In early May, I read of the passing of US Stock/NASCAR legend Henry “Smokey” Yunick. Now possibly like me, you’ve never heard of “Smokey” but the designer, builder, team owner and racer is a legend over there – although it’s unlikely he’ll ever be elevated into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame.
Yunick was a colourful character alright but I’m sure Smokey wouldn’t have liked that description as he operated in the “grey” areas of motorsport. He always said he operated within the rules, but it was how he’d bend and stretch those rules that got him his reputation and raised the ire of racing officials.
One example: it was mandated that fuel tanks could only hold 11 gallons (about 41.5 litres) but there were no rules about petrol temperatures. Smokey would chill the fuel just before the race to a bit above freezing, meaning he could actually get more than 11 gallons in the tank, therefore extending the distance until
