Robert Yates Racing News/Rumors
Travis Kvapil, David Gilliand
June 15, 2007
Yates has interest in both Busch Brothers: Add Robert Yates Racing to the list of teams interested in signing Kyle Busch to drive next season. "I've sent word through his agent [that I would like to talk to him]," RYR co-owner Robert Yates said on Thursday during a Ford function. "I'm very interested." Said Yates' son, Doug, "He would look good in a Ford." RYR not only wants Kyle, but his brother Kurt. But Kurt Busch has three years remaining on his deal with Penske Racing, and according to his agent has no plans to leave. "That's flattering," said Kurt's agent, John Caponigro. "He's locked in at Penske. He's doing fine. He's looking forward to making the Chase this year and having lot of success at Penske Racing." (ESPN.com)
July 18, 2006
E. Sadler to Evernham Motorsports: Though he denies any contact with Ray Evernham, Elliott Sadler will drive the No. 19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge in 2007, multiple sources close to Robert Yates Racing have confirmed. Contrary to recent speculation, M&Ms, Sadler's current primary sponsor at Yates, will not accompany him to Evernham, those same sources say. (NASCAR.com)
July 16, 2006
Leicht to make NEXTEL Cup debut: Robert Yates Racing announced that Stephen Leicht, driver of the #90 CitiFinancial Ford, will attempt to make his Nextel Cup Series debut at Pocono Raceway on July 23. Leicht, nineteen years of age, will also attempt to become the youngest driver to compete in the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 6. Leicht wrapped up a two day test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this week, posting the sixth-fastest time among drivers on Wednesday. RYR will utilize Matt McCall, co-driver of the #90 CitiFinancial Ford, for the Busch Series event at Martinsville Speedway on July 22. This will be the first Nextel Cup event for CitiFinancial Racing. They joined Robert Yates Racing in 2005 for a partial season and currently compete full-time in the Busch Series. (RYR PR)
July 14, 2006
Sadler to announce plans for 2007 Saturday: Elliott Sadler has until Saturday to tell Robert Yates whether he plans to drive the No. 38 M&M's Ford next year. With Dale Jarrett leaving at the end of the year, Yates might have to fill two seats. Two drivers reportedly on Yates' short list are Ward Burton and Stephen Leicht, who has made tremendous gains on the Busch circuit. (Orlando Sentinel)
RYR's Leicht to debut at Pocono: Robert Yates Racing development driver Stephen Leicht will attempt to make his NASCAR Nextel Cup debut July 23 at Pocono Raceway. Leicht, who was sixth-fastest among drivers Wednesday during the Cup test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said Friday that the plan is for him to run Pocono and then at the Brickyard in RYR's No. 90 Ford. "The test went very well, a lot better than I expected and a lot better than I think a lot of people expected," said Leicht, who also has tested a Cup car Kentucky. "It was a lot faster [than a Busch car]. You miss the spoiler the Busch cars have. "But at the same time, the Cup cars are a lot easier to drive because they turn better." (NASCAR Scene Daily)
July 9, 2006
R. Gordon Motorsports to expand? maybe RYR? Robby Gordon Motorsports will expand in 2007, possibly to a two-car operation in-house or by way of an alliance with an existing team. Among those on the radar: Robert Yates Racing. RGM and RYR executives said Saturday they're discussing the future with "a lot of people," and RGM CEO John Story confirmed that Yates is among the teams with which RGM has discussed a future partnership. Whether or not the union comes to fruition, though, is up in the air "We've spoken to [Yates]," Story said. "We've talked to them, had some general discussions. But we're not yet ready. We've got to get everything on the table, lay it out and see what's best for us. "We will be making a lot of improvements to the program next year. We recognize we've got to grow. If you want to run for championships you've got to grow. So we've made it a strategy to grow. How we do it is yet to be determined." Story said RGM has a contract offer from General Motors for 2007, and regardless the chosen direction Gordon would maintain an ownership role. Story said RGM would prefer to add a second Nextel Cup Series team, and has ongoing discussions regarding the second program with several potential sponsors. (NASCAR.com)
July 8, 2006
Future Yates Sponsorship: Citi Financial, which sponsors Yates's Busch efforts, may be ready for a major role, Doug Yates said. He also noted that Tide, which has backed Cal Wells's team since 2000, will be contractually free after this season and may be available. (Speedtv.com)
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
July 1, 2006
Sadler on EA Sports NASCAR '07: With more NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers at the highest level of the sport gaming than ever before, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that its EA SPORTS™ branded NASCAR® videogame, NASCAR® 07, will feature NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Elliott Sadler on the cover. The longtime gamer has been heavily involved in all aspects of EA’s NASCAR franchise since he joined the Cup ranks in 1999, including taking home the championship trophy from last years’ EA SPORTS Drivers Gaming Competition in Bristol, TN, making him the perfect driver to showcase on the cover. “I’m thrilled that EA has chosen me as their cover athlete for the game this year,” said Sadler, driver of the No. 38 M&M’s Ford Fusion for Robert Yates Racing. “I’ve been a big fan of this game for a while now and play it as often as I can whether I’m on the road or at home.” (EA Sports PR)
June 22, 2006:
UPS heading to Roush? Car owner Ray Evernham had until last Friday to convince Dodge officials to allow UPS to sponsor Kasey Kahne's Dodge next year, and apparently he couldn't do it. That means UPS will sponsor Greg Biffle's Ford next year. (Augusta Chronicle)
June 19, 2006:
Yates denies Sadler report: Car owner Robert Yates denied Internet reports that Elliott Sadler is unhappy and wants out of his contract to drive the No. 38 Ford that runs through 2008. "That's not what he's telling me," Yates said. "That's all I can really say. I guess the grandstand can start speculating anything. So far, he hasn't communicated that with me yet." (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
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)
Sadler looking for a way out? Elliott Sadler has let it be known he isn't happy in the team's #38 car and appears to be looking for a way out, especially after teammate #88-Dale Jarrett accepted a Toyota pension for 2007, with Michael Waltrip. Where exactly Sadler would go is a question, although everyone who is anyone is churning in Toyota's rumor mill right now. (Speedtv.com)
June 12, 2006:
UPS to Evernham? It appears UPS is still in play as a major sponsor. In the past two years the winner in the sponsor hunt has been Evernham Motorsports. UPS may add itself to the list of Evernham conquests signing as the primary sponsor of the No. 9 Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne. Then again, it is said the Dodge Dealers aren't willing to vacate their position on Kahne's ride. The dealers might be willing to let loose of the No. 19 driven by Jeremy Mayfield. However, it’s not clear Mayfield would be the driver of choice for UPS. (CircleTrackPlus.com)
June 10, 2006:
UPS to Roush or Evernham: On the sponsor front, sources in the garage indicate that UPS will be moving from Robert Yates Racing to one of two teams in 2007, either the No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge Charger driven by Kasey Kahne or the No. 16 Roush Racing Ford Fusion driven by Greg Biffle. RYR will replace UPS with CitiFinancial, its current Busch Series sponsor, sources said. (Speedtv)
June 2, 2006:
Jason Jarrett to spot for Dad Dale
May 27, 2006;
Sadler OK after fall: Elliott Sadler, driver of the #38 Ford in the Nextel Cup Series, sustained only minor injuries on Friday evening after a fall from a stage in Uptown Charlotte during the taping of the television program “Trackside Live” broadcast on The Speed Channel. After rain showers earlier in the evening, Sadler slipped from the outdoor stage due to the wet surface bruising his left thigh. He sustained no other injuries as previously reported. Sadler was seen by an onsite medical team and left under his own power. He will compete in the scheduled NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. (Elevation Group PR)
Yates buying Roush Chassis' and big name driver? One immediate mechanical change is that the team has purchased its first Roush Racing chassis and will begin using Roush cars. And despite the doom and gloom surrounding the team’s disappointing start and seeming chaos — Jarrett is leaving, sponsor UPS could be, too, and Jarrett’s crew chief is in the midst of a four-week suspension — the Yates family believes a quick turnaround could happen. They are also searching for a driver to replace Jarrett and, perhaps, a new sponsor if UPS moves on. Robert Yates hinted that he had a big-name driver ready to sign on the bottom line — if the team can improve its results. “I really believe that if we can in quick order get a ‘wow’ situation with the car, I think you all will say ‘wow’ to the driver that may be driving it,” Robert Yates said. “Right now we’ve got our hopes very high.” (SPEEDTV)
May 23, 2006:
RYR makes personal changes: Robert Yates, NASCAR car owner, announced today that he is re-evaluating the structure of the organization and has made a change in personnel at the management level of Robert Yates Racing (RYR). As part of the process, Eddie D’Hondt has been released from his position as general manager for RYR, effective immediately. “We are re-evaluating the way we are doing business from the top down,” Yates said. “This is a performance-based business and we have to evaluate the performance of where our cars are now. That begins with understanding our cars.” Doug Yates, head engine builder for RYR and son of Robert Yates, said the decision to make a change at the management level is a result of the Yates family reasserting themselves as the managers of their family-owned business. One of the first actions the team is taking is moving Raymond Fox, III back to the Nextel Cup shop where he will work with the #38 M&M’S Team and serve as a liaison between the Busch and Nextel Cup Series teams. “Raymond is very key to our organization,” Yates said. “The Busch program is important to us but we need his help elsewhere in the company and right now that is at the Cup shop where he’s worked since we started this organization.” “Eddie (D’Hondt) did a good job for us,” he said. “But this is our company and Robert and I have decided we need to get our arms around our company. We’re not happy with where we’re at as a race team. We need to reassert key people including ourselves.” (RYR PR)
May 22, 2006:
Sadler signed with RYR through 2008: Though Elliott Sadler’s name continues to be bandied about in the pool of Silly Season rumors, a Robert Yates Racing representative confirmed that Sadler is under contract with the team, through the end of the 2008 season. (SPEEDTV.com)
May 18, 2006:
RYR response to Commission: The #88 UPS Team will race the next four weeks without the services of crew chief Slugger Labbe after the NASCAR Appeals Committee denied the appeal submitted by Robert Yates Racing on Labbe's behalf. As a result, Jason Burdett, car chief for the #88 UPS Team, will assume the crew chief role at the track in preparation for Saturday night�s All-Star Challenge and during the course of Labbe's suspension. "We're disappointed but respect the decision of the appeals committee and accept the results," Labbe said. �Jason Burdett is a long time employee of RYR and deserves this opportunity. Jason has been involved with the #88 team for years as car chief and certainly understands the handling of the race car and the different things that I would communicate to Dale Jarrett. He's the best person to do this for our #88 team because the communication has already been started with the driver and crew members. "We're just going to go do the same things we've been doing all year,� Burdett said of his added responsibilities. "We have a pretty good support group and we all work so close together that it should be pretty seamless.� Jerry Pitts, RYR's ARCA crew chief, and Travis Geisler, engineer on the #90 RYR Ford that competes in the NASCAR Busch Series, will assist Burdett as needed .(RYR PR)
National Stock Car Racing Commission upholds RYR penalty
May 16, 2006:
Jarrett says, RYR need Engineering help: "I think we have to step that up," Jarrett said of the team's engineering department. "That's something that is being talked about. It's not like they're a dime a dozen. Finding the right people, it's what it's all about." (Roanoke.com)
May 13, 2006:
Doug Yates, reaction to Jarrett's departure to Toyota: Doug Yates, co-owner of Robert Yates Racing, reacted to the announcement that Dale Jarrett will be leaving the team after the 2006 season. Yates Reaction
May 12, 2006:
Labbe offered resignation after penalty: Richard "Slugger" Labbe, crew chief for Dale Jarrett's No. 88 Fords, said he offered to quit this week after he was penalized by NASCAR for an unapproved sway bar last weekend at Richmond, Va. Labbe said Yates would not accept his resignation. "He said we weren't going to do that because what I did was not a flagrant violation of the rule book," Labbe said Friday. "That's the way I feel. "I don't like the term 'cheater' because I don't think that's what we did. We worked hard to get an advantage because the competition is so strong. "There's not a crew chief in the garage that goes through inspection that's not sweating, either before the race or after the race. We're nervous about what we do because we push a lot of issues." NASCAR suspended Labbe four races and fined him $25,000 and stripped Jarrett of 25 points and car owner Robert Yates 25 points for the violation. Labbe is allowed to work until his appeal is heard on Wednesday. (Charlotte Observer/ThatsRacin.com)
May 10, 2006:
Yates to appeal penalty: Car owner Robert Yates said that the violation wasn't intentional. "The wording of various rules in the NASCAR rulebook leaves them open for interpretation, as many teams have contested for years," Yates said in a statement. "Obviously, in this case, we interpreted the rules differently from NASCAR but because of the lack of a clear-cut understanding, on our part, we believe we have grounds for appeal and have started that process. "If the appeals committee believes otherwise, then we will accept those terms." The suspension means that Labbe, in his first season with Jarrett, will miss this weekend's race in Darlington, S.C., the All-Star race and Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and the June 4 race in Dover, Del. But NASCAR could allow Labbe to continue to work with the team until his appeal is heard. It's unclear what kind of punishment Labbe could face in his own company if NASCAR rules that the violation was flagrant. Yates also said he would fire any employee caught intentionally cheating. "If it was (an infraction) with a clear rule written against it, and he didn't tell me about, because I wouldn't approve that, I'd have fired him, yes," Yates said. (Salem-Journal)
May 4, 2006:
Sadler's #38 M&M's crew wins Checkers / Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge: Elliott Sadler's #38 team took top honors in the Checkers / Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition at Talladega Superspeedway. The M&M's pit crew, which spent 276.495 seconds on pit road in Monday's rain-delayed Aaron's 499, also won the competition at Martinsville Speedway on April 2. The victory moved Sadler's pit crew into a three-way tie for first place in the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge standings. The pit crews for Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart have also scored two wins with a quarter of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season completed (nine races). Sadler's over-the-wall crew consists of: Rodney Fetters (jackman), Ryan McCray (front-tire carrier), Mike Lingerfelt (front-tire changer), Lance Hanna (rear-tire carrier), Dave Smith (rear-tire changer), Brian Dunaway (gasman), Frankie Good (catch can) and Toby Mellott (windshield). The team's crew chief is Tommy Baldwin, Jr. The #38 crew, part of the Robert Yates Racing stable, will be awarded the weekly $10,500 prize. The Nextel Cup pit crew with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com. (DMF Communications PR)
Jarrett informed RYR of Toyota switch?
April 28, 2006:
Sadler looking elsewhere? SI.com reports; Does Sadler really want out at Yates? We know this for certain: Sadler wants to run better, and if he doesn't, a change of teams and equipment is the best option. But a couple of wins and a cluster of top fives could cause him to consider staying at Yates. There may be no better place for him to turn it around than at Talladega, if for no other reason than it's next on the schedule. He'll just need to avoid the Big One on Sunday.
April 9, 2006:
Yates head engineer leaves RYR: Kevin Buskirk, formerly head engineer at Robert Yates Racing and Elliott Sadler's interim crew chief at the end of 2005, has gone to work at Richard Childress Racing as the engineer for driver Kevin Harvick's No. 29 Chevrolet. "Kevin joined the organization a couple of weeks ago, and he's a great talent and a great find," Richard Childress said Saturday. "Him and [crew chief] Todd Berrier think and work a lot alike, and I think he'll do a lot of things. "I'm excited to see how that will work out." (NASCAR.com)
April 4, 2006:
Sadler's M&M's Crew Captures Pit Crew Win In Martinsville: Elliott Sadler’s M&M’s pit crew claimed its first win of the season in the weekly Checkers® / Rally’s® Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition, helping boost the Robert Yates Racing driver to a sixth-place finish in Sunday’s (April 2) Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. “I’m so proud of my guys,” offered Sadler. “Martinsville is the toughest pit road we visit during the season. It is just so tight to maneuver. I think track position is the key to being successful at Martinsville. It is a tough place to pass and I think we picked up spots every time we came on to pit road.” Sadler’s over-the-wall team edged out other participating crews by spending the least amount of time in the pits during the DIRECTV 500. Sadler’s No. 38 Ford spent 279.774 seconds on pit lane. “You’ve got to have good pit stops and my guys were definitely on it on Sunday,” continued Sadler, whose crew earned $10,500 for the win. “This M&M’s team needed a good run. I think we are definitely back on track.” Sadler’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Rodney Fetters (jackman), Ryan McCray (front-tire carrier), Mike Lingerfelt (front-tire changer), Lance Hanna (rear-tire carrier), Dave Smith (rear-tire changer), Brian Dunaway (gasman), Frankie Good (catch can) and Toby Mellott (windshield). The team’s crew chief is Tommy Baldwin Jr. and the pit crew coach is Andy Ward. After the sixth race of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, Jimmie Johnson’s and Tony Stewart’s pit crew are tied in the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge standings with two victories each. The season champion will receive a $105,000 bonus. The Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season with the Nextel Cup Series. (DMF Communications PR)
Feb. 18, 2006:
Yates wants cheaters banned: Veteran NASCAR car owner Robert Yates said Friday that if Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus was found guilty of deliberate and flagrant cheating by NASCAR that he should be banished from the sport for life. If Knaus merely skirted the rules, Yates added, than probation would be the appropriate punishment. “If what he did, there was language in the rules about not doing that particular thing, then he ought to go race the Talladega Short Track the rest of his life,” Yates said of Knaus. “If the (NASCAR rule book) language covered that area … gone. Just gone forever, because that’s just stealing.” “If (what Knaus was caught with) was a hydraulic system, or a little winch that pulls a cable so the rear-end housing … pulls his body down, outta here, outta from now on. That’s a device. That’s clear,” Yates said. “If it was a creation that was not covered by the language or intent, then I think he needs to be on probation for a while.” (SPEED)
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)
Nov. 29, 2005:
Yates announces team changes: Robert Yates Racing (RYR) announced its lineup for the 2006 NASCAR season. The lineup includes the addition and reassignment of key team members for both the #88 UPS and #38 M&M’S® Chocolate Candies NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams, as well as the #90 CitiFinancial NASCAR Busch Series team. Effective immediately, Richard “Slugger” Labbe is the crew chief for the #88 UPS Racing Team and driver Dale Jarrett while Tommy Baldwin, Jr., becomes the crew chief for the #38 M&M’S Chocolate Candies Team and driver Elliott Sadler. Both Labbe and Baldwin bring with them experience and success that includes wins in the Daytona 500 (Labbe with driver Michael Waltrip in 2003 and Baldwin with driver Ward Burton in 2002). “Both Slugger and Tommy have had success in their past endeavors with other teams in the NEXTEL Cup Series,” said Eddie D’Hondt, general manager for RYR. “We’ve been aggressive in the off season. It is our goal to get both of our teams in the Chase for the Championship in 2006. We are really pleased with the staff we’ve put together and delighted to have Slugger and Tommy on board.” Labbe, a former RYR employee, returns after spending time serving in the crew chief role during the last few seasons for Michael Waltrip at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and most recently for Jeremy Mayfield at Evernham Motorsports. Baldwin also joins RYR from Evernham Motorsports where he led the team efforts for young driver Kasey Kahne since 2004. “This is a great opportunity for me to be able to come back here in this capacity,” Labbe said. “Robert (Yates) has been an incredible person to know and work with. I’ve known him and Dale (Jarrett) for a long time, and to have this opportunity is an important one for me personally. I am really looking forward to 2006.” “There is potential for great success next season at RYR,” said Baldwin. “Robert has built a strong foundation here and it’s exciting to be able to step in and work with Elliott and the #38 Team. I think we’ve only seen the beginning of what Elliott can accomplish behind the wheel and I look forward to the task of leading this team to the next level.” Kevin Buskirk, who has been serving in an interim crew chief role for the #38 M&M’S team, will become the Technical and Performance Director for all of RYR. Additionally, the team has added Ed Guzzo to the organization and he will serve as the Production and Operational Director. (Elevation Motorsports)
Nov. 26, 2005:
Yates to help Arnold Motorsports? There was talk early in November that Yates might form a third satellite team, perhaps merging assets from Arnold Motorsports or Cal Wells III’s PPI Racing. Instead, Yates says he’s committed to making his existing teams better before adding to his stable. (Ford Racing)
Nov. 21, 2005:
Former Evernham Crew Chiefs Labbe and Baldwin now crew chiefs for Yates: Look for some organizational changes at Robert Yates Racing. Slugger Labbe will take over as crew chief of the #88, which is driven by Dale Jarrett, and Tommy Baldwin will lead the #38 crew and Elliott Sadler. Yates ended rumors that he will start a third team; he says he first wants to make the 88 and 38 teams stronger. But there still are plans for additional buildings on Yates' property in Mooresville, N.C. (Sporting News)
Nov. 11, 2005:
Baldwin to Yates? Insiders say that Tommy Baldwin is set to leave his post as crew chief of the No. 9 Dodge and join Robert Yates Racing as the crew chief for the No. 38 Ford of Elliott Sadler. Sadler has been without a permanent crew chief since October when Todd Parrott was shuffled to the No. 88 Ford of Dale Jarrett. Chris Andrews is one of the possible contenders for Baldwin's gig at Evernham Motorsports. (Motorsports.com)
Nov. 3, 2005:
Labbe begins work for Yates: Beginning this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Richard “Slugger” Labbe will serve as a consultant for all three Robert Yates Racing Teams (#88 UPS, #38 M&M’S®, #90 CitiFinancial-Busch). Labbe, who previously worked with the #19 Team, returns to RYR where he served as crew chief for the #28 Ford in 1998.(Elevation Group/RYR PR)
Oct. 23, 2005:
3 way deal puts Rudd in 42? Instead of retiring at the end of this year, Rudd could leave the No. 21 car to drive the No. 42 car for Chip Ganassi next season. Jamie McMurray would be released from the final year of his contract with Ganassi so that he can drive the No. 97 Ford for Roush Racing, thus freeing up Kurt Busch to get out of his contract with Roush one year early to replace Rusty Wallace in the No. 2 Dodge next season. Sources indicate that Ganassi could also receive payment from the Roush camp, which in turn likely would receive funds from Penske Racing South and primary sponsor Miller Lite for Busch's early release to replace Wallace. Consider who the sponsor of the No. 42 car is: Texaco Havoline, the same colors Rudd flew for three seasons (2000-2002) during his term with Robert Yates Racing. From what I've heard, Texaco Havoline is not pleased with having McMurray as a moody, unhappy lame-duck driver in '06 and has been applying pressure to Ganassi to let McMurray go. Texaco Havoline would then build a significant one-year farewell tour marketing campaign around Rudd. (More at Yahoo! Sports)
Oct. 1, 2005:
Sadler wins the Pole: Elliott Sadler won the pole on Friday for the NASCAR Nextel Cup UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Now if he can only keep his No. 38 M&M's Ford off its roof on Sunday. Sadler turned a lap of 189.260 mph around the 2.66-mile tri-oval to earn the first starting position, but he has a history of spectacular crashes in Talladega's fall race. Sadler will be joined on the front row by Robert Yates Racing teammate Dale Jarrett, who was the last non-Chevrolet driver to win a Cup race at Talladega. Since Jarrett won the 1998 fall race, Chevrolets have won 13 straight, including five by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and three by Jeff Gordon. "It's going to be tough to win here Sunday for a Ford, I think," Sadler said. "I think we have to work together good. We've also got to try to keep the 24 (Gordon) and 48 (points leader Jimmie Johnson) away from each other. We've got to try to keep the 8 (Earnhardt) and the 15 (2003 race winner Michael Waltrip) separated. (AL.com)
Aug 31, 2005
Pearson and Yates to be honored at NC Auto Racing HOF: David Pearson and Robert Yates, two of racing's elite competitors, will be honored by the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame at its annual induction ceremonies on Oct. 12 at Mooresville's Charles Mack Citizens Center. Pearson, a three-time NASCAR champion and one of stock car racing's most celebrated drivers, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Yates, a championship team owner and engine builder, will receive the coveted Snap-On Golden Wrench Award for his outstanding contributions to the sport. "Both of these men brought something different to the sport," said Don Miller, co-founder and chairman of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame. "David was an extremely talented driver and Robert was an equally talented engine builder before becoming a team owner. Both men set a competitive standard for the sport that continues to be the yardstick by which success is measured today." For more information about the museum and the ninth annual induction ceremony, log on to www.ncarhof.com
July 25, 2005
Yates third team not likely till '07? Yates' proposed third team may be postponed until 2007, according to team sources. (Salem-Journal)
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)
June 25, 2005
NASCAR TV Guides on Newsstands: This week, the June 26th issue of TV Guide is featuring four pairs of teammates: #38-Elliott Sadler and #88-Dale Jarrett from Robert Yates Racing; #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #15-Michale Waltrip of DEI; #48-Jimmie Johnson and #24-Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports; and #99-Carl Edwards and #6-Mark Martin of Roush Racing.
June 11 2005
Elliott's long term deal: Elliott Sadler will be driving the M&M's Ford for at least another three years after Robert Yates Racing extended its deals with sponsor and driver through 2008. "I think there was never any doubt that we were going to continue this relationship, but to go through the process and get it done through 2008 is a great, great feeling for me and my family," said Sadler, who is ranked third in the points standings after finishing a career-best ninth last year. (Times-Dispatch)
May 27 2005
Rondeau on Leave, Maybe Yates, Rondeau is taking a leave from Dale Earnhardt Inc. He said he’ll speak with Richie Gilmore, vice president of motorsports at DEI, next week about his options. Rondeau said he’d like to be a crew chief. One possibility is with Dale Jarrett’s team . Bill Wilburn is serving as the interim crew chief after replacing Mike Ford, who left the team last week. “I definitely wouldn’t put myself in the same position I just came out of — being in a no-win situation,’’ Rondeau said. “ If we ran good, it was supposed to. If it didn’t, it was going to be my fault. I knew that going in, but at the time I thought I would have more backing than I currently had.’’ (PilotOnline)
May 25 2005
#88 and #99 Crew Chiefs? This is the second significant crew chief change in a week among the tour's top teams. Mike Ford, chief for Dale Jarrett's No. 88 at Robert Yates Racing, stood down a week ago. He was replaced on a temporary basis by veteran Bill Wilburn. One man currently on everyone's want list is Bob Osborne, crew chief for Roush Racing's No. 99, with driver Carl Edwards. Having two plum positions open should open up the market considerably. Why, Larry McReynolds might even consider coming back. (SPEED)
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)
Third Team for Several Cup Teams? Robert Yates, is expected to add a third Cup team in 2006, if current Busch sponsor CitiFinancial is willing to make the move. "We'd like to develop a young driver and advance him to Cup," Yates Racing G.M. Eddie D'Hondt says. Three seems to be the magic number for most Cup organizations. Evernham Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Inc. also are expected to expand to three full-time cars next season. (SportingNews)
April 26, 2005
Yates Third Team? Robert Yates is cranking up plans for a third Ford team next season, and every top NASCAR crew chief worth his salt is looking at that opportunity - particularly if Yates can snare a hotshot driver. The top two drivers mentioned so far are Martin Truex Jr. and Reed Sorenson. Yates is expected to go after at least one of Chevrolet's top crew chiefs to run the team. Two men he has his eye on are Tony Eury Jr., at Dale Earnhardt Inc., and Todd Berrier at Richard Childress Racing. (Salem-Journal)
April 16, 2005
Truex Looking to Leave DEI: Martin Truex Jr. to the list of drivers shopping.The 2004 Busch champ is reported to be working the marketplace, and one report has Dodge's Ray Evernham and Ford's Robert Yates both interested in Truex. But Yates denies he's looking at Truex. "We're set for next year (with Elliott Sadler and Dale Jarrett)," Yates said. "Now if we were going to do a third, we'd be looking around. That might be on our wish list, but it's not done yet, and I don't know that we're going to do that. (Winston Salem Journal)
April 4, 2005
Engine of the Future, Three maybe Four Years: Chevrolet engineers are expected to have their first version of NASCAR's proposed "engine of the future" ready for dyno testing by Christmas, according to Detroit sources. And Ford's Robert Yates and Jack Roush have started laying the groundwork for a new engine-development operation that would start work on a Ford version of that engine of the future. But Roush said Ford couldn't meet a deadline of having such a new engine ready for the 2007 Daytona 500, as NASCAR has proposed. It would have to be 2008 at the earliest, Roush said. (Winston-Salem)
