Robert Yates (NASCAR)

Robert Yates is a NASCAR engine builder and former owner of the Sprint Cup Series team Yates Racing, owned since 2007 by his son Doug. He purchased the team from Harry Ranier in 1988, with driver Davey Allison.

The son of Rev. John Clyde Yates, he grew up as one of nine children in Charlotte, North Carolina.

As a youth, he raced his own dragster 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.

The team finished second in its first race, the 1988 Daytona 500, being edged by Davey's father and NASCAR legend Bobby Allison.

In 1991, Larry McReynolds )now a NASCAR analyst with Fox and FS1) 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. 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 third in the final points standings.

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