Halls of Fame across the United States and the rest of the world. Some of his items, including hats, pipes, boots, engines, etc. are on display (loan from family most of them) at museums from race tracks to the Smithsonian (history of racing). Smokey was the NASCAR Mechanic of the Year twice. Patents Yunick is the inventor of at least nine US patents. Author His column "Say, Smokey" was a staple of Popular Science magazine in the 1960s and 1970s; it consisted of his responses to letters sent to him by readers regarding mechanical conditions affecting their cars and technical questions about how automotive performance could be improved and also about particularly tricky automotive issues. He also wrote for Circle Track magazine and published his autobiography Best Damn Garage in Town...The World According to Smokey in July 2001. The audiobook version, Sex Lies and SuperSpeedways volume 1 was narrated by a longtime friend John DeLorean. In 1984, Yunick published Smokey's Power Secrets (). Legacy After Yunick's death, his shop's contents were auctioned off, according to his wishes. He had witnessed his friend Don Garlits' difficulties developing and maintaining a museum and did not want either his family to be saddled with such a burden, or a "high roller" to gain control of his reputation. Instead, he preferred that his tools, equipment, cars, engines, and parts go to people who would use them, and before his death, he undertook to restore as much of it as possible to working conditions. The proceeds of the auction went to a foundation to fund innovations in motorsports. The character Smokey in Disney/Pixar's 2017 film Cars 3 is based on Smokey Yunick. He is portrayed by Chris Cooper. Motorsports career results NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) Grand National Series References Further reading (Uncredited), "Smokey Yunick, 1923-2001", Stock Car Racing (ISSN 0734-7340), Volume 36, Number 8, August 2001. Best Damn Garage in Town, Henry Yunick. . External links The Official Smokey Yunick Web Site Henry Yunick profile at Hot Rod magazine website Profile by Grant Cooper Smokey Yunick and the Hurst Floor Shifter Special 1923 births 2001 deaths 20th-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American non-fiction writers American autobiographers American columnists American automotive pioneers International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees NASCAR crew chiefs NASCAR drivers People