Big John's Speedway Grilling
Big John Youk can fix a car and a great meal. He began as an auto body technician in the garage of his own body shop. Five years later he was hired as a jackman by Grand National stock car team owner James Hylton and began working with some of the best drivers and teams in racing including Hendrick Motorsports and team Sabaco, owned by Felix Sabates. After working in garages and on racetracks, eating nothing but bologna sandwiches, he decided it was time to fire up the grill. He proposed cooking for NASCAR teams. Fifteen years later Big John’s grilling is a favorite among teams and drivers including Wally Dallenbach Jr., Dale Earnhardt Sr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Robby Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek, Kyle Petty, Jimmy Spencer, and Michael Waltrip. Big John continues to cook around the track, grilling for Competition Tires East, the east coast tire provider for Goodyear Tires. He lives outside of Philadelphia with Dot, his girlfriend.