Iconic motorsports journalist
Influential critic of automotive industry
Four-decade editorial career at Car and Driver magazine
NASCAR analyst for CBS Sports
Host of and contributor to automotive TV shows
Prolific author (15 books, two screenplays)
Originator of the Cannonball Baker Memorial Coast-to-Coast races
Driving force behind Cannonball Run movie series
Author of the book the Michael Mann/Adam Driver Ferrari biopic is based on

Yates was longtime executive editor of Car and Driver, an American automotive magazine. He was a pit reporter for CBS' coverage of certain NASCAR Sprint Cup (then Winston) series races in the 1980s, including the Daytona 500. He was also one of two commentators on the TNN show American Sports Cavalcade with Steve Evans. Paul Page and Don Garlits appeared on the show, but it was primarily Brock and Steve. He currently serves as a commentator on racing and vintage cars for the Speed Channel. Yates is a best-selling author, most frequently about automotive topics and motorsports. Some of his articles and commentaries for Car and Driver magazine and other publications have had considerable impact within the auto industry and the general public, beginning with his 1968 critique of the American auto industry, its management and its products, "The Grosse Pointe Myopians." Inspired by the cross-country exploits of a member of the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class, Yates established the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash (aka Cannonball Run) a cross-continental road race that served as an endorsement of freedom — especially from speed limits. It ran five times between 1971 and 1979, with Yates, co-driving with Hall of Famer Dan Gurney, winning the first installment. The race was the inspiration for several Hollywood movies. Yates’ books include:
• Against Death and Time: One Fatal Season in Racing's Glory Years
• Cannonball!: World's Greatest Outlaw Road Race
• The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend
• Outlaw Machine
• Enzo Ferrari
• The Indianapolis Five Hundred
• Racers and Drivers
• Umbrella Mike
• Sunday Driver
• The Great Driver