Three times in the last five years, Robert Yates barely missed the cut for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Wednesday, his name was the first one called by NASCAR vice chairman Mike Helton for the 2018 class.

“When he said number one …” Yates began before tearing up as he did when he heard his name, “wow.”

After Red Byron, Ray Evernham, Ken Squier and Ron Hornaday were announced to fill out the class, it was Yates who seemed to be the man of the hour. Upon rising from his seat, Yates couldn’t escape handshakes and hugs from all those in attendance who made it a point to see him.

Yates, who celebrated his 74th birthday last month, was revealed to have liver cancer late last year and it’s been a tough battle for him since. But Yates hasn’t shied away from it and couldn’t help but crack a smile when he met with the assembled media after the announcement at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“Good to be here,” Yates said. “Really good to be here when you win. It’s all about winning, right?”

Yates certainly won plenty during his illustrious career. The owner of Robert Yates Racing from 1989 to 2007, Yates’ teams earned 48 poles and 57 wins, including three in the Daytona 500. The first came in 1992 with Davey Allison (pictured with Yates), who won 15 races for Yates.

In 1996, his operation grew to a two-car team with Dale Jarrett and Ernie Irvan, with Jarrett earning Yates’ second Daytona 500 win that same season (and his third in 2000.) Jarrett also delivered Yates his first and only car owner title in 1999. In total, Yates won races with five different drivers (Allison, Jarrett, Irvan, Ricky Rudd and Elliott Sadler).

However, for as successful as many might remember him as a car owner, Yates started his career as an engine builder. In 1983, Yates earned a championship when he provided the power to Bobby Allison’s season. In addition to NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison, other drivers who drove a Yates-powered car were Hall of Famers Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip.

Yates also served as the engine builder for Richard Petty when he won his 199th and 200th NASCAR races. His skill continued even as he began a car owner with Roush Yates Engines, which today is run by his son, Doug.

“Thank you to for the sport because a guy that grew up in a family with all straight A kids (and) me, never thought about making anything like an A, B, C, or D,” Yates said. “But I knew how to work on cars. I loved doing that.”

Yates called coming to the Hall of Fame each year for the announcement a stressful deal.

“Sitting here today, I said, look, I’m struggling with some stuff, but if I don’t get in, that’s a reason to work real hard to be here next year to get in,” Yates said. “That’s the way I tried to look at it.”

Yates has been on the ballot four times. He earned the sixth highest votes for the 2017 class; the seventh highest votes for the 2015 class; and the sixth highest votes for the 2013 class. This year was his fourth year on the ballot.

“Right now, I feel like I could take a jack and jump over the wall and I’d be on the right side (of the car) like I used to be,” said Yates when asked how he was feeling. “I don’t even know if I’ll sleep tonight. I’m so honored.”

The 2018 NASCAR Hall of Fame class will officially be inducted next January.