Glen and Leonard Wood of the Wood Brothers Racing team will receive the prestigious Smokey Yunick Award during pre-race ceremonies for the UAW-GM Quality 500 Saturday night, Oct. 15, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The award, instituted several years ago by legendary car owner and mechanic Smokey Yunick who passed away May 11, 2001, annually recognizes those whose lifelong efforts have had a major impact on the motorsports industry. Wood Brothers Racing is now equally owned by Glen Wood and his children, Eddie, Len and Kim, but the 80-year-old patriarch continues to play a role in the team’s operations. Leonard Wood, Glen’s younger brother, has been with the team since its inception. He served as chief mechanic as the organization grew into a championship contender during the 1950s and ’60s. Recently celebrating his 71st birthday, Leonard Wood still works at Wood Brothers Racing as a fabricator and toils in the carburetor department of Roush-Yates Racing Engines. Wood Brothers Racing is fourth on the all-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup win list with 97 victories, all of which have been in Ford products. Wood Brothers Racing has won NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series races in six consecutive decades. Glen Wood was selected as one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers during the sanctioning body’s 50th anniversary in 1998. Eighteen of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers have driven for Wood Brothers Racing, including current driver Ricky Rudd. Glen Wood was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 2001 and became a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2002. Leonard Wood received the Golden Wrench award from the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2001. Previous winners of the Smokey Yunick Award include Ken Squier, Bill Simpson, Ralph Moody, Banjo Matthews, Bud Moore, Cotton Owens, Junie Donlavey and Jim Hunter. Tickets for the UAW-GM Quality 500, round five of the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, start at just $29 and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(More at lowesmotorspeedway.com) and for more about Smokey Yunnick, see smokeyyunick.com.(9-20-2005)
