Two-time NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock Champion Jim Yates is regarded by many to be one of the top tuners in the Pro Stock category, and according to wife Toni, one of the top talkers as well. We have to be honest, Jim’s personality surprised us. Television always portrays Yates as an all business competitor who only gets excited when the win light comes on. We found Jim and the entire Service Central Pro Stock team to be fun, competitive, and serious when necessary, but never at the expense of realizing that they have the coolest job in the world.
Too often professional level racing has become a task rather than a passion. We see it all the time with drivers getting out of cars delivering the script of sponsor mentions, and somehow forgetting why they are there, and that there are thousands of fans that would gladly give their left nut to be them. I happen to be one of the rare people that has had the incredible opportunity to drive an NHRA Pro Stocker. It’s insanely bitchin. Okay, that is the lamest way to describe it. But I can’t without swearing and jumping up and down.
Jim Yates gets it. He built a successful auto parts chain, sold it to race cars full time, and knows that he’s a lucky bastard. We thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with the entire crew, and will make a point of saying hi to Jim and the gang at every opportunity. They are the kind of people you want to hang out with. We’ve got a few minutes of Yates on camera, and will follow up tomorrow with Shane Gray, driver of the Yates tuned Service Central Pro Stock Pontiac. Enjoy.
