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.(Daytona
Beach New Journal), thoughts go out to family and friends(5-9-2001)
