Andy Petree Receives Smokey Yunick Award

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- Andy Petree, a man who has worn many hats, and continues to wear many hats, received a prestigious plaque over the weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. With over 40 years dedicated to his racing career, whether it be behind the wheel, in the garage, or on top of a pit box, Petree knows his way around the track. Speedway Motorsports CEO and President, Marcus Smith, presented Petree with the Smokey Yunick Award on Sunday prior to NASCAR’s Cup cars hitting The ROVAL for the Bank of America 400.

“I was shocked when I heard that I was going to receive this award from Marcus. We were doing the Race Hub show when I found out and I was just totally blown away and surprised. When I saw the people who had won it previously, and who had started it, Smokey Yunick, these are all heros of mine,” said Petree.

The Smokey Yunick Award was established in 1997 by legendary car owner and mechanic Henry “Smokey” Yunick. Each year, the award is presented to an individual who rose from humble beginnings to make a major impact on the motorsports industry. Petree joins a long list of many other greats in receiving this award. Richard Childress, Cotton Owens, Ralph Moody, Banjo Mathews, Ray Evernham, Dale Inman, Rick Hendrick, Waddell Wilson, Larry McReynolds and Gary Nelson are just a few among the list of those honored.

“To even be mentioned in the same breath as those guys is a real honor. When I started racing all I really tried to do my whole career, as a mechanic and in the garage, was to work hard enough, outwork everybody around me enough, to make sure I could stay there. I felt like it was just a privilege to be able to work in that garage and I knew I had to earn it everyday. That was my work ethic mindset and opportunities would open up for me,” said Petree.

Those opportunities were laid by Petree’s hard work that reflected in the many years ahead of his career. It all began in the small city of Newton, North Carolina, where Petree worked as a mechanic for his friend John Settlemyre. From there, he decided to build his own car to race weekly at short tracks. In the process of building a 1968 Chevrolet Nova with the help from a friend by the name of Jimmy Newsome, along came Ned Jarrett who was willing to fund the engine for the duo, as long as his son Dale Jarrett could drive the car. Put two plus one together and you get DAJ Racing.

“I mean, to have an opportunity to become an owner was something beyond my wildest dreams when I was a kid trying to get started,” said Petree. “I’ve been very lucky and blessed throughout my whole career,” said Petree.

After DAJ Racing came Petree’s gig as a tire changer for Darrell Waltrip, under Junior Johnson’s operation and then moved his way up through the ranks to become a crew chief for another team just seven years later.

In 1992, Petree headed to Richard Childress Racing, which he now calls home. Within the first few years, Petree and Dale Earnhardt claimed back-to-back championships. Not long after that, Leo Jackson decided to sell his team to his former crew chief and Petree gladly accepted. After eight years of running Andy Petree Racing, Petree decided to get back behind the wheel after shutting down his Cup operation. After racing at a few tracks, Petree decided to take his knowledge of racing a different route, to broadcast television. Petree currently works as an analyst on Fox Sports NASCAR Race Hub and serves as Richard Childress Racing’s Vice President of Competition.