in his eighteenth attempt to win the Daytona 500. Irvan also won his Gatorade Twin 125 Qualifying Race [now Gatorade Duel]. Jarrett also won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and the Brickyard 400 and at Michigan in August and finished third in the final Wiston Cup points standings behind Hendrick Motorsports teammates Terry Labonte [the Champion] and Jeff Gordon.More recent years
.Robert Yates was given his first championship as a NASCAR owner in 1999 with Dale Jarrett.
His engines had won championships with him as an engine builder before, notably 1983 with Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
and DiGard Motorsports
DiGard Motorsports
DiGard Motorsports was a championship-winning race team in NASCAR Winston Cup that had its most success in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
, and also with Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
.
After that season the team began to slump a little. Eddie D'Hondt joined the team as Manager after leaving Evernham Motorsports and the team seemed to be heading in the right direction with the hiring of Mike Ford
Mike Ford (NASCAR crew chief)
Mike Ford is the NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief for the #11 FedEx Toyota Camry driven by Denny Hamlin. The car is owned by J. D. Gibbs and operated by Joe Gibbs Racing...
. Ford hired several key members including Russ Salerno, as his Pit Crew Coordinator. Shortly after that RYR found itself with a team that was improving and becoming a contender again.
Elliott Sadler
Elliott Sadler
Elliott William Barnes Sadler is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Impala for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He is one of only 23 drivers to have won in each of NASCAR's top three series...
joined Robert Yates Racing for the 2003
2003 in NASCAR
The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday February 8 and ended on Sunday November 16. Matt Kenseth with Roush Racing driving a Ford was crowned the Winston Cup champion, despite winning only one race all year. Chevrolet took home the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship after capturing 19 wins...
season and won two races for Yates in 2004.
As of July 2007, Yates' last win was with Dale Jarrett at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
in October 2005.
Yates retired as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Team Owner after 2007, giving Yates Racing
Yates Racing
Yates Racing was an American stock car racing racing team that competed in NASCAR until the 2009 season when it merged with Richard Petty Motorsports. Previously known as Robert Yates Racing, the team was owned by Doug Yates, who has officially owned the team since his father Robert's retirement on...
to his son, Doug.
In 2010 he came out of retirement to form a new company, Robert Yates Racing Engines, with his son-in-law Chris Davy as his partner. The business is the exclusive supplier of the NASCAR-Approved Spec Engine.
Quotes
- "It is amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares about who gets the credit."
- "Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do!"
External links
- Robert Yates Racing Engines
- Yates Racing website
- YATES RACING team page at fordracing.com