Richard Yates joined us Monday March 14, 2022 on Racing Routes with Hamm. The son of Rev. John Clyde Yates from Statesville, he grew up as one of nine children in Charlotte, North Carolina. Richard was the 8th child beating his twin Brother Robert to this world by 19 minutes in 1943. In 1965 he worked for Baker Equipment Engineering in Charlotte for 22 years. In 1987 he was hired by Ranier as a Business Manager responsible for accounting, payroll and personnel records, travel arrangements and shop tours. Rainier eventually became Robert Yates Racing. He traveled with the crew and cleaned windshields during pit stops.
Here is a story Richard told after the show. Growing up in the Plaza area of Charlotte, Robert was known for drag racing down Independence Blvd. One evening he was clocked at 130 mph by a highway patrol officer as Robert was headed towards Monroe. He pulled into a parking lot to turn around and the cop pulled in behind him. After Robert told him his name he knew he was Preacher Yates’ Son and gave him a break. When Dad found out he took away Robert’s license for 1 year immediately. Richard and his sisters hauled Robert around during that year.