Sad News UPDATE: 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) UPDATE – services: Services are scheduled at the Ormand (Fla.) Funeral Home at 1 p.m. Saturday. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Stewart Marchman Treatment Center at 3875 Tiger Bay Road, Daytona Beach, Fla., 32124.(That’s Racin’)(5-11-2001)
