Contract Status: Driver: 2008?; Primary Sponsors: 200?
- Hitachi Sponsoring Kvapil for 6 races: IMAGE Yates Racing announced that Hitachi Power Tools, a world-wide leader in professional grade power tools and accessories, will sponsor the #28 with driver Travis Kvapil for a total of six races in the remaining Sprint Cup Series schedule. The primary sponsorship will debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27th and the race will mark the first time Hitachi Power Tools has been a primary sponsor in the Sprint Cup Series. The remaining five races of the primary sponsorship will include the Sprint Cup Series events at: Pocono, Richmond, Dover, Charlotte, and Atlanta..(Yates Racing PR)(7-16-2008) Comment here
IMAGE: See an image of the car on my #28 Team paint schemes page.(7-19-2008)
- Braun to make first Cup start at Watkins Glen: UPDATE: Denied On this week's SPEED Report, Bob Dillner reported that Colin Braun [#6 Con-way Freight Roush Fenway Ford Truck in the CTS] is scheduled to make his first start in the Sprint Cup Series at Watkins Glen. Braun will be driving a car from the Yates Racing stable and not Roush Fenway. Dillner didn't say if it would be a third car or one of the current cars #28-Kvapil or #38- Gilliland, but can't image either sitting since they are decent in points and Gilliland finished 2nd at Watkins Glen.(7-14- 2008)
UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing folks denied that Colin Braun running the Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen and say Braun will be racing in the Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-14-2008) Comment here
- FreeCreditReport.com to sponsor the #28 also: FreeCreditReport.com will sponsor both Yates Racing cars at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend. #28-Travis Kvapil will sport the FreeCreditReport.com colors at Chicago as he did at #38-David Gilliland has had FreeCreditReport.com as his sponsor most of the season.(Yates Racing PR), see images of the scheme on my #28 Team Schemes page and the #38 Team Schemes page.(7-8-2008)
- Yates close to sponsorship..and a 3rd team?: Doug Yates, who has been worried that he might not make it to year two as a NASCAR team owner, is doing better now, according to Roush, a fellow Ford team owner, who said sponsorship is coming through for Yates -- not only enough sponsorship to keep Yates' two teams going but to allow Yates to expand to a three-car operation [currently #28, #38). No word on who the third driver might be.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-6-2008) Comment here
- Menard and Yates? John Menard, the wealthy businessman (Menards, the privately owned home improvements company), may be losing interest in NASCAR racing after so many years, according to sources. Menard, whose son #15-Paul is driving for DEI, is reportedly in negotiations with Ford’s Jack Roush, perhaps to help fellow owner Doug Yates keep afloat in this sport, which would involve a move from Chevrolet to Ford. “I don’t have any idea what might be going on there,” DEI’s Story said. “We just met with John, and everything is good.”(Winston Salem Journal)(7-4-2008) Comment here
- CHP scheme for the #28 at Sonoma UPDATE images: hearing the #28 Yates Racing Ford of Travis Kvapil will run the CHP - California Highway Patrol colors at Infineon Raceway next weekemd. See images on my #28 Team Schemes page.(6-13-2008)
UPDATE: The Sprint Cup series will make its only Northern California stop for the 2008 season this upcoming June 22 for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, and the #28 Yates Racing Ford will feature quite an interesting paint job: It will be wearing the colors and design of a California Highway Patrol vehicle. The California Highway Patrol is excited for the car's debut, which should help with the agency's current "very energetic recruitment push," said Mark Garrett, public affairs recruitment sergeant for the CHP's Southern Division. "We know how effective and influential NASCAR is," he told Inside Line. The black-and-white CHP-design Fusion will be driven by 2003 Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil. A set of gold-and-black Goodyear Eagle tires almost perfectly matches the CHP logo that decorates the hood. This will be the California Highway Patrol's first venture into Cup sponsorship. At this point, the plan is to back the Yates Racing Ford for only one race.(Edmunds.com), see images on my #28 Team Schemes page(6-17-2008) Comment here
- Both Yates cars to have same sponsor at MIS: FreeCreditReport.com, the regualr sponsor for Daivd Gilliland in the #38 Yates Racing Ford, will also sponsor teammate Travis Kavpil in the #28 Yates Racing Ford in the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Kvapil will also run FreeCreditReport.com at Chicago in July.(Yates Racing)(6-11-2008)
- Kvapil gets sponsor for Pocono: Yates Racing announced Friday that DISH Network will sponsor the #28 entry with driver Travis Kvapil for this weekend's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 8. "We are thrilled to have DISH Network as our sponsor this weekend at Pocono," stated Kvapil. "There is a lot of momentum and excitement right now at Yates Racing and we are honored that DISH Network wanted to participate in our program. We are always very grateful that companies recognize our increased performance both on and off the track this season and I'm looking forward to an exciting weekend at Pocono for our #28 DISH Network team."(Yates Racing PR)(6-6-2008) Comment here
- Lumber Liquidators to Sponsor #28 at Coke 600: Lumber Liquidators, the largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring in the United States, announced that it will sponsor Travis Kvapil, driver of the #28 Yates Racing Ford at the 2008 Coca-Cola 600. The May 25th race at Lowe's Motor Speedway will mark the first primary sponsorship for Lumber Liquidators in Sprint Cup Series in 2008 [they sponsored a few races on the #99 and #16 Roush Fenway Racing cars in 2007]. Kvapil finished eighth in the May 10th race at Darlington Raceway, his third top-10 finish of the season. He currently sits 18th in the NASCAR driver point standings.(Yates Racing)(5-20-2008) Comment here
- Open House: Roush Yates Engines Parts Store was created in February of 2008 to provide direct sales of our New and Used Engine Parts to the public. We will be having an Open House starting Monday May 19th running through Friday May 23rd from 8:00am to 5:00pm. We will also have extended hours on Saturday May 17th (8:00am TO 2:00pm) and Saturday May 24th where the store will be open from 8:00am to 4:00pm. If you are going to the race on either Saturday or just in town for speed weeks, please stop by and see what RoushYates Racing Engines is all about. If you are a Ford Racing Fan you will want to come and see us. We will have the Robert Yates 1999 Cup Championship #88 car along with several engines on display and our RoushYates souvenir items. More info at roushyatesparts.com.(5-12-2008)
- Kvapil gets sponsor for Darlington UPDATE images: Fayetteville’s [NC] Lafayette Ford will sponsor driver #28-Travis Kvapil in the May 10 Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway. Lafayette Ford and the #28 car have a vaunted history. Fred Lorenzen, NASCAR’s “Golden Boy” of the 1960s, scored virtually all of his wins with sponsorship from the dealership while driving for the Holman-Moody team. In 1964, he won five consecutive starts, with the last being the Rebel 300 at Darlington.(Fayetteville Observer)
AND: Yates Racing announced that LaFayette Ford, who sponsored the #28 with driver Fred Lorenzen from 1962-1967, will again sponsor the #28 entry but this time with driver Travis Kvapil for the Sprint Cup series race at Darlington Raceway on May 10th. Kvapil's #28 will sport a paint scheme reminiscent to that of Fred Lorenzen's during the 60's when LaFayette Ford sponsored Lorenzen's #28 machine. The Darlington 500 will mark the first time LaFayette Ford has served as a primary sponsor in the Sprint Cup Series since the dealership was associated with Lorenzen. LaFayette Ford is proud to be Fayetteville, North Carolina's only family-owned and operated Ford dealer. They have been serving the
Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, and surrounding areas since 1949.(Yates Racing)(4-30-2008)
UPDATE: see images of the scheme on my 28 Team Schemes page.(5-6-2008) Comment here
- Kvapil gets sponsor for Richmond: Yates Racing announced that Discount Tire, America's largest independent tire retailer, will sponsor the #28 entry with driver Travis Kvapil for this weekend's Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, May 3rd. "This has been such a tremendous week for our #28 team," stated Kvapil. "We just left Talladega with our best finish of the season so far, and now we have Discount Tire as our sponsor for Richmond this weekend. There's a lot of momentum right now at Yates Racing, and thanks to all the wonderful sponsors we've enjoyed partnerships with already this year, we're very grateful that companies recognize our increased performance both on and off the track. Discount Tire is a fantastic company and I am proud that they chose to partner with our #28 team at Richmond." Saturday night's race will mark the first time Discount Tire has been a primary sponsor in Sprint Cup Series. Discount Tire has been a sponsor in the Nationwide Series since 2004. Discount Tire provides sales of tires, wheels and related accessories and services through mail order, Internet and retail stores. They currently operate more than 650 stores across the country.(Yates Racing)(4-30-2008) Comment here
- Northern Tool + Equipment to Sponsor Travis Kvapil at Talladega IMAGE: Yates Racing announced that Northern Tool + Equipment, a leading supplier of high-quality tools and equipment for more than 27 years, will sponsor the #28 entry with driver Travis Kvapil for this weekend's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 27th. Sunday's race will mark the first time Northern Tool + Equipment has been a primary sponsor in NASCAR's most elite division, the Sprint Cup Series. Northern Tool + Equipment has been a sponsor in the Craftsman Truck Series since 2006.(Yates Racing)(4-22-2008)
added an image of the scheme to the Paint Schemes gallery.(4-24-2008) Comment here
- Ford to sponsor Kvapil at Phoenix: Yates Racing, which has soldiered on for most of 2008 with no sponsorship for Travis Kvapil, got some good news this week as Ford Motor Co. has stepped up to sponsor Kvapil’s #28 Fusion. Full details are expected later today from Phoenix.(SPEEDtv)
AND: This weekend, racing fans across the country will see and hear many of Ford Racing’s stars talking about Drive one, Ford’s new and far-reaching message about improved vehicle quality, fuel economy, safety advances and smart technology. Ford Racing cars will sport a variety of Drive one logos starting with this weekend’s events in Avondale, Ariz. (NASCAR), and Las Vegas (NHRA), highlighted by the #28 Drive one Ford Fusion, driven by Yates Racing’s Travis Kvapil. Yates Racing, which is still searching for a full-time sponsor for its cars, is helping Ford with the Drive one launch by offering up Kvapil’s car, which will be seen by millions of viewers this weekend on Speed and Fox. “Yates Racing is honored to have the opportunity to run the Drive one paint scheme on the #28 Ford Fusion this weekend,” said team owner Doug Yates. “We have a great driver in Travis, along with top-of-the-line equipment and technology courtesy of Ford. I’ve been fortunate enough to have the chance to participate in the development of Ford cars and engines from the racing side and I can’t think of a better manufacturer to be affiliated with,” he said. Drive one is the inside story of Ford, chronicling in television, print and digital media how Ford employees have closed the gap with Asian competitors regarding quality, advanced vehicle safety, made vehicles more fuel efficient and led the industry in developing in-car connectivity. People are also invited to drive a Ford vehicle and experience for themselves the company’s vehicles’ performance. “I’m really thrilled to drive the #28 Drive one Ford Fusion this weekend at Phoenix,” said Kvapil. “Being a Ford driver myself, I can tell you that they are committed to the four key points of this campaign: quality, fuel-efficiency, safety, and technologically-advanced vehicles. Ford is integrating Drive one into Ford’s racing program to reach out to Ford loyalists, so they can help spread the word about the company’s gains in areas that matter most to customers. In addition to the primary sponsorship logos on the #28 Fusion this weekend, Drive one logos will be featured on the b-pillar of each of Ford NASCAR Sprint Cup cars. In addition, in- car camera and roll cage shots will feature the new logos, and both Yates Racing and Wood Brothers Racing drivers and crew members will wear special Drive one baseball caps. The Fox Fusion 360 car, an important part of every NASCAR on Fox broadcast, will also feature Drive one logos. Additionally, the special NASCAR Ford Fusion that analyst Darrell Waltrip drives in Fox pre-race features will also switch to the Drive one logos.(Ford Racing)(4-10-2008)
- Both Yates cars bare: Yates Racing drivers #38-David Gilliland and #28-Travis Kvapil are 22nd and 24th, respectively, in the points standings heading into tomorrow's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Both cars are unsponsored this weekend and are displaying SponserYates.com.(4-5-2008)
- #28 Ford to Carry "11 Million" at Bristol: The 2008 NASCAR TV season is already off to a great start with an average of more than 11 million people per race day watching the #28 Yates Racing Ford during FOX's coverage. This three-race average doesn't include the 33.5 million viewers that watched the Daytona 500. With TV ratings up, and the #28 team still looking for sponsorship, it only makes sense to highlight one of the many benefits of a primary sponsorship with Yates Racing and the #28 team by placing "11 Million" on the hood of the Ford Fusion. Driver Travis Kvapil thinks it's a unique approach to attracting sponsorship and hopes that he can get his #28 "11 Million" Ford to the number one position this Sunday at Bristol. Chassis #464 is the chassis the #28 Yates Racing team will be running this weekend for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Yates
Racing purchased this chassis from Roush Fenway Racing in 2008. This is the same chassis that Carl Edwards won the 2007 Sharpie 500 with.(Yates Racing PR)(3-13-2008)
- Sponsor for Kvapil at Atlanta? UPDATE: hearing that Zaxby's Restuarant's will sponsor Travis Kvapil's #28 Yates Racing Ford in a one-race deal for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 in Atlanta. Zaxby's restaurants also sponsors the #09 Craftsman Roush Racing truck that Kvapil drives on a part-time basis.(3-5-2008)
UPDATE: Yates Racing announced today that Zaxby's will sponsor the #28 entry with driver Travis Kvapil for this weekend's Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 9th. "I'm really thrilled to have Zaxby's as the sponsor of our #28 Ford Fusion for this weekend at Atlanta," stated Kvapil. "Having the opportunity to drive
the Zaxby's Ford, and Atlanta being Zaxby's home base for the company, is a great tie-in. I know that we're going to have a lot of success for them on Sunday. Our Cup team has really been able to show our potential over the past few weeks, and I think that this is a great time for sponsors to jump on board to partner with our Yates Racing teams. I'm really looking forward to this weekend and representing Zaxby's."
"We are ecstatic to have Travis representing our company at Atlanta this weekend," commented Tony Townley, Vice-President of Zaxby's Franchising. "We are thrilled to have Travis representing us at Atlanta, since our company is headquartered here. I think our franchisees and customers will be excited to watch the #28 in our first Cup series endeavor. Our customers can identify with our colors and branding from our last couple of years racing in the Truck series, and we're looking forward to our partnership with Yates Racing for this weekend's Cup race." Kvapil has already achieved a top-10 finish this season in the Sprint Cup series when he brought home an eighth-place finish this past weekend at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway for Yates Racing. Kvapil will drive the #09 entry in the Craftsman Truck Series this weekend at Atlanta for Roush Fenway Racing, which is also sponsored by Zaxby's. Kvapil will pilot the #09 Zaxby's truck for ten more races following this weekend's race at Atlanta.(Yates Racing PR), see an image of the scheme in my #28 Team Schemes page.(3-6-2008) Comment here
- K&N Engineering to sponsor the #28 in the Daytona 500: Yates Racing announced that K&N Engineering, Inc., the world's leader in performance filter technology, will
sponsor the No. 28 entry with driver Travis Kvapil for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on February 17th. Kvapil and K&N Engineering, Inc. have shared sponsorship in the past when K&N served as the primary sponsor of Kvapil's #6 Ford in the 2007 Craftsman Truck Series. K&N Engineering, Inc. is headquartered in Riverside, California and has been
serving the need of the automotive, motorcycle, marine, industrial, and military markets since 1969. For more information about K&N Filters, view www.knfilters.com.(Yates Racing PR)(2-9-2008) Comment here.
- Crew Chief Switch at Yates: on SPEED's coverage of testing at Daytona, it was reported that Todd Parrott will be #28-Travis Kvapil's crew chief in 2008 and Cully Barraclough will be with #38-David Gilliland. Parrott had been Gilliland's crew chief.(1-8-2008)
- New site for Yates? Travis Kvapil ran two cars on Monday at Daytona testing, one in gray primer and another black with orange numbers both with the Yates Racing logo and the following site on the quarter panels - sponsoryates.com.(1-8-2008)
- SPONSOR? have not heard much about sponsors for the #28 [was #88] or #38 Yates Racings teams. Supposedly per a Max Jones interview on Sirius Satellite Radio, the team has sponsorship in the works, the teams will be sponsored and that they are making sure the deals are what they need.(12-31-2007)
- Yates to bring back #28 in 2008: Yates Racing will resurrect the #28 next season with driver Travis Kvapil. The number, which has been driven by 10 of the 40 winningest drivers in NASCAR history for 76 victories, hasn't been used since Ricky Rudd was behind the wheel at RYR in 2002. "Hopefully, we can do the things we used to do with it," said Doug Yates, the co-owner of RYR. Among those that have driven the 28 are Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Davey Allison, Dale Jarrett and Ernie Irvan.
Davey Allison won 19 races with the number between 1987 and his tragic helicopter death in 1993. Rudd last drove the number from 2000 to 2002, collecting three wins and 53 top 10s. He was fifth in points in his first season, fourth in 2001 and 10th in 2002. Yates is making the switch because it gave the #88 to Dale Earnhardt Jr. to use at Hendrick Motorsports next season. "We hope it brings back the good times we had before," he said. "It's always been a number we've been fond of."(ESPN.com)(11-19-2007)
- Doug Yates and Max Jones join forces: Yates Racing announced Thursday that Max Jones, long-time general manager for Roush Fenway Racing and former road-racing driver has joined Yates Racing as a co-owner and will also assume the role of General Manager . Jones, a native of Long Beach, Calif., joins Yates Racing after serving as general manager for Roush Fenway Racing’s Cup program in 2007. “We’re thrilled to have someone as respected as Max join Yates Racing,” said Yates Racing owner, Doug Yates. “With his experience in the sport and working with such a large and successful organization as Roush Fenway Racing for so many years, he will immediately step in and improve our race operations. As we continue to improve and restructure in preparation for a successful 2008 season, having someone with Max’s experience and credibility only accelerates the process of getting Yates Racing back to where it needs to be and that’s competing for wins and championships on a weekly basis.” Jones will add his experience to one of the most successful operations in motorsports. Since venturing into NASCAR’s Cup series in 1989, Yates Racing has recorded 57 wins, 269 top fives, and 427 top-10 finishes, including the Cup
series championship in 1999.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(11-15-2007)
- Rudd to Make Final Nextel Cup Career Start at Homestead: The Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway will mark the final start for #88-Ricky Rudd in the Nextel Cup Series and Sunday’s Ford 400 will be Rudd’s 906th career start in the series. NASCAR’s “Iron Man,” who holds the record for the most consecutive number of starts with 788, will start the final Cup series race of his career Sunday. Rudd holds numerous accolades on his resume including: 1992 IROC Champion, 1997 Brickyard 400 Winner, 2006 Virginian of the Year, and was named one of NASCAR’s “50 All-Time Great” drivers to name a few. Rudd has an average starting position of 12.9, and an average finish of 23.4 at Homestead, completed 1,770 of 1,873 laps at Homestead (94.5%) and has led 49 laps, his best starting position at Homestead is from second which he accomplished in 2000 and best finish was the sixth in the same race.(Rickyrudd.com)(11-15-2007)
- Roush to build all Yates cars: Roush Fenway Racing will be building all of Yates Racing’s Sprint Cup next season, and team co-owner Jack Roush said he’s looking forward to helping the Yates group return to its performance levels of old. Starting with the 2008 season, Roush Fenway Racing will manufacture all of Yates Racing’s cars, with Yates moving to Concord, N.C., next to Roush Fenway’s shops. Yates, meanwhile, will lease its current shop in Mooresville, N.C., to Petty Enterprises. “We’re making preparations to enter into a service agreement with them that will avail them of the technology and of the vehicles with the engineering essence and the vehicles that are coming out of our construction activities,” said Roush Saturday morning at Phoenix International Raceway. “We want to try to breath some blue sky and some viability back into the program.” One of the benefits of Roush Fenway Racing building cars for both teams is that in the long run, it will result in cost savings, because the cost for R&D, tooling, etc., will be spread over a larger number of cars, Roush said. “We’ve got some opportunities of scale, in terms of understanding what we need to do and then the more volume you generate off that for the same amount of engineering work, design work, tooling, all those things you do, it’s an extraordinarily expensive proposition to go do all the testing that’s necessary to build and support one Cup car in today’s world,” said Roush. “If, taken to the other extreme, an IROC scenario where all the cars were completely identical coming out of the factory, then the cost to the teams and the value to the sponsors would be maximized. This is something in between.”(Ford Racing)(11-12-2007)
- Pedigree colors for Rudd at Phoenix: #88-Ricky Rudd will be running the bright yellow Pedigree Brand Food for Dogs Ford Fusion this weekend at Phoenix in the Checker Auto Parts 500 instead of his traditional Snickers paint scheme.(RYR PR), see images of the scheme on the #88 Team Schemes page.(11-7-2007)
- Halloween scheme for Rudd at Atlanta: Ricky Rudd and the #88 team will be running a special Snickers Halloween paint scheme this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway in celebration of the upcoming Halloween holiday. The team has also prepared a brand new chassis for this weekend’s Pep Boys Auto 500. The new chassis is based off of information the team has gathered throughout the 2007 season at various 1.5-mile tracks and the #88 team hopes this new car will yield a strong performance. Rudd has 57 starts at Atlanta, which ties him with #21-Bill Elliott for the most starts of any active Nextel Cup Series driver.(Elevation Group/Snickers Racing PR)(10-24-2007)
- Crew chief Hylton gets a new gig: Accelerating Developments International, LLC (ADI) announced that Butch Hylton, veteran crew chief/car chief [recently #88 RYR crew chief] has joined the ADI team as Technical Sales Director. Butch helped win a Nextel Cup with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2000 as car chief on Bobby Labonte's #18 car and won the car owner's championship with Richard Childress Racing in 2003 with Kevin Harvick and Johnny Sauter. Accelerating Developments International is a leading provider of technology, product innovation, engineering solutions and strategic consulting to the automotive, OEM and Motorsports industries. ADI designs and builds the K-RIG and the KD-RIG, the newest kinematics diagnostic chassis and suspension testing available today. With the acquisition of APR, Accelerating Developments International is now able to provide the most up-to-date full service line of chassis and suspension testing available in the Motorsports industry today. ADI's state-of-the-art R&D facility located in Concord, NC provides full service sales and rental time for all their rigs.(ADI PR)(10-23-2007)
- Wallace on standby; Rudd Expects to Run Whole Race: been told that Kenny Wallace is on standby at Martinsville Speedway for #88-Ricky Rudd as Rudd's shoulder is still sore from the Californina wreck [missed 4 races]. Rudd may also start the race on Sunday and Wallace could sub and finish the race.(10-19-2007)
UPDATE: Ricky Rudd’s left shoulder, which he separated in a hard crash at California Speedway over Labor Day weekend, is hurting him this weekend at Martinsville, but the Virginia native said he plans to drive with pain through 500 laps on Sunday. “It’s sore, but I think it’s gonna be all right. It hurts, really, to be honest with you, but I’m trying not to take any Advil or anything like that right now to see if I can deal with it,” said Rudd. “I don’t know. Part of me say, ‘I don’t know,’ but the other part of me is saying, ‘Aw, you’ll tough it out. You’ll be all right.’”(SPEEDtv.com)(10-21-2007)
- Team Red Bull buying Yates' shop? UPDATE no: Team Red Bull [#83, #84) has approached Robert Yates Racing [#38, #88] about purchasing its racing and chassis manufacturing shops in Mooresville, N.C. The offer comes in the heels of Yates' announcement that it wants to move to Concord, N.C., to a shop currently occupied by Boris Said's No Fear team (next to Roush Fenway) to expedite their sharing of technology in 2008. Yates will use Roush-built chassis next season. Red Bull is in dire need of more space. It gets engines from Toyota Racing Development and buys chassis, but wants to start departments in both areas. Buying Yates' facilities would give them the room to do that.(Sports Illustrated)(10-11-2007)
UPDATE: "Robert Yates did contact us awhile back to see if we were interested in talking with him about purchasing his building or his teams. We weren't - so the conversation ended there. We're committed to building our team from scratch and making our cars competitive. We don't have plans to buy anyone else's team."(Red Bull VP of Competition, Guenther Steiner statement)(10-18-2007)
- Kenny Wallace not back in the #88 UPDATE: Hearing Kenny Wallace will not return to the seat of the #88 Snickers Ford at Lowe's Motor Speedway, looks like Ricky Rudd will return to the car there. Wallace could be in line for Yates Busch Series team, if it runs in 2008.(10-8-2007)
UPDATE: Ricky Rudd has been cleared by doctors to return to the #88 Ford this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the veteran driver told ESPN.com on Monday. "The plan right now is to race this weekend," Rudd said. "I have to get a release from NASCAR, but the doctor said there's no reason why I couldn't race this week. There are a couple of technicalities, more of a formality than anything -- liability issues and things like that. The doctor has to give an official word to NASCAR, and he said that will happen."(ESPN.com)(10-8-2007)
- Rudd expects to be back at Charlotte: Ricky Rudd, who has missed the last four races and is on the sidelines again this week, said Friday he hopes to be back in Robert Yates Racing's #88 Ford at Lowe's Motor Speedway next weekend. Rudd separated his left shoulder in a grinding crash at California Speedway on Sept. 2. "It's getting better," Rudd said. "I've got a few weak areas I'm working on with therapy, trying to get some strength back. "I'd hate to sit here and say, 'Yeah, 100 percent, I'll back at Charlotte.' But I'll be real disappointed if I don't make it back at Charlotte, I'll put it that way." Rudd would still need approval from NASCAR to return to action. "The biggest thing is somewhere along the way, I've got to get a release," Rudd said. "I've got to go back to the doctor. I've pretty much been in the hands of one of the sports medicine trainers. That's who I go see, about an hour-and-a-half every day. "The workouts get long and longer, so I'll probably know about 12:30 on Monday what's going to happen for Charlotte." Rudd said he had no strength in his left arm after the crash and couldn't drive a street car. He said the arm has probably 60-70% of its strength back. Following the Charlotte race, the Nextel Cup Series moves to the tough Martinsville short track, a Rudd favorite. But he isn't sure if he'll be ready for Martinsville.(SceneDaily.com)(10-6-2007)
- Crew Chief change at the #88? UPDATE: hearing Butch Hylton and Robert Yates Racing have parted ways, hearing RYR Busch team crew chief, Cully Barraclough, could be the new crew chief of the #88 for Mike Wallace [at Talladega], no word where Hylton may go.(10-2-2007)
UPDATE: Charles "Cully" Barraclough will serve as crew chief for Mike Wallace this weekend in the #88 Robert Yates Racing Ford, according to an updated NASCAR entry list. Barraclough has been serving as crew chief for RYR's Stephen Leicht in the Busch Series. He is replacing Butch Hylton, who parted ways with the team earlier this week.(SceneDaily.com)(10-5-2007)
- M&M's to sponsor #18 car and Kyle Busch in 2008: Mars U.S. announced a three-year partnership with M&M’S Brand Chocolate Candies as the sponsor of the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) team and driver Kyle Busch in the Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2008. “I can’t wait to climb behind the wheel of the M&M’S car next season,” Busch said. “M&M’S Racing has been a fan favorite for years in the sport and it’s an honor to drive for one of the most recognized brands in the world. My focus is to win, and I know that everyone at Mars shares that vision as well. I want to thank the associates at Mars U.S. for this opportunity and look forward to a winning relationship.” During the 2008 season, Mars U.S. brands will serve as the primary sponsor of JGR’s #18 Sprint Cup Series team for a total of 30 point races. Mars will feature the popular M&M’S Brand colors beginning with the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. Snickers and Pedigree also will serve as primary brand sponsors for several races. Additionally, Combos, Twix, Skittles, Starburst and Milkey Way brands will provide support as associate sponsors. Interstate Batteries will serve as a primary sponsor of the #18 Sprint Cup team for six point races. The 2008 season will mark the 15th year for Mars U.S. as a primary sponsor in NASCAR’s premier racing division. The famous candy maker joined the series in 1990, running its first three seasons under the Snickers Brand moniker. After serving as an associate sponsor for four seasons, the company returned with the Skittles Brand colors in 1997 before transitioning to M&M’S Brand Chocolate Candies in 1999.(Joe Gibbs Racing site)(10-3-2007)
- Mike in for Kenny at the #88: Mike Wallace will take over the driving duties of the #88 M&M’S Halloween Ford Fusion from brother Kenny this weekend at Talladega while Ricky Rudd continues to recover from a shoulder injury which has kept him sidelined for five weeks. Along with a new driver in the #88 Ford, the car will also be sporting an M&M’s Halloween paint scheme instead of the normal Snickers colors. Halloween is an iconic American holiday and M&M’S is offering consumers the ultimate treat: the opportunity to enter and play the M&M’S Million Dollar Halloween Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes. Fans will have twice the ghoulish fun this weekend at Talladega as both the #88 Ford and the #38 Ford with David Gilliland will run the special M&M’S Halloween paint schemes in celebration of the upcoming holiday.(Evelvatin Group/RYR PR)(10-2-2007)
- Yates planning to move to shop near Roush Fenway: Robert Yates Racing is planning to move from its shop in Mooresville, N.C., to next to the Roush Fenway Racing shop in Concord, N.C., likely in the building that #60-Boris Said's No Fear Racing team currently occupies. [Co-owner Doug]Yates said the move will allow better technology flow. Yates Racing will purchase chassis and bodies from Roush Fenway, which also will provide marketing and sponsorship help. He said it's about getting the team stronger and hopes to keep his strongest employees. The move won't be the only change for the team that will be known as Yates Racing. It has released the #88 to Hendrick Motorsports and is expected to resurrect the #28 it used in its early years. "We haven't decided exactly yet [on the number]," Yates said. "That's definitely a good possibility." Yates needs two sponsors for next season for drivers David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil. Yates acknowledged Friday for the first time that M&M's and Snickers will not return for next season. Sponsorship is in the works for both teams next year, Yates said. As far as the Busch side, Yates said he wasn't sure what would happen with that team. "It's not the No. 1 priority," Yates said. "If Citi would like to come back [as a sponsor] or we could find sponsorship, we would run it. But the No. 1 deal is to get our two Cup teams back to where they need to be."(SceneDaily.com)(9-29-2007)
- Wallace back in the #88 UPDATE: hearing Kenny Wallace will once again sub for Ricky Rudd in the #88 Snickers Ford, this week at Kansas Speedway.(9-25-2007)
UPDATE: For the fourth week in a row, Kenny Wallace will drive the #88 Snickers Ford, while Ricky Rudd continues to recover from his separated shoulder injury. Wallace is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and considers Kansas Speedway his home track. Quoting Snickers Driver, Kenny Wallace: "Ricky and I have been getting along really well and I am so grateful to him helping me out at every race that I’ve driven his car. He really is a terrific driver and I’ve been so fortunate to have him behind me supporting me every weekend with the team. It really has meant a lot. I’m from St. Louis, so I’m very excited to go and I feel that it’s going to be a very fun week for me. My oldest daughter will be at the race this weekend and I’m just very thankful that I’ll have the opportunity to race for my daughter this weekend. It’s going to be a great time.”(RYR PR)(9-26-2007)
- About car numbers and #28 back at Yates? A common misconception in NASCAR Nextel Cup racing is that the teams own their numbers and can trade them freely among each other. In fact, NASCAR owns each and every number in the Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series and licenses them to the teams on an annual basis.
That’s the formal policy. Informally, NASCAR has on occasion permitted the exchange of number between teams, which was the case when Robert Yates Racing agreed to forego its right to the #88 so that Dale Earnhardt Jr. could use the number in 2008 when he moves to Hendrick Motorsports. RYR agreed to give the number up and Hendrick went to NASCAR for approval of moving the #88 to Earnhardt’s car. But the transfer wouldn’t have happened without the OK from the Yates organization, which next year will campaign #28 in the Nextel Cup Series for Travis Kvapil and #38 for David Gilliland. The deal to move the #88 to Hendrick was negotiated between Robert Yates and Earnhardt’s sister and business manager, Kelley Elledge Earnhardt.(Ford Racing)(9-22-2007)
- Rudd Could be Back at Kansas UPDATE: Ricky Rudd says there's a chance he could be back behind the wheel of the #88 Robert Yates Racing by next Sunday's race at Kansas Speedway. "I won't know that until Wednesday," said Rudd, who suffered a dislocated shoulder at California Speedway on Sept. 2. "On a scale of 1-10, the pain was at level 10 (immediately after the accident). Now, it's about a five." Rudd began rehabbing the injury two days after the wreck in what has 900th career Cup start. Kenny Wallace will sub for Rudd for the third consecutive time this weekend. Rudd said it will be easy to know if he's ready to race. "When I can drive with one hand, that being the bad one, I think I'll be ready," said Rudd, who announced earlier this season he would retire from full-time Cup competition at season's end.(USA Today)(9-22-2007)
UPDATE: Ricky Rudd was at Dover International Speedway on Friday, but he was not in the #88 Yates Racing Ford Fusion Car of Tomorrow, nor is he expected back in the car for at least two more races. Rudd’s injured shoulder is responding well the therapy and he’s scheduled to have it evaluated again next week in Charlotte, N.C. There’s still pain, however, especially with quick, sudden movement, which can cause brief, but debilitating surges of pain. So it’s Kenny Wallace in the car for the foreseeable future.(Ford Racing)(9-22-2007)
- #88 Retires with Robert Yates: Robert Yates confirmed today he is retiring the #88 from Robert Yates Racing (RYR) following the last race of the 2007 Nextel Cup season. He is requesting NASCAR transfer the number to Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for use in competition for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series. "Ralph Earnhardt drove the #88 Olds in 1957 and because of this number's history with the Earnhardt family; I felt car #88 should continue with Dale Earnhardt, Jr.," Yates said. "Younger fans don't realize I built cars and raced against Ralph. I also had a very close relationship with Dale Earnhardt, Sr. I'm proud to transfer this number to Dale Jr. and let him know how much I appreciate the friendship and competitive racing I've always enjoyed with his family," Yates continued. Dale Jarrett began driving the #88 Ford Quality Care/Ford Credit Racing Ford in 1996 and promptly won the Daytona 500 in the team's first race. UPS assumed the role of primary sponsorship in 2001 with Ford Credit staying on as an associate sponsor. Jarrett had 29 victories and won, what was then, the Winston Cup championship in 1999. He also finished in the top 10 in points seven consecutive seasons from 1996 through 2002. Ricky Rudd assumed driving duties in 2007, with sponsorship from Snickers. Doug Yates announced two weeks ago, David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil will be the team's drivers in 2008 with sponsorship and car numbers to be announced.(Robert Yates Racing PR)(9-20-2007)
- Kenny Wallace back in the #88 at Dover: Kenny Wallace will be driving the #88 Snickers Ford at Dover, Ricky [Rudd] told Friday the team he won't be healed enough by Dover to race. After that it is still a race by race decision, making sure Rudd is healed enough not to put himself in a worse position in case of another accident.(Kennywallace.com)(9-17-2007)
- Yates needs sponsors in 2008: Robert Yates Racing [Yates Racing in 2008] needs two new sponsors to replace Snickers on the #88 [with a new car # and Travis Kvapil as the driver] and M&M’s on the #38 of David Gilliland.(SPEEDtv.com)(9-16-2007)
- No #25 for Jr. at Hendrick UPDATE: #88? Q) Will The Owner Points For The #5 And #25 Stay In Place Where They Are In 2008?
A) Rick Hendrick: "Yes, they'll stay like they are. Casey will move over to the #5 car and that's the only that will change there and the number will change on the #25."
Q) Do You Already Know What Number and Sponsor Dale Jr. will have and can you reveal it?
A) Rick Hendrick: "It's not going to be the #8. Nor the #25. And the sponsorship, hopefully in the next two weeks we'll be able to announce that and the number at the same time. We hope that's going to be probably something with the #8 [such as 81,58,82,38,28] in it but we really don't even have that locked in right now. That's a true story."(GM Racing PR)(9-8-2007)
UPDATE: Hendrick said he'd like to find a number that includes an 8 for Earnhardt, and the team has applied for trademarks on the 28, 38, 51, 58, 81 and 82.(Associated Press), the #28 is new, seems an odd choice...but.
AND on Sunday's LTN Hour radio show, Travis Kavapil, who was recently named to run the #88 Yates Racing Ford in 2008, said he didn't know what number the car would be, so that could free up the #88 for Dale Earnhardt Jr.(9-10-2007)
UPDATE: Fans who liked watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the #8 since he moved to the Nextel Cup series eight years ago will double their pleasure in 2008. Earnhardt will drive two stylized 8s next season for Hendrick Motorsports, sources told ESPN.com on Friday. Robert Yates Racing, sources said, has agreed to sell the #88 that Dale Jarrett drove to the 1999 championship.(ESPN.com)(9-14-2007)
- Statement from NHLR on Yates/Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing: Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, LLC was excited about its future plans with Robert Yates Racing [#38 and #88] and were quite surprised by the announcement of Robert Yates’ retirement from racing and handing the team over to his son Doug. [They] wish Robert the very best in his retirement. At this time [they] are continuing to explore several exciting opportunities for the 2008 NASCAR season.(NHL Racing site)(9-14-2007)
- Kenny back in the #88 at New Hampshire? UPDATE 2: hearing Kenny Wallace will once again sub for Ricky Rudd in the #88 Snickers Ford of Yates Racing. Rudd seperated his shoulder at California and Wallace ran the #88 at Richmond.(9-9-2007)
UPDATE: Ricky Rudd plans on letting Robert Yates Racing know later Monday whether or not he will be able to drive this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. Rudd is scheduled to meet with the Carolina Panthers training staff and re-evaluate his shoulder injury. Kenny Wallace is testing the #88 Snickers Ford Fusion today and tomorrow at Talladega Superspeedway and would once again fill-in for Rudd, if he is unable to compete.(Ford Racing)(9-11-2007)
UPDATE 2: The Nextel Cup Series travels New Hampshire International Speedway this weekend for the Sylvania 300. Kenny Wallace will pilot the Snickers Ford for the second week in a row while Ricky Rudd, who normally drives the #88, will not race this weekend as a result of a separated left shoulder injury he sustained at California Speedway. Wallace also went to Talladega Superspeedway this week to test the #88 Snickers Ford for a two day test session with the new Car of Tomorrow chassis which will make its superspeedway debut in October. Wallace’s best finish at New Hampshire is second which he accomplished in 1999.(RYR PR)(9-11-2007)
- Kvapil could be in #88 before end of year: Travis Kvapil said many details [of his 2008 ride with Yates Racing in the #88 Ford] are still not finalized. He's uncertain who will sponsor him, but said "it all sounds promising." He hasn't been promised he'll have a ride if sponsorship doesn't materialize, he said. "To be honest with you we haven't even really talked about any of that stuff yet," he said. "I'd hope to think so. It takes a lot of money to run these cars, but we just haven't gotten to that point yet, but I'd like to think with Roush Fenway's marketing we'd be able to swing a couple deals for that car and fund it for a season." But what about now? The current full-time driver in the #88, Ricky Rudd, is week-to-week with a left shoulder separation. He's uncertain whether he'll return. Veteran Kenny Wallace replaced Rudd at Richmond last weekend and finished 28th, but might Kvapil take the seat early, before the end of '07? "I know it's been kicked around. We talked Thursday and Friday about it," he said. "We just don't want to get the cart before the horse going into these next couple of weeks, here. Not sure right now, but we have talked about it." Dover, Kvapil said, presents the lone obstacle. While the Busch and Cup Series are at The Monster Mile, the Craftsman Truck Series is in Las Vegas. With three victories in the past eight races, Kvapil currently ranks third in the 2007 CTS standings. As for next year, Kvapil hopes to run a Busch Series slate to supplement this Cup schedule.(ESPN.com)(9-10-2007)
- Yates/Roush alliance could bypass 4-team rule: Roush Fenway Racing officials have been looking for a way around NASCAR's four-car cap rule ever since it was introduced at the end of the 2005 season. Their alliance with Robert Yates Racing appears to be the answer. Roush Fenway Racing, which already shared an engine program with RYR, will expand its relationship in 2008 to include building and selling cars and parts to its fellow Ford partner as well as licensing and marketing. That ultimately will allow Roush after the 2009 season -- the deadline NASCAR has set for it to get to four teams -- to send its fifth car and whatever employees that might go with it to RYR. "That's not part of the deal, but it certainly won't shock anybody here if in two years that's where it goes," Roush Fenway president Geoff Smith said before Saturday night's Nextel Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. "When you shrink an organization like NASCAR is doing to us you end up not being able to promote people because they don't have places to go, so they end up leaving us for somebody else. This gives us a chance to really keep all that training money within our Ford Motor company camp." It also allows Roush to benefit from the sharing of information for basically a seven-car team that could grow to eight. Smith said he and other Roush employees have gone to great length to make sure this alliance falls within the NASCAR rules. "We are not even close to any of the prohibitions that NASCAR got," he said. "We're in another universe. This is a real, careful, safe deal. We're not close to getting near their concerns. Here's the rules. You can't own it, you can't profit share, you can't take prize money and you can't underwrite their loss to shore them up. Those are the core rules. Then they told us about ancillary rules. You can't lease them cars. You've got to sell them cars. All those rules, we're good with that."
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president for competition, initially avoided the question of whether this is circumventing the rules. "You're starting [something]," he said. "Don't go there on me. I'm telling you, don't go there cause I know what you're starting. Ask a regular question." Asked again if this was Roush's way of circumventing the rules, Pemberton said, "There would be concern if you had everything in one facility. That's why we've gone to the four-car limit. There's business sense in buying cars and going and employing an engineering staff that has the resources that make your teams run better." Pemberton applauded RYR for doing what it can to survive after losing its cornerstone driver, Dale Jarrett, and sponsor UPS this season to Toyota. "Employing the services of a group that's got proper engineering and builds cars is what he needs to do to put him and Doug back running again," he said, referring to RYR owner Doug Yates. But NASCAR officials said Roush still would have to get NASCAR's approval, which it doesn't, before moving a team to Yates. While RYR will be a two-car operation next season, it ultimately could be a four-car team with Roush Fenway Racing having all the knowledge and information sharing from an eight-car team. This also guarantees that RYR doesn't leave Ford for another manufacturer had it been sold.(ESPN.com)(9-9-2007)
- Doug Yates to field two Sprint Cup teams in 2008: Doug Yates announced he will field two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) teams in 2008 with drivers #38-David Gilliland and #88-Travis Kvapil. These teams will be operated under a company called "Yates Racing" which has agreed to acquire operating assets from Robert Yates Racing, including the transfer of car numbers and owner points. The transaction will be effective December 1, 2007. "With this announcement it's clear that the letter of intent with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing will not proceed. We're thankful for their support and would welcome the opportunity to work with them in the future," said Yates Racing CEO Doug Yates. "I am very excited to carry the Yates Racing heritage into the future. I believe I have the experience and understanding of the competition and business requirements that are necessary to be an effective team owner. My first order of business is to revamp our infrastructure into one that can field race teams that can compete successfully with the pre-eminent teams in the sport. I personally think the best business and competitive model in the sport to emulate for long-term success is that of Jack Roush and Roush Fenway Racing, I have gotten to know Jack and his organization very well through our joint engine company and before I undertook this commitment I asked Jack for advice. I am pleased to announce that Yates Racing will have full support from Roush Fenway Racing, including hardware, engineering, marketing and operational practices, by the 2008 Daytona 500, Yates Racing wants to be in an elevated position where we are competing successfully against any race team in the sport. With David, Travis and Roush Fenway Racing, we will continue to work on finding the right sponsor partners to join our programs." Neither Jack Roush, Roush Fenway Racing, John Henry or Fenway Sports Group will have any ownership interest in Yates Racing.(Robert Yates Racing PR)(9-8-2007)
- Robert Yates Retiring at end of 2007 season: Robert Yates announced his intention to retire as President of Robert Yates Racing following the last race of the 2007 Nextel Cup season. Certain facets of Robert Yates Racing are being transferred to a new company presided over by Doug Yates. The new entity will be called Yates Racing. Robert Yates Racing will continue with its joint ownership of Roush Yates Racing Engines as well as other ventures. "As many of you know I announced at the Brickyard, earlier this year, my decision to enter into a partnership with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing", said Robert Yates. "The goal of this partnership was to build a team to contend for the championship. The more I thought about it the more I realized instead this was the perfect opportunity for me to pass the torch to the next generation. I don't know how to express my gratitude to the Newman/Haas/Lanigan group for their support and belief we could get to the top. I'm closing this chapter of my life, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for me next. Carolyn and I look forward to watching Doug build Yates Racing into a championship caliber team".
Since Robert Yates Racing was formed, the now two-car Cup team has posted 57 victories and 48 poles in addition to winning the 1999 NASCAR championship with Dale Jarrett. Current Nextel Cup drivers Ricky Rudd and David Gilliland pilot the No. 88 and No. 38 Ford Fusion's, respectively. On February 11, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway, both of Robert Yates cars qualified on the front row for the Daytona 500. David Gilliland qualified on the pole with Ricky Rudd was alongside in second. Robert Yates Racing also fields the No. 90 Ford Fusion driven by Stephen Leicht in the NASCAR Busch Series. Drivers such as Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd, Kenny Irwin, and Elliott Sadler have driven for RYR.(Robert Yates Racing PR)(9-8-2007)
- Kvapil to the #88? Restucturing at Yates: Robert Yates Racing is expected to announce a management structure change Friday night that, according to multiple sources close to the situation, will include team owner Robert Yates' retirement. Those same sources say that Travis Kvapil, current driver of Roush Fenway Racing's #6 Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series, will replace Ricky Rudd in the #88 Ford for the 2008 Sprint Cup season. Sources said Doug Yates, Robert's son and the president of the team, will assume the ownership role and preside over the company. Sources also said that Roush Fenway Racing will provide full support to Yates, including licensing, marketing and engineering. It was unknown how this might affect the recently-announced partnership between open wheel team Newman/Haas/Lannigan Racing and Yates. Robert Yates has been a Cup Series owner since 1989. During that time he has established himself as the premier engine builder at NASCAR's highest level and has collected 57 victories.(ESPN.com)(9-7-2007)
