Dale Jarrett News Rumors

See Also: Dale Jarrett Biography

July 7, 2006

UPS follows Jarrett to Michael Waltrip's Racing Toyota: NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett will bring United Parcel Service Inc. along for the ride when he moves to Michael Waltrip Racing in 2007. Atlanta-based UPS has reported a two-year deal with Michael Waltrip Racing to sponsor Jarrett in a Toyota Camry for the 2007 and 2008 seasons of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Earlier this year, Jarrett agreed to move to the Waltrip organization and race a Toyota Camry starting with the 2007 Daytona 500. The decision to join Michael Waltrip Racing also places UPS among the first sponsors to adorn a Toyota Camry in 2007, which is the manufacturer's inaugural season in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. UPS has supported Jarrett since 2001, when it first became a NASCAR team sponsor and began its popular "Race the Truck" advertising campaign. That campaign has made Jarrett's name synonymous with UPS and its "big brown truck" and UPS said maintaining that brand connection was a factor in its decision. (Yahoo!/Biz Journal)

July 2, 2006

Jarrett races with broken hand: Dale Jarrett entered Saturday night's race with a broken left hand, the result of a crash last week at Infineon Raceway. Jarrett was diagnosed with the injury Thursday evening at Daytona along with a stretched ligament. He was involved in a crash late in last weekend's race. He was to have worn some additional padding during Saturday's race. (Roanoke Times)

June 17, 2006:

More Yates #88 Changes: At Michigan International Speedway for Sunday's 3M Performance 400, Labbe and his driver, Dale Jarrett, will have a new full-time car chief; while Labbe has an official right-hand man with the promotion of former car chief and fill-in crew chief, Jason Burdett, to assistant crew chief. "Jason's really smart," Labbe said. "When I got suspended, we moved Brian Dantinne up to car chief, so we're going to leave that the same and Jason's just going to help me, you know, be the assistant crew chief and be in my back pocket -- because he deserves that. (NASCAR.com)

June 2, 2006:

Jason Jarrett to spot for Dad Dale: Jason Jarrett, son of Nextel Cup driver Dale Jarrett, will take over spotting duties for his father beginning this weekend at Dover. Eddie D’Hondt served as Jarrett’s sponsor this season, but was relieved of his general manager duties at Robert Yates Racing recently. Last weekend, Rick Cordell took over the position, but Jarrett and he had communication problems. (ThatsRacin)

May 20, 2006:

Jarrett considered RCR offer: Before Dale Jarrett accepted Michael Waltrip's offer to run Toyotas on the Nextel Cup tour next season, Jarrett considered a ride with Chevrolet's Richard Childress, in a fourth Childress car, as part of a six-year package, according to sources close to the situation. Under the proposed Jarrett-Childress deal, Jarrett would have signed on for three more seasons as a driver, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and UPS would not only have followed Jarrett to Childress' but would have agreed to another three years of sponsorship beyond 2009, according to sources. However the deal never came down, in part because Childress was leery of expanding to a fourth team, given the problems he had when expanding to a third Nextel Cup team. (Salem-Journal)

May 13, 2006:

Waltrip/Jarrett make it Official, Jarrett in Toyota in '07: Jarrett, 49, was officially named as one of Waltrip's drivers for next season when the Toyota Camry makes its debut in the Nextel Cup Series. Waltrip and Jarrett will be teammates on the two-car team of Michael Waltrip Racing. The move ends Jarrett's 12-year relationship with Robert Yates Racing, where 29 of his 32 career Cup victories came. Jarrett, who is 12th in points heading into Saturday's Dodge Charger 500 at Darlington, denied published reports that suggested that he was lured with an eight-figure salary and the promise of Toyota dealership options. "[There is] a lot of stuff out there that I came here because I was getting paid millions and millions of dollars and Toyota dealerships here and there, it is just funny to see what people think and how things get started," Jarrett said. "I know there is a value for some things that I have being a former champion, so all of those things added up to a lot. "The reason I am doing this is not about money. This is to help Michael. I told my wife that this was going to be one of the biggest things to happen in NASCAR, for a driver with a new manufacturer to start his own organization." Waltrip also said it had nothing to do with money.  Jarrett already has said that 2008 will be his final season behind the wheel, and last week at Richmond confirmed he has had discussions with ESPN about joining the network as a television analyst. ESPN will take a leading role in Cup coverage beginning in 2007. Jarrett has also reportedly expressed interest in team ownership or managment. A sponsor and a car number were not immediately announced, but Waltrip said that he had funding in place for his programs. Waltrip did not say whether Jarrett's current sponsor, UPS, would go along with him. (In part from NASCAR.com)

Jarrett/Waltrip Announcement Today? Michael Waltrip Racing has scheduled an announcement Saturday at 1 p.m. Waltrip will debut a two-car Toyota team next season, and has been lobbying former Cup champion Dale Jarrett to drive for him. Jarrett, in the final year of his contract with Robert Yates Racing, said April 29 at Talladega that his decision would be made "in the next two or three weeks." (Post Courier) Live announcement will televised on NASCAR Live!

Ford upset with lose of Jarrett: Ford officials are none too pleased with the apparent loss of Dale Jarrett, who will announce his decision to join Michael Waltrip Racing later this weekend (check it out live on SPEED, Saturday morning at Noon ET). All but two of Jarrett's 32 career Cup wins have come behind the wheel of a blue-ovaled automobile, as did his 1999 Winston Cup title. In addition, Jarrett's father, Ned, won both of his Cup titles as a Ford factory driver, and Dale Jarrett Ford is one of the largest Ford dealerships in the country, located in Monroe, N.C. about one hour north of Darlington. (FOXSports.com)

May 9, 2006:

Labbe suspended 3 races: NASCAR issued penalties Tuesday to the #88 Nextel Cup Series team for a rule violation committed last weekend at Richmond International Raceway. Richard “Slugger” Labbe, crew chief for the #88 Ford driven by Dale Jarrett, was fined $25,000 and suspended from NASCAR until June 7, 2006 [thru race at Dover], for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.2D (unapproved rear sway bar mounting for use other than anti-roll) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book. The violation was discovered during pre-race inspection on May 6. Also, Jarrett has been penalized 25 driver championship points, while team owner Robert Yates has been penalized 25 owner championship points as a result of the violation. (NASCAR PR)

Jarrett's Crew Chief Labbe faces possible suspension: NASCAR confiscated the sway bar from Nextel Cup driver Dale Jarrett's No. 88 Ford this past weekend at Richmond, Va., and crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe faces stiff penalties for the infraction, the Observer has learned. A sway bar may be used on the front and/or rear suspension to help keep the body flat as the vehicle rounds a corner, which greatly improves a vehicle's cornering agility. Replacing the sway bar with one of a larger diameter can increase it even more. According to NASCAR sources, Labbe could receive a hefty fine and possible suspension for the violation. Jarrett and team owner Robert Yates could also receive points penalties. An official announcement of NASCAR's verdict is expected on Tuesday. (Charlotte Observer)

May 6, 2006:

Jarrett finalizing details with MWR, B. Elliott test Toyota Engine: Dale Jarrett said Friday at Richmond International Raceway that he is within 10 days of announcing future plans that reportedly have him leaving Robert Yates Racing for Michael Waltrip Racing. "Just finalizing details," Jarrett said. Bill Elliott tested one of Waltrip's Chevrolet Cup cars with a Toyota engine earlier this week at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and there are plans for more tests as the foreign manufacturer seeks approval from NASCAR. (NASCAR.com)

May 4, 2006:

Jarrett informed RYR of Toyota switch? Toyota has yet to put a car on the track in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, but the automotive giant appears to have already landed its first NASCAR champion. Dale Jarrett, the 1999 NASCAR Cup champion, is expected to help head the company's 2007 entry into the series, agreeing to join Michael Waltrip Racing next season. Several sources have confirmed that Jarrett, 49, informed Robert Yates Racing officials of his decision April 26. Jarrett, in the final year of his contract at RYR, had said earlier this year that he hoped to continue competing in Cup through the 2008 season. But when asked April 29 about a possible move to Toyota next season, Jarrett deflected the question, saying he would talk only about Talladega. (NASCAR Scene Daily)

April 13, 2006:

Jarrett to drive Crayon/UPS paint scheme: Dale Jarrett's No. 88 Ford will be sporting a paint scheme created by Crayola for the Nov. 5 race at Texas Motor Speedway. The "Design Dale's Ride" contest will give children 5-12 a chance at coloring in a template of Jarrett's car. The winning entry will be unveiled at Daytona International Speedway in July, and sales from die-cast replicas of the car will benefit Toys for Tots. Entries are available at UPS Store locations or by logging on to www.theupsstore.com. Jarrett expects a large turnout because the fan base has trended younger during his 29 years in NASCAR. "The interest among kids has increased tremendously," Jarrett said. "And that's really what we need because we're growing NASCAR fans for life there." (USA Today)

March 28, 2006:

Dale Jarrett Racing adventure gets website: Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, Inc.  announced today that they have completed the redesign of their online presence with their new website at www.racingadventure.com. In addition to a more appealing graphic design, the new website is also easier to navigate, more intuitive with enhanced interactivity. "It is a great pleasure to announce the completion of this major project to improve our online presence and revenue. The company's website was already generating well over a half million dollars a year in online sales, and we are expecting the new site, coupled with the national marketing campaign we are launching to at least double these gross revenues in the short term," said Ronda Robertson, marketing director. "Our research suggests that improving the functionality of our site while making it more appealing will increase our return on traffic brought to the site through effective promotions. Even an increase in our capture rate of a couple of percentage points can significantly increase our total sales without greatly increasing our cost of those sales." DJRT was founded in 1998 and is backed by NASCAR Champions Dale and Ned Jarrett, as well as Dale's brother Glenn, Dale's son Jason and Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. More information is available on the Racing Adventure by visiting www.racingadventure.com. (PRNewswire)

March 18, 2006:

Jarrett plans to drive through 2008: Before the Daytona 500, #88-Dale Jarrett described the 2006 Nextel Cup season as critical to determining how long he would extend his career. After three races of evaluating his team, he has a timetable. "I'm pretty sure now I'm going to drive through 2008," he said Friday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "I feel like if we can stay on pace with what we're trying to do, that would be sufficient time to leave it in a good situation." (USA Today)

Jan. 18, 2006:

Jarrett wants to see smaller engine: (Dale) Jarrett said that what he really would like to see is something that would result in more competition, more side-by-side racing. "So I think we seriously have to consider downsizing these engines," he said. "I've said this a number of times, and NASCAR has talked to me over the last couple of years. "When I started this business full-time in 1987, a good engine had somewhere between 620 and 640 horsepower. Since that time, we've got better tires; Goodyear does a tremendous job there. We have more downforce than we've ever had with these cars. And those two things alone should allow us to run side-by-side better and longer. (Salem-Journal)

Dec. 19, 2005:

UPS crew picks up a few crew member: Robert Yates Racing picked up two new pit crew members for Dale Jarrett's No. 88 team: Cory Quick, previously a tire changer for Jimmie Johnson, and jackman Tim Boatwright, who joins the squad after the dismantling of the No. 77 Penske Cup team. Former Dale Earnhardt Inc. crew member Shannon Myers, a former Dolphins draft pick, will move to the No. 90 Busch program.  (Sporting News)

Oct. 7, 2005:

Jarrett to travel home for daughters homecoming: Following practice on Friday afternoon Jarrett will travel back to his home in Hickory, N.C., to attend the homecoming festivities for Hickory High School. Jarrett’s oldest daughter, Natalee, is a senior at Hickory High School and has been selected to the school’s homecoming court. She is one of the individuals who have been nominated for the school’s homecoming queen. Jarrett will travel back to Kansas for Saturday’s qualifying activities on Saturday morning. (UPS RACING PR)

Oct. 2, 2005:

 Jarrett wins crash fest at Talladega:  Dale Jarrett's voice was hoarse and choked with emotion. He had just won a frantic shootout to end a 98-race drought and steal the spotlight from NASCAR's championship drivers. The hardened veteran could hardly believe what had happened yesterday at Talladega Superspeedway. "When you get to this point of your career, you're not exactly sure when that last victory is going to be there, so you learn to cherish each one," Jarrett said. "It is very emotional. When I was coming down that backstretch, it was very emotional."  Jarrett used a three-wide pass to challenge Tony Stewart for the lead on the final lap of a three-lap overtime shootout, then passed Stewart on the backstretch in the UAW-Ford 500 for his first victory since 2003 at the North Carolina Speedway. Kyle Petty spun to bring out a caution before the leaders crossed the finish line, freezing the field. NASCAR had to review tape to establish a final finishing order. The final decision had Stewart second and back on top of the Nextel Cup leader board after the third of 10 Chase for the championship races. "The big picture is what we were worried about today," Stewart said. "Even if we finished 10th and gained points, that was the big thing." Matt Kenseth finished third and Ryan Newman was fourth. Stewart holds a four-point advantage over Newman after a race that shuffled the Chase standings. New York Daily - Results - Points)

Oct. 1, 2005:

Jarrett criticizes Media for being easy on NASCAR: Dale Jarrett yesterday took NASCAR to task for its subjective rules enforcement and blamed the media for not holding officials more accountable. Jarrett was furious over the fact that Jimmie Johnson's car failed a post-race height inspection after last Sunday's win at Dover, yet NASCAR took no action against the Nextel Cup points leader. "They don't pass inspection, they're allowed to sit there and jump up and down on their cars and whatever they need to do … everything I saw (reported) was either on the back page or the next-to-last page," Jarrett fumed after qualifying second for tomorrow's UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. "I'm sorry, but I'm not understanding what you all (media) are doing here." Jarrett, who failed to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup, continued: "You talk about rules — if you're gonna have (height) requirements I didn't realize they had a 24-hour waiting period for these … things to settle down. I'm fired up about this. I don't understand it." (The Tennessean) Wasn't Jarrett the one refusing to answer or comment from the media after Bristol?

Sep. 4, 2005

Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure Up: Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure  announced today that the company sold more adventure packages this last month than in any other month of their history, excluding the holidays. "We realized almost a 50% increase in August gross revenue over the same period last year. That is the fifth month in a row that sales have increased and a great indicator of our continued growth," said company President Tim Shannon. In the last month and a half the school has completed successful programs at the Milwaukee Mile, the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Kansas Speedway, the Texas Motor Speedway and the Kentucky Speedway. The complete 2006 schedule will be released within the next couple of months and should include California, Phoenix, Kansas and Chicagoland as well as the tracks mentioned above. The Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure features the opportunity to race actual NASCAR Nextel Cup racecars. The company books various dates during the year at NASCAR tracks and customers purchase laps ranging from a 3-lap ride to an 80-lap drive. Students can achieve speeds of up to 165 mph at the Superspeedways and are allowed to pass and draft with other students. An instructional session is used to acquaint the student with the racecar, safety precautions and the proper groove of the racetrack. DJRT was started in 1998 and is backed by the Jarrett brothers (Dale and Glenn) as well as their Father, Ned, Dale's son, Jason and Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. More information is available on the Racing Adventure by visiting www.racingadventure.com. (DJRA PR)

Aug 31, 2005

Jarrett's response to Bristol wreck: The first issue for the #88 UPS Team occurred on lap 210 when Jarrett was hit by Rusty Wallace, causing slight damage to the UPS Ford. The UPS Ford required minimal repairs and Jarrett continued in the event in 25th position. Jarrett took advantage of some pit strategy by staying out during the ninth caution and restarted the event in third place with only 12 laps of green flag racing on his tires. Jarrett was spun out for the second time of the night on lap 301 when Ryan Newman hit Jarrett from behind. Sixteen laps later, while racing with the lap down cars, Jarrett's car broke loose going into turn one and got into Newman. The UPS Team lost several laps during the caution period while making repairs and then Jarrett was slapped with a two-lap penalty for what NASCAR considered rough driving. "It wasn't our night," said a dejected Jarrett. "We had some handling issues early and then we kept getting hit. The handling on the car just wasn't right after Ryan got into me and I couldn't keep the car down in the corners." "This pretty much seals our fate in regards to making the Chase," he added. "We went for so long this season without having issues like this. I guess we're due." (UPS RACING)

Aug 30, 2005

Jarrett not talking to reporters: Among the contenders practicing yesterday (at Richmond) was Dale Jarrett, who declined interview requests in the wake of a controversial crash with Ryan Newman at Bristol. Jarrett is scheduled to return today along with Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Elliott Sadler and Matt Kenseth. (Times-Dispatch)

Aug 2, 2005

Jarrett gives the Fusion first on track test: Dale Jarrett gave the Ford Fusion, the automaker's proposed NASCAR Nextel Cup entry for 2006, its first on-track test. "I think things went really well," said Jarrett, who drives a Ford Taurus in the Cup series for Robert Yates Racing. "It has a very nice look to it and performed well." He said he was able to achieve the speed he was looking for during a 10-lap run Tuesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Asked if he could tell the difference between the Taurus and the Fusion, Jarrett said the new car seemed to have better balance. "That's what we're trying to achieve with the Fusion," he explained. "I think that's what we've done." The car that Jarrett drove Tuesday was prepared and brought to the track by the Wood Brothers Racing team. (Duluth Tribune)

July 17, 2005

Jarrett hopes to make decision in 2 weeks: Forget about the brown truck. The big question: Will Dale Jarrett race the No. 88 UPS Ford in 2007? Or will he call it one heck of a career? The 48-year-old already is the second-oldest, full-time driver in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series. He'll be 50 at the 2007 Daytona 500. That's downright ancient in most sports. But racing is not most sports, with equipment a huge part, and Jarrett said Wednesday in a phone interview that he honestly believes he still has got the driving skills to find Victory Lane. ''If anything, I'm a better race car driver now than I've ever been. I'm more experienced. I'm smarter,'' said the three-time Daytona 500 winner and 1999 Winston Cup champion. ``The race car has no idea how old I am.'' Jarrett is under contract with Robert Yates Racing and UPS through the 2006 season. Jarrett said the offer is there by both for as long as he races. But he needs to give UPS a decision about the 2007 season in two weeks. He'll either continue to battle the next generation of drivers, some of whom are younger than his son Jason, or ride into the sunset and perhaps into a broadcast booth. (Miami Herald)

July 14, 2005

Jarrett and Kahne makes UPS a Amazon 10 year delivery: To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Amazon.com, NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne (left) and Dale Jarret makes surprise personal delivery to Amanda Pierce (not shown) at her office in Charlotte, NC., Tues., July 12, 2005. Celebrities from different entertainment fields are participating in Amazon.com's Special Delivery program from July 7 - 16. Kahne and Jarret accompanied UPS driver Jeff Starnes (not pictured) for the delivery of the "NASCAR Chronicle". (Davis Turner/U.S. Newswire) (Photo)

June 3 2005

Jarrett's Racing Adventure in trouble? Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure Inc. incurred a net loss for the quarter ended March 31 and says its auditors have expressed reservations about the company's ability to continue operating. The Denver, N.C., company, which operates a stock-car fantasy driving school at several tracks around the country, including one at Lowe's Motor Speedway, says in its SEC filing it has experienced a significant loss from operations, a result of investments necessary to achieve its operating plan. From the company's creation in 1998 through March 31, Dale Jarrett Racing has incurred net losses of nearly $4.8 million. The company has a working capital deficit of more than $1 million. The company says failure to secure equity financing, raise additional capital or attain profitable operations may result in the company depleting its available funds and not being able pay its obligations. This month, Dale Jarrett Racing announced it changed from a fiscal year ending June 30 to a calendar year ending Dec. 31 to better coincide with business planning and strategy. (Business Journal)

May 20, 2005

Wilburn Named Interim Jarrett Crew Chief: Filling that role this weekend for Team UPS is veteran crew chief Bill Wilburn who served as crew chief for Rusty Wallace during the 2003 NASCAR season. "Obviously, we want to take our time in finding a permanent replacement for the role of crew chief," said Eddie D'Hondt, general manager for Robert Yates Racing. "Billy Wilburn has been nice enough to come on board in an interim role to serve as crew chief, working with the #88 team and on race strategy. In the meantime, we'll monitor his chemistry with our team and keep our options open for a permanent replacement." (RYR Site)

May 16, 2005

Ford Out as 88 Crew Chief: Robert Yates Racing (RYR) announced today that Mike Ford has elected to step down as crew chief for the #88 UPS/Robert Yates Racing NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team and driver Dale Jarrett. Ford joined RYR in November 2003.  “Mike made this decision based on what was in the best interest for himself and for his family,” said Eddie D’Hondt, general manager for RYR. “We obviously wish him the best in his future endeavors.”  “We are actively pursuing someone to replace him,” D’Hondt continued. “Until we find the right individual for the job, we will fill the role in-house on an interim basis.”   The #88 Team is currently 14th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings with one pole, one top-five and two top-10 finishes. The team’s best finish in 2005 to date is a fifth-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in April. (RYR PR)

Feb. 28, 2005

DJ and Celebs: Tomorrow, Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure will entertain top PGA players whoare in Miami for the Ford Doral Golf Tournament.  After successfully driving the racecars themselves past and present Ford NASCAR Champions will then give them each the ride of their life as they drive them around the track.  "We are very proud to be associated with this event for the third year in a row.  To bring this level of adventure to 50 of the most talented athletes in the world is sincerely an honor," said Tim Shannon, President. (DJ PR)

UPS Delivers NASCAR to Mexico: UPS today announced coordination and logistics support for the first-ever NASCAR Busch Series race south of the border at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City on March 6.   With special document requirements, advance coordination between U.S. and Mexican officials, security and staging for expedited border crossings early this week, UPS has facilitated a complex planning and communications process.   UPS will manifest and seal all NASCAR and team equipment, coordinate international logistics and synchronize more than 80 team haulers, official trailers of technical scoring and template equipment, tires, emergency and safety vehicles and media trucks across the border in multiple convoys. This project leverages the rapid customs clearance, information management and consulting capabilities offered by UPS Supply Chain Solutions, the logistics and distribution arm of UPS, expanding UPS's sponsorship role as the official delivery company of NASCAR. "Equipment will be arriving at our UPS Logistics Center in Laredo, Texas, from multiple points around the country, and our specialized teams have the complex task of streamlining the massive cross-border activities," said Tom Page, director of solutions and marketing for Latin America, UPS Supply Chain Solutions. "Most of the Busch series teams will compete the weeks before and after the Mexico race, and NASCAR needs comprehensive knowledge of every detail on each of the shipments from coast to coast, as well as plans for exchanges of equipment in staging." Following the rapid clearance, convoy groups will cross the World Trade Bridge to begin the approximate 20 hour non-stop trip to Mexico City. Each convoy will have federal and private security escorts, as well as coordinated communications en route. Then, UPS will complete all procedures in reverse after the checkered flag at the Sunday race for reentry into the United States for the race the following weekend. At the track, UPS Trackside Services also will operate its unique service counter for urgent UPS Worldwide Express(SM) package delivery services to and from the controlled-access garage areas used by the race teams. (UPS PR)