Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm
The Most Unlikely Championship Story in NASCAR History
In 2007, Marlin Yoder saw his first NASCAR race—at age 17, having just left the Amish community with an 8th-grade education. Fourteen years later, he was the front-end mechanic on Kyle Larson's championship-winning team.
Now he brings that championship-level expertise to Salisbury, NC.
From Amish Farm to NASCAR Championship
A Story That Shouldn't Be Possible
2007: Age 17 - First NASCAR Race
At age 17, Marlin made the difficult decision to leave the Amish community.
At 17, Marlin made the difficult decision to leave the Amish community to pursue his passion for racing. His first NASCAR race marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey from a Pennsylvania farm to the pinnacle of motorsports.
2007-2016: Learning Everything From Zero
Nine years of relentless learning, from hidden radios to professional race shops.
From listening to races on a hidden radio in the woods to working at grassroots tracks in Wisconsin, Marlin learned racing from the ground up. He moved to North Carolina with nothing but determination, landing his first professional role at MDM Motorsports in 2016 as a car chief.
2016: First Major Breakthrough
First professional role, second place finish—the dream was becoming reality.
As car chief for Kyle Benjamin at MDM Motorsports, Marlin helped guide the team to a second-place finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship—proving his unconventional journey could lead to success at the professional level.
2017: First Championship
Car chief at 27 years old, championship winner, rising star in NASCAR.
Marlin served as car chief for Harrison Burton's championship-winning season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. The team won 5 races and secured Burton's first professional championship, establishing Marlin as a rising talent in NASCAR.
2018: ARCA Championship Campaign
Championship contender with one of NASCAR's most promising young drivers.
Working with driver Zane Smith at MDM Motorsports, Marlin helped guide the team through a competitive ARCA Racing Series season, finishing second in the championship standings and earning recognition throughout the NASCAR community.
2018: The Call From Hendrick Motorsports
The impossible dream achieved—joining NASCAR's most legendary team.
In October 2018, Marlin achieved his lifelong dream—moving his toolbox to Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR's winningest team in history. He was hired as front-end mechanic for the legendary #48 team, the same car that won 7 championships with Jimmie Johnson.
8-2020: #48 Team (Alex Bowman)
Front-end mechanic on the iconic #48, learning from the best in the business.
Marlin worked as front-end mechanic on the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team with driver Alex Bowman. He was responsible for critical front-end components, suspension geometry, and ensuring the car handled perfectly on race day—skills that translated from chassis setup to precise mechanical work.
2021: The Championship
10 wins, 1 championship, NASCAR Cup Series champion—the pinnacle of motorsports.
When the #48 crew moved to become the #5 team with new driver Kyle Larson, Marlin was part of history. The team dominated the 2021 season with 10 wins, and Marlin stood in Victory Lane at Phoenix Raceway as Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship—the pinnacle of American motorsports.
2023: Le Mans - Making History on the World Stage
Representing NASCAR on the world's biggest stage at the 100th running of Le Mans.
Marlin was selected as front-end mechanic for NASCAR's historic Garage 56 entry at the 24 Hours of Le Mans—the 100th running of the world's most prestigious endurance race. The team successfully completed all 24 hours, with Marlin's crew winning the GTE-class Pit Stop Challenge. It was the first NASCAR entry at Le Mans since 1976, showcasing American stock car racing to a global audience.
What Marlin Does Today
Championship precision, applied to every vehicle that comes through our doors.
After accomplishing more in NASCAR than he ever dreamed possible, Marlin now brings that same championship-level precision, work ethic, and attention to detail to Yoder Automotive. Every transmission service, diagnosis, and repair is performed with the same standards that won races at NASCAR's highest level. From the #5 championship car to your daily driver—Marlin applies the same meticulous approach that kept Kyle Larson's car running flawlessly through a 10-win season. Because whether it's a Cup Series car or your vehicle, the fundamentals of precision mechanical work remain the same.
Overcoming Impossible Odds
The Barriers Most People Can't Comprehend:
1. Cultural Barriers
Leaving the Amish community isn't just changing jobs or moving to a new city.
It means:
-
Leaving your entire family and community
-
Being shunned by everyone you've ever known
-
Starting over in a world you don't understand
-
Learning to use technology you've never seen
-
Adapting to a culture that's completely foreign
And doing all of that while pursuing a career in one of the most competitive industries in the world.
2. Educational Barriers
Marlin had an 8th-grade education.
Most NASCAR engineers have:
-
College degrees in mechanical engineering
-
Advanced physics and mathematics training
-
Years of formal technical education
Marlin learned everything through:
-
On-the-job training
-
Self-teaching
-
Relentless work and observation
-
Trial and error
-
Asking questions and absorbing everything
3. Zero Racing Knowledge
Most people who work in NASCAR grew up around racing.
Their dads raced. Their granddads raced. They've been to tracks since they were kids.
Marlin had never:
-
Seen a NASCAR race in person
-
Driven a car
-
Been to a racetrack
-
Used a smartphone
-
Watched television
He started from absolute zero.
4. No Connections
Most people in NASCAR got there through connections—family, friends, sponsors, teams.
Marlin had none of that.
He knocked on doors. He asked for chances. He worked for free. He proved himself the only way he could: through relentless, exceptional work.
You're Not Just Getting a Good Mechanic—
You're Getting a Championship-Winning Craftsman Who Refused to Quit
What Marlin's Journey Means for You:
1. Work Ethic You Can't Find Anywhere Else
Marlin's Amish upbringing taught him a level of work ethic that most people can't comprehend. In the Amish community: -You don't cut corners -You don't do "good enough" -You don't quit when it's hard -You finish what you start -Your work is a reflection of your character That's the standard Marlin holds himself—and his team—to every single day. When your car comes into Yoder Automotive, it's not just another oil change or brake job. It's a reflection of Marlin's character. And he's not willing to compromise on that.
2. Problem-Solving at the Highest Level
Marlin spent years solving problems that most mechanics will never face: Making a race car handle at 200 mph Diagnosing issues in real-time during pit stops Adapting to different tracks, conditions, and setups every single week Working under championship-level pressure
3. Precision That Won Championships
In NASCAR, being "close enough" means you lose. At 200 mph: A quarter-degree of misalignment means the car won't turn A loose bolt means a catastrophic failure A part that's "good enough" costs you the race Marlin brings that same precision to your car. When he aligns your wheels, when he diagnoses your suspension, when he checks your brakes—he's using the same championship-level precision that helped Kyle Larson win 10 races and a championship.
4. Honesty Built on Integrity
Marlin didn't get to NASCAR by lying, cutting corners, or taking shortcuts. He got there by: Proving himself through exceptional work Earning trust through honesty Building relationships through integrity That's how he runs Yoder Automotive. No upselling. No scare tactics. No pressure. Just honest service from someone who's proven—over and over—that integrity matters more than quick money.