#28/38 Team Past News and Rumors
NOTE: many of the links in the past news will be old and may not work
decided it was not worth the time to go thru each one on all the Team Past News pages
Past 2006 News
Rudd/Gilliland tested for RYR? been told that David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd tested the COT [Car of Tomorrow] last week at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, SC for Robert Yates Racing. Gilliland is, of course, the driver of RYR's #38 M&M's Ford and Rudd is being heavily rumored to be taking over the #88 Ford [Snickers? renumbered to #28?] in 2007.(12-21-2006)
Associate sponsors for Yates: freecreditreport.com and McDonald's, Team Rensi's Busch sponsors, will be on Robert Yates Racing's Nextel Cup #38 and #88 cars as associates sponsors in 2007.(SceneDaily.com)(11-19-2006)
Yates doing better: Robert Yates was back in the Nextel Cup garage at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, a weekend after health concerns kept him home from the Bass Pro Shops 500 at Atlanta. Instead of being at the track, Yates made a pair of hospital visits back in North Carolina, being treated for stress. "I don't think I stress, but other people think I do," Yates said Saturday. "Some medication fixed me up, I just needed some help last week. I had a little similar deal about a year-and-a-half ago. Really the same thing and the same [medication] cured it. Maybe I learned and won't let it get back in that situation. I feel good now, but I had a couple of rough days." After his first trip to the hospital, Yates doesn't even remember leaving to return home. That experience really caught his attention. "I went back as soon as I woke up - I didn't want to die at home, so I went back," Yates said. "I drove to the hospital twice and they kept sending me home. But then when I got back the second time, I had a hard time getting out. I had to go find the doctors [via phone] at the soccer field somewhere to get out of there on Saturday. But I feel good now. I was planning on going to Atlanta; I wanted to go because I felt like our cars were going to run good, and they did. But I had to take care of my system and I think I've got that straightened out."(SceneDaily.com)(11-6-2006)
Combo's for Gilliland: #38-David Gilliland will have the Combo's paint scheme on the #38 Ford at Texas Motor Speedway, the scheme has run a couple other races this season, see images of the scheme on my #38 Team Schemes page.(11-3-2006)
Biffle to RYR? There’s talk that Roush Racing and Robert Yates Racing might create a new team for Greg Biffle. The team would be Robert Yates’ third and would reduce to four the number of full-schedule Cup teams owned by Jack Roush.(Ford Racing)(10-14-2006)
Ford to help out RYR: Ford director of racing technology Dan Davis said Friday that his company will do everything possible to help Robert Yates Racing regain its competitive footing after two woeful seasons that included the defections of drivers Elliott Sadler and Dale Jarrett. That help will include, he said, finding a sponsor to assure that the #88 Ford will return even though Jarrett took the powerful UPS account with him to Michael Waltrip Racing. "I've told Robert, 'I will do anything in my power to develop whatever you need,' " he said. "It's a struggle for him at the moment." Davis said there was nothing Ford could do about some defections, such as Mark Martin, when owners such as Bobby Ginn are willing to pay an enormous salary for a part-time driver. Martin will contest 20 points races for MB2 Motorsports next year. "It's all about compensation," Davis said. "I'm saying maybe that's happened to one of my friends. Eventually everyone looks at this and says, 'Damn, this is really quite an offer. And you know what? I really have a lot of loyalty and I have a lot of this and I have a lot of friends and I owe my career to somebody and I'm torn on this because of that, but damn. Damn.' And I think we get to that point when you have new manufacturers in the mix. You have new owners in the mix, you have new sponsors in the mix that are willing to upset the norm in terms of compensation." Davis confirmed driver/owner Robby Gordon will switch from Chevrolet to Ford for next season. "He's excited about coming in because he knows the motor program is really good," Davis said. "The chassis are really good, the bodies are really good. He can concentrate on race craft and getting the team working well."(St Petersburg Times)(10-14-2006)
M&M's teams up with Sam's Club on the #38 at LMS: The M&M’S #38 Ford Fusion will sport a special
paint scheme this weekend promoting its partnership with Sam's Club, one of the nation’s largest warehouse chains, in Saturday’s Bank of America 400. Joining Sam's Club in its Nextel Cup Series debut is M&M’S driver David Gilliland, who will make his first career start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “Saturday’s race marks our first involvement in NASCAR and we are very proud to be partnered with the M&M’S Team,” said Mark Goodman, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Membership and E-commerce for Sam's Club. “We all look forward to watching the M&M’S/Sam's Club Ford under the lights in Charlotte as well as having David visit our Kannapolis, N.C. Club to meet our members as we get ready for a great weekend of racing.”(Elevation Group PR)(10-12-2006)
Congrats: Derek and Kristi Jones welcome Lauren Nicole Jones, born Sept. 25th at 7:01 p.m. Kristi is the Licensing/Marketing Director for Robert Yates Racing and Derek is the Team Engineer for the #38 M&M'S team driven by David Gilliland.(10-7-2006)
RYR one car team in 2007? UPDATE Nope..looks like Martin Robert Yates Racing co-owner Doug Yates told reporters in Richmond, Va., his team could shrink from two cars to one if sponsorship isn't found for its #88 [currently driven by Dale Jarrett with UPS as the sponsor](USA Today sidebar)(9-15-2006)
UPDATE: Despite recent dire predictions that he may have to shutter his #88 Ford team next year for lack of a sponsor, car owner Robert Yates told SPEEDTV.com on Saturday that he’s close to inking a deal for next season — and he hopes the driver of the #88 in 2007 will be Mark Martin. “From my side, we’re getting pretty optimistic,” Yates said following “Happy Hour” practice for the Sylvania 300 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway. “We’re given and getting some good (sponsor) opportunities … I think it’s going to happen, and I’m anxious and I’m happy that we’re getting the cars better. … I think it’s all going to end up on the positive. I think I may have a job for a while longer.” Last week at Richmond, Yates said he might have to close the #88 team down next year, because he didn’t have a sponsor, but events of the last few days have changed his mind about 2007. Asked if things had changed in the last week, Yates said, “Big time,” adding, “I turned upbeat this week.” Asked how close he was to a sponsor deal, Yates said, “It could happen this week. The sooner, the better, but I want to make sure we get our cars right. We’re gaining on that quite a bit. It needs to happen. Right now, I’m very optimistic that we’ll be in good shape and good to go for another season.” The team owner said he wanted a veteran driver and that could mean Mark Martin, who Yates’s son, Doug, has talked to about moving over from Roush Racing. “I know Doug has talked to him … he’s interested,” said Yates. “That’s the feedback I get. I haven’t talked one on one with him.” Martin said Friday he hadn’t talked to Yates but left the door open for options outside of Roush next year.(Speedtv.com)(9-16-2006)
Gilliland to run #25 Busch car in 2007? hearing that David Gilliland, driver of the #38 M&M's Ford of Robert Yates Racing, will drive either a part or full-time 2007 Busch Series schedule in the #25 Team Rensi Ford. The team recently announced that current driver Aston Lewis would not return in 2007 and it supposedly the team is looking for a sponsor. The team is currently sponsored by the US Marines.(9-6-2006)
More on the rumored RYR/RGM buyout/merger RUMOR: [see the original rumor below] While Doug Yates spent the week denying a report that his Robert Yates Racing organization had been sold, he's not ruling out allowing someone to merge with his company to help it expand.
Robby Gordon Motorsports officials have not denied that their company is speaking with RYR, among others, about forming some sort of partnership for the future. As a single-car operation, Gordon's team is at a disadvantage in the Nextel Cup garage. RYR team co-owner Doug Yates said that no deal had been made or would be made to sell his team, he paused noticeably when asked to clarify as to whether there was the possibility that a portion of his organizaion could merge with another. Asked to specify whether he could rule out selling part of his program, Yates defined how difficult the situation is for a two-car team trying to compete with larger programs. If, and Yates heavily emphasized the if, he did alter the structure of his team, the plan would be to expand immediately.(in part from SceneDaily.com)
AND more from Ford Racing PR at the Yates/Gilliland quotes: DOUG YATES, continued - IS YOUR TEAM CONSIDERING ALIGNING WITH SOMEONE? IS THAT WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO COMPETE? "There's no doubt that you have to grow to be to that level. NASCAR set the limit at four times, that's what was out there and if you're going to compete, you've need the resources of four teams. I think we all agree on that. How you get there is things we've been kicking around. It's tough to grow, it's tough to find great sponsors like M&M's. They're just not around every corner, so how do you do that? We've been exploring opportunities and that's some of the things that are swirling. Robby's [Gordon] not buying our whole place [never reported that here], I want to put that to rest. Man, you guys caused us a lot of pain, I'll tell you that. That Jayski guy is killing me. I want to tell you something: If you guys weren't talking about us, I'd really be worried. Because the reason you guys are talking about us is because you expect more of us, and I appreciate that. And we are determined to get back to where you can say some good things about us when we get there."
YOU MENTIONED ROBBY'S NOT BUYING "THE WHOLE THING." IS THERE A SENSE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PART OF IT THERE? "We're looking for opportunities to grow our business. We have to make smart decisions for the future. My dad is at the point in his career where if he's making every decision of every day he wants to pass the torch off. And I've got a lot of responsibilities on my shoulders. Sometimes you need some energy to help you get there. So, we're going to see how things shape up and make the best decision for our organization, our people, to get a chance to get our cars in victory lane. That is the goal. How you get there, those are
tough decisions. But the goal is to get our organization back where we can win the Brickyard, we can win the Daytona 500, we can have four teams that are competing at a very high level every week. That's a tough 'how to we get there?' And that's what we're looking for."(Ford Racing PR)(8-19-2006)
M&M’S Chocolate Candies Names Gilliland Driver Of The #38: Masterfoods USA announced Friday that David Gilliland will be the new driver for its M&M’S Chocolate Candies sponsored entry in the Nextel Cup series effective immediately. Gilliland
will be behind the wheel of the M&M’S #38 Ford for the remainder of the 2006 season and will compete full-time on the Nextel Cup circuit beginning in 2007, the first year of a three year agreement between the driver and Yates Racing. Todd Parrott returns as crew chief of the #38 this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. “We are proud to announce David as the driver for M&M’S Chocolate Candies,” said William Clements, director of Sponsorships and Sports Marketing for Masterfoods USA. “NASCAR fans, like M&M’S consumers, are extremely loyal and passionate and we are excited to continue our partnership with the Yates family. Our 39,000 associates worldwide welcome David to the Mars, Incorporated family and look forward to seeing him behind the wheel of our colorful M&M’S Ford.”
Gilliland, a native of Southern California, began his racing career on the West Coast stock car circuit as mechanic and crew chief for his father Butch, a championship driver in the NASCAR Winston West Series. Behind the wheel, Gilliland posted numerous wins in the NASCAR Southwest Tour, the Grand National West Series and the Toyota All-Star Showdown. This season he scored his first NASCAR Busch Series victory at Kentucky Speedway.
"To sign on as the new driver of the M&M’S Ford and to join forces with a championship winning organization is a dream come true,” said Gilliland. “My goal has been to partner with a winning team in NASCAR’s top division, but to drive one of the most colorful and most recognized cars in the sport is just amazing. I have to thank Doug Yates and all the associates at M&M’S for this opportunity and we all look forward to a long and successful relationship.”
“It’s great to welcome David to our organization,” said Doug Yates, who will be listed as the team owner of the #38 beginning in 2007. “His track record is impressive and with his drive and dedication, he’s a great fit for the M&M’S Team. We are also excited to have Todd Parrott return as the leader of the #38 Team. We believe his knowledge partnered with David’s ability is the right combination to return our team to the front of the field.”
Parrott joined Robert Yates Racing in 1995, serving as crew chief for driver Ernie Irvan, before joining forces with Dale Jarrett the following season. Over the past decade, Parrott has scored nearly 30 wins as a head wrench for RYR with multiple victories in the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400. He also led the organization to its first series championship in 1999 with Jarrett behind the
wheel. “To come back to RYR is a very special opportunity for me,” said Parrott. “This has been my home and it’s an organization I helped to build. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with David. I believe we have a lot of great moments ahead of us and I look forward to putting the M&M’S Ford back into victory lane.”(Elevation Group PR)(8-18-2006)
Sadler out at RYR as of Monday? Gilliland in at MIS? UPDATE 2: Elliott Sadler cleaned out his locker Monday at Robert Yates Racing, clearing the way for David Gilliland to take over the #38 M&M's Ford. Gilliland, 30, will make his second Nextel Cup start, his first for RYR, Sunday in the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Gilliland's name has been painted on the #38 M&M's Ford Fusion, and all signs point to a formal announcement within days. Gilliland will be in the car as early as Tuesday for testing at Kentucky Speedway. Sadler most likely will be released from his contract with RYR this week, and he is expected to take over the #19 Dodge Dealers Dodge at Evernham Motorsports, which became open when Jeremy Mayfield was released last week.(Sporting News/Greg Engle), Todd Parrott is expected to take over #38 crew chief duties at MIS. An announcement was expected on Monday, August 14th, but it didn't happen.
UPDATE: David Gilliland returned to the site of his nationally-recognized June 18 "Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo" Busch
Series victory today when he tested the #38 Robert Yates Racing Nextel Cup Series Ford at Kentucky Speedway. The 30-year-old said he is close to having the chance to try to duplicate that success in the Nextel Cup version of the car if he signs a full-time deal to fill the seat rumored to have been recently vacated by veteran Elliott Sadler. "We're getting closer. I believe I'm going to finish off the year in the car and I'm real excited," Gilliland said. "It's just a great opportunity. After we won the Busch race here, it opened up a ton of doors. (Owners) Robert and Doug (Yates) have been great and everyone at M&M's is willing to give me an opportunity. Hopefully, we can take full advantage. It definitely happened faster than a lot of people thought it would. We worked hard to get here and feel I deserve to be here." Gilliland put the #38 through its paces under the watchful eye of new, yet familiar, veteran Crew Chief Todd Parrott. He formerly served as crew chief for the #88 Robert Yates Racing car [and also the #38 with Sadler] and returned to the team this week following a 22-race stint with Petty Enterprises and the #43 car of Bobby Labonte. "Today has been awesome," Gilliland said. "Todd is a winner and has a lot of experience in the Nextel Cup Series. That's what we're going to need. We want to do everything we can to cut our learning curve and get to the front as soon as possible."(Kentucky Speedway PR)(8-15-2006)
UPDATE 2: no announcement yet from RYR, but with Sadler officially being named to the #19 Dodge on Wednesday, plus Gilliland being added to nascar.com's entry list, looks like Gilliland will be in the car this weekend at MIS.
AND on Friday morning [August 18th] at Michigan International Speedway "M&M’S Chocolate Candies To Announce Future NASCAR Plans".(8-17-2006)
Sadler to the #19 at MIS OFFICIAL: Elliott Sadler will take over the #19 Dodge at Evernham Motorsports beginning with this weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway, a team official confirmed to The Associated Press. Sadler secured an early release from Robert Yates Racing late Tuesday evening, clearing the way for him to replace Jeremy Mayfield beginning Sunday, according an Evernham official who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not yet been made.(Associated Press), plus there is a scheduled announcement by Evernham Motorsports for a brief update from Ray Evernham and the new driver of the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger today at 11:30am/et.
OFFICIAL: Evernham Motorsports announced today that it has named Elliott Sadler to drive the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger beginning this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. Sadler, who had his first win at Bristol in 2001, has three career wins, seven poles and 16 top fives in 271 starts, brings his hard-charging driving style, fun-loving personality and broad fan appeal to Evernham’s three-car NASCAR Nextel Cup program. He joins Kasey Kahne, driver of the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger and Scott Riggs, driver of the #10 Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge Charger. The 31-year-old native of Emporia, VA, will start his career at Evernham Motorsports this weekend in the backyard of his new primary sponsors – Dodge and the Dodge Dealers. While the terms of his relationship with Evernham Motorsports were not announced, he does have a long term commitment to the program.
“It’s truly an honor to drive for Dodge and Ray Evernham and to be a part of this team,” said Sadler. “I admired Ray as a crew chief and now as a team owner and business leader. His operation is impressive. When you look at the engineering resources, the talented guys on the team, the marketing programs, the facilities and the way he and his directors run things, you can tell that this is a powerhouse organization that is focused on winning races and championships. I look forward to providing some of those wins and hopefully competing with Kasey and Scott for the championship next year.”
Sadler is also excited about his new relationship with Dodge. “My family’s business has a Dodge dealership in Franklin, VA, so it will great to represent Dodge and all the dealers across the country,” he added. “They have some amazing cars and trucks, and I’ll be trading in my current truck for a Ram SRT-10 right away.” Ray Evernham, president and CEO of Evernham Motorsports, said Sadler brings the right chemistry, personality and driving skills to round out his stable of NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers. “So much of the success of a team depends on having the right blend of chemistry and communications,” said Evernham. “Elliott will be a great fit with our team right away and will bring the competitive drive and the ability to communicate with the team what the Dodge Charger needs to perform at its best. I think he’s the key that will place this team firmly on the path to success.” Sadler will get his first experience in a Dodge Charger on Wednesday when his team goes to Kentucky Speedway to test. “We’re looking forward to having Elliott join the Dodge family,” said Mike Accavitti, director of Dodge SRT and motorsports product planning and marketing. “He’s got great star power, he’s a talented driver and has excellent potential to be a champion. He’s a perfect fit for the Dodge brand.”(Clear!Blue/Evernham Motorsports PR)(8-16-2006)
Robby buying RYR? UPDATE Denied: The LTN Radio Network has learned that Robby Gordon has purchased Robert Yates Racing, #88 and #38 Cup teams and #90 Busch Series team to be effective this week. The Yates-Roush engine program is not included in the sale. No word on the status of the contracts between RYR and sponsors M&M/Mars and Citifinancial, and how they will be affected by the sale.(LTN Radio Network), if this is true...
UPDATE: a representative from Robert Yates Racing says this is NOT True and will not happen, denying that Yates is selling to Robby Gordon.
UPDATE 2: A report that Robby Gordon Motorsports [RGM] has purchased Robert Yates Racing's Cup and Busch Series teams was denied by officials with RGM Tuesday. But, John Story, CEO of Robby Gordon Motorsports, said the two teams have spoken about a possible merger of some sort. "As Robby stated several months ago, we have talked to a number of people both in and out of NASCAR about expanding, with the ultimate goal of fielding a championship-caliber team," Story said. "To be competitive in NASCAR's Cup series today, you've got to have multiple teams. So, yes, we've spoken [to RYR officials], but we've spoken with other people also. "That any sort of deal has been completed between the two teams is completely erroneous." According to the Internet story posted by the LTN Radio Network, the purchase of RYR by Robby Gordon Motorsports would be "effective this week." Story said the need to expand to multiple teams has led to discussions with a number of organizations currently competing in the series, including Hall of Fame Racing and PPI Motorsports among others. "Not surprisingly, a number of teams have contacted us as well," Story said. "But you can't just take two single-car teams and put them together and say you are now a multicar team. It's just not that easy. There are a number of issues that come into play." Those issues, he said, include concerns such as shop space, manufacturer representation, sponsorships and driver selection. "If you make a move like that," he said, "you have to make sure you're in lock step with one another. If anything changes, you have to agree on what the new path will look like."(SceneDaily.com)
UPDATE 3 from RGM: "The rumor that we have consummated a deal to purchase Robert Yates Racing is just that, a rumor. As we publicly stated several months ago, we have spoken to a number of organizations about the idea of aligning resources with the goal of creating a championship-caliber program. In today's NASCAR, great people and multiple teams are two of the requirements needed to win a championship and there are really only two ways for us to get there. The first is to find additional marketing partners for a second, third and fourth car, and the other is to align with another team that is interested in the same opportunities. For months we have been talking to multiple sponsors and teams, and while one of those teams is Robert Yates Racing, we have not purchased Robert's program."(John Story, General Manager and CEO, Robby Gordon Motorsports)(8-15-2006)
More news on Mayfield: It has been reported that Jeremy Mayfield (released by Ray Evernham Friday) might be in the #38 Robert Yates Racing Ford beginning this week at Michigan. Mayfield certainly seems to be available. However, it appears David Gilliland, who has been working his way through the junior NASCAR ranks, is going to be the choice come next season for Yates and it has also been reported he could step into the car immediately with Elliott Sadler, already reportedly hired by Evernham for the #19 car next season, starting his new job next week [at MIS]. Some have said that Gilliland, who has not been approved for superspeedways including Talladega coming Oct. 8 during The Chase, might want to protect his rookie status for next year. Some in the know have said it’s not his decision but it’s up to Yates as to whether he wants the new kid to run for rookie honors in 2007. Meanwhile, there’s also was the suit filed by Mayfield to try to keep his ride with Evernham. That has allegedly gone through a negotiation and settlement phase and the settlement was reportedly scheduled to be presented to the judge in court in Statesville, N.C., Monday.(Ford Racing)(8-15-2006)
Gilliland in the #38 at Michigan or is it Mayfield...as fill in?: Busch series driver David Gilliland will replace Elliott Sadler as the driver of the #38 M&M's Ford for Robert Yates Racing, beginning next Sunday in the GFS Marketplace 400 in Brooklyn, Mich., ESPN's Mike Massaro reports. Sadler previously announced he was leaving Yates at the end of the season. Sadler has signed with Evernham Motorsports, which on Friday fired driver Jeremy Mayfield. This weekend, driver Bill Elliott is replacing Mayfield in Watkins Glen. Earlier this year, Gilliland became the first non-Nextel Cup driver to win a Busch Series race this season.(ESPN.com)
OR As David Gilliland contemplates his immediate future with Robert Yates Racing -- namely whether or not to lose his rookie status in 2007 by taking a Nextel Cup ride now -- sources close to RYR told NASCAR.com the organization is also in discussion with Jeremy Mayfield about a potential fill-in role in the #38 Ford. Mayfield, released by Evernham Motorsports earlier this week, would only be a temporary fill-in for Yates, and would not sign a multi-year deal. Sources said Gilliland is expected to man the #38 Ford for the final 12 races, but his participation in the fall race at Talladega remains in doubt. He has not yet been approved for racing on NASCAR's superspeedways. Mayfield's termination from Evernham Motorsports earlier this week opens the seat of the #19 Dodge for the current driver of the #38 Ford, Elliott Sadler. Sadler may be in the #19 before season's end, depending largely on the resolutions of various contractual agreements, sources said.(NASCAR.com)(8-13-2006)
Todd Parrott Returns to RYR; Steadman to Crew Chief the #43 UPDATE:: Petty Enterprises and Robert Yates Racing jointly announce crew chief Todd Parrott will return to Robert Yates Racing. Greg Steadman, on an interim basis, will take over the crew chief duties on the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge driven by Bobby Labonte effective immediately. Parrott has years of experience at RYR and helped lead the organization to a championship with driver Dale Jarrett in 1999. Steadman is no stranger to the crew chief position. A long-standing employee of Petty Enterprises, Steadman is known as one of the top mechanical minds at the shop. Steadman will work hand-in-hand with Loomis, who will take a more active role on the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge.(Petty Enterprises PR)(8-9-2006)
UPDATE: Parrott will take over the #38 M&M's Ford crew chief duties as of the Michigan race next weekend.(Speed Channel Qualifying Coverage/Larry McReynolds)(8-11-2006)
Gilliland signed? with Yates? #28? UPDATE 3 - Press Conference postponed: hearing Busch Series driver, David Gilliland has signed with Robert Yates Racing to run in Nextel Cup in 2007, no word if it is the #38, #88 or #90. Supposedly the announcement will come at Indy next week.(7-28-2006)
UPDATE: All signs are indicating that former Chino Hills resident David Gilliland will drive a NASCAR Nextel Cup car for Robert Yates Racing next season. In addition to a morning Internet report that said Gilliland has signed a deal with Yates, industry sources said Gilliland and Yates will announce their partnership during the upcoming race weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway confirmed a Yates news conference scheduled for 1:15pm local time on Friday, Aug. 4. Gilliland did not return a phone call today, but said Thursday, ``We're getting close on a few really good offers.'' Asked if something was likely to be done in the next week, Gilliland said, ``Yeah.'' A secretary at RYR said team owner Robert Yates and son Doug Yates were not in the team's race shop today, which marked the beginning of the final Cup off-weekend of the season. Yates spokeswoman Rhonda King said, ``We have nothing confirmed to announce at this time.'' Sources said Gilliland is likely headed to the #38 M&M's car being vacated by Elliott Sadler at the end of the season. Gilliland attended the Nextel Cup race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday and ``showed up for an interview on Speed (Channel) while eating a bag of M&M's and proclaiming they were his favorite candy,'' according to a report by the network's Tom Jensen.(San Bernardino County Sun)(7-29-2006)
UPDATE 2: hearing the #28 could return to RYR with Gilliland driving and M&M's sponsoring, the 2006 #38 owners points going to the #28 [first 5 races of 2007],(7-31-2006)
UPDATE 3 Postpones Press Conference: been told the Robert Yates Racing Press Conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been canceled for this weekend, it was scheduled for this afternoon around 1:00pm/et, supposedly to announced David Gilliland as a new driver for one on RYR Cup teams, no word why it was canceled. Confimed from sources at the track that the press conference has been canceled and will end up being held later in August.
UPDATE 3a: Despite postponing a Friday afternoon press conference in which Robert Yates Racing was expected to introduced David Gilliland as the driver of its #38 Ford for next season, nothing has changed with the team's plans to hire the driver. The announcement will come later this summer, once all the details of the contract can be finalized. "We're just trying to get all of our 'i's' dotted and 't's' crossed before we announce our new driver," co-owner Doug Yates said Friday. "I think everybody knows who it is. We just want to make sure everything's right. We're looking forward to our future. It's just the timing. We're trying to do a lot of things really fast, as everybody knows, and sometimes when you do that you just have to take your time and make sure you get it all right. There's no change in the direction for us. The timing just didn't work out for today."(SceneDaily.com)(8-4-2006)
Baldwin back to Davis Racing? yes...:Baldwin supposedly is headed back to Bill Davis Racing (nothing about Ward Burton) and Labbe is looking at options.
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing (BDR) announced today that Tommy Baldwin Jr. will join the organization serving as Competition Director for its Nextel Cup Series multi-car efforts, effective August 1, 2006. Baldwin returns to the team after having spent four seasons with the organization from 1999-2002. Included in Baldwin’s responsibilities as competition director will be overseeing Bill Davis Racing’s conversion to Toyota for the 2007 Nextel Cup season. Baldwin will work closely with leaders from Toyota Racing Development, Inc. (TRD) and Triad Racing Development, Inc. (a technical partner to TRD) to ensure a smooth transition and will also work with existing Bill Davis Racing crew chiefs to guarantee an efficient and effective transformation to Toyota.(BDR/NASCAR PR)(7-31-2006)
Crew Chiefs out at Yates?: UPDATE 4: Hearing that Robert Yates Racing has released crew chiefs Tommy Baldwin and Slugger Labbe.(7-30-2006)
UPDATE:Baldwin supposedly is headed back to Bill Davis Racing (nothing about Ward Burton) and Labbe is looking at options.(7-31-2006)
UPDATE 2: Robert Yates Racing told its organization on Monday that its two Nextel Cup crew chiefs, Tommy Baldwin and Slugger Labbe, would no longer be with the team, a source has told NASCAR.COM. Baldwin and Labbe were brought to RYR amid great fanfare by team manager Eddie D'Hondt, but D'Hondt was fired on May 23. With Baldwin and Labbe gone, RYR has experienced a complete turnover of its top personnel. Veteran crew chief Butch Hylton is rumored to be Jarrett's crew chief for this week's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.(NASCAR.com)(7-31-2006)
UPDATE 3: Robert Yates Racing announced today that veteran crew chief Butch Hylton will assume crew chief duties for the #88 UPS Racing Team in an interim capacity beginning with this weekend’s All State 400 at the Brickyard. Hylton has been with Robert Yates Racing since the end of June and served as crew chief for development driver Stephen Leicht at Pocono Raceway two weeks ago.(RYR PR)(7-31-2006)
UPDATE 4: Baldwin will be replaced by Charles "Cully" Barraclough as crew chief of the #38 team and Elliott Sadler. Baldwin's departure was by mutual decision as he left for an opportunity to become a team manager at another team, an RYR spokesman said. That team likely will be Bill Davis Racing, where Baldwin was crew chief from 1998 to 2002.(SceneDaily.com)(7-31-2006)
Gilliland to Yates? UPDATEs: David Gilliland, who has won one Busch Series race, said yesterday he has been contacted by several teams for next year. The Charlotte Observer reported that one of those teams was Robert Yates Racing, reporting that Yates had extended Gilliland an offer to replace Emporia native Elliott Sadler in the #38. Gilliland wrecked out of the Goody's 250 on Lap 163. Shortly after Gilliland emerged from the team's hauler, Jack Roush pulled him aside for a short conversation. Gilliland didn't mention specifics yesterday but said his goal hasn't changed. "We've got a lot of options. I got a lot of phone calls," Gilliland said. "I want to race full time next year."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-23-2006)
UPDATE: Forgive David Gilliland if he's a bit overwhelmed by the sudden rush of calls to his cel lphone from top NASCAR team owners like Richard Childress, Robert Yates and Jack Roush. "We've got some pretty good opportunities and we're going to take our time in trying to make the right decision," Gilliland said yesterday of his unexpected headline status in the stock- car rumor mill. "I've talked to probably 10 teams, and we're just weighing our options. It's hard to pass up an opportunity because you might not get another one. I've talked with Richard Childress a lot, and his operation is on top of the game right now, and it's hard to pass up a deal like that. But I haven't signed anything with anyone." Mike Dillon, Childress' director of team operations, said his team wants to sign Gilliland to a Busch-Nextel Cup package that would include all the Busch events in 2007, plus a couple of Nextel Cup events. "He has to make a decision on his future, and we've got to make decisions, too," Dillion said. Yates is apparently offering an even bigger deal - a full Nextel Cup ride. Gilliland said he's bounced his options off his father, Butch Gilliland, a veteran Winston West racer, for advice. "And I just talked with Kenny Wallace, and he gave me some really good advice. He's been around the sport a long time and seen people move up too fast or not fast enough. I'm not 20, so we might not get another opportunity. But at the same time you don't want to move too fast. How do you know if you're ready until you try it?"(Winston Salem Journal)
UPDATE 2: David Gilliland, who shocked the NASCAR world when he won a Busch Series race at Kentucky Speedway last month in an unsponsored, part-time car, has emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace Elliott Sadler in the #38 Robert Yates Racing Ford next year. Gilliland was at Pocono Raceway Sunday where he reportedly met with representatives from sponsor M&M Mars. While he did not confirm he would drive for the team next year, Gilliland showed up for an interview on SPEED while eating a bag of M&Ms and proclaiming that they were his favorite candy.(Speed Channel)(7-24-2006)
Third team for RYR? [Robert] Yates said there's a "realistic" chance that RYR could go to three Cup teams next season if 44-year-old Ward Burton, who has been out of Cup the past two seasons, comes up with a sponsor. Citifinancial and M&M's, according to team officials, are looking for younger drivers such as Leicht, 19, and Gilliland, 30. "If Ward walked in with a sponsor today we'd say, 'Ward, you've got the ride,'" Yates said.(NASCAR.com)
AND: The Yates crew is interested in Gilliland, sources tell Team Ford Racing, with veterans Ricky Rudd and Ward Burton as the team’s fallback position if they are unable to sign a young up-and-comer, Gilliland or someone else.(Speed Channel)(7-24-2006)
Sadler says he has multiple prospects: #38-Elliott Sadler said Friday his decision to leave Robert Yates Racing at the conclusion of the 2006 season came down to a difference of philosophy with team owner Robert Yates. "They're great, great people, and I've definitely enjoyed driving for those guys, but pretty much we have just come to differences of opinions on which way the sport is going," said Sadler, 20th in Cup points. "I couldn't really make myself buy into the system and which way I think the company is going. So we just decided to split ways and do something different." Sadler said he's entertaining multiple offers at this point. "There are a lot more seats open than there are drivers available, I think. That's what caught me off this week with some of the phone calls I got. I'm not in a hurry to try to make a decision. I have no timelines."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(7-22-2006)
Sadler to the #19? Mayfield to Toyota? UPDATE 6 Official - Sadler to leave: Elliott Sadler has until Saturday to tell Robert Yates whether he plans to drive the #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.(Orlando Sentinel)
UPDATE 1: hearing Elliott Sadler, current driver of the #38 M&M's Ford for RYR, will go to he #19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge with current driver there, Jeremy Mayfield going to one of the three Toyota Teams, most likely Michael Waltrip Racing and the #00 car.
AND Speed Channel's Bob Dillner on NASCAR Live, that rumor has Sadler going to the #19 and COULD be taking the M&M's sponsorship with him.
UPDATE2 : #55-Michael Waltrip, who will graduate to team ownership with Toyota next year, says he has offered a job to driver #19-Jeremy Mayfield, who recently has expressed dissatisfaction with his current situation at Evernham Racing. "The ball's in his court," Waltrip told Speed Channel after his qualifying run Friday at New Hampshire, referring to Mayfield. "Hopefully it will all come together, and as soon as it does we'll let the world know." That, meanwhile, would open the seat in Evernham's #19 Dodge for Elliott Sadler, who apparently is looking for a way out of his deal with Robert Yates. Other reports say Sadler could take sponsor M&Ms with him to the #19, although that could not be confirmed. Robert Yates and Doug Yates were not at the track Friday, although Slugger Labbe, crew chief for Sadler teammate Dale Jarrett and the #88, hinted, "Where there's smoke, there's fire." Mayfield would complete the lineup for Waltrip's three-car Toyota stable. Waltrip will drive one of the cars, with NAPA sponsorship [#55]. He has hired Jarrett and landed sponsor UPS for the second car [#?], and Mayfield would drive the so-far-vacant third car [#00], to be backed by Domino's and Burger King. Mayfield had no comment on the reports. Sadler denied he had had any negotiations with Evernham, and he has a year left on his contract with Yates. He admitted he had had a long talk with Yates this week at the Indianapolis tests.(Speed Channel)(7-14-2006)
UPDATE 3:Sadler denied that he's had discussions with Evernham or anybody from Evernham Motorsports about leaving Robert Yates Racing, but admitted there have been discussions with other teams.(NASCAR.com)
AND Sadler insists his overriding commitment is winning for his team and sponsors. The latest speculation has Sadler taking the #19 Dodge of Evernham Motorsports when Jeremy Mayfield leaves to drive a Toyota for Michael Waltrip. At least one Internet site says Sadler must give Yates a “staying or going” statement this weekend. ”I don’t know about any deadline or date or anything like that,” Sadler said after qualifying 18th for Sunday afternoon’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300. “Robert and I talked at Indy [during a recent test]. Our conversation was that we’re not running as well as we’d like; he’s frustrated and I’m frustrated; what do we need to make it better; what direction do we take? We ran a Roush chassis at Chicago [qualified 29th, finished 32nd], but that didn’t seem to be the answer. That was pretty much our 45-minute conversation. So far as a deadline for deciding about next year: I don’t have one; I don’t think Robert has one; M&Ms doesn’t have one. I haven’t made up my mind what I’m going to do. This is the only uniform I’ve had on in four years, so I can see myself driving this 38 Ford again next year."(Ford Racing)(7-15-2006)
UPDATE 4: Though he denies any contact with Ray Evernham, Elliott Sadler will drive the #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)(7-18-2006)
UPDATE 5: hearing Sadler let RYR know on Tuesday he would be leaving after the 2006 season, supposedly their is some talk of putting another driver [??] in the #38 M&M's Ford..as soon as this weekend at Pocono although that seems unlikely.(7-19-2006)
OFFICIAL - UPDATE 6: Robert Yates Racing (RYR) announced today that driver Elliott Sadler has requested and been granted a release from his contract to take effect at the conclusion of the 2006 season. Yates has started searching for a driver to take over the No. 38 Ford Fusion for 2007. "We would like to thank Elliott for his commitment to our organization over the past four seasons and for all the success we've enjoyed together", said Robert Yates. "We are excited about the opportunity to find a new driver who will continue the successful run of the #38 Ford as we maintain our focus on the future of our organization."
"Our objective this year is to finish the season on a strong note," said Doug Yates. "It is our goal to continue to build this team so we will be better positioned next season to contend for the championship."(RYR PR)(7-20-2006)
Roush helping RYR: Car owner Jack Roush is offering what help he can to revive Robert Yates Racing. #38-Elliott Sadler drove a chassis last weekend at Chicagoland Speedway that Yates purchased from Roush. Robert Yates Racing, a Ford team like Roush, has struggled this season with most of its woes on tracks 1.5 miles and longer. Sadler ran well in practice but struggled in the race and finished 29th. "I do have great empathy and sympathy for Robert [Yates] and Doug [Yates] and I wish them well,'' Roush said Friday at New Hampshire International Speedway. "I don't want to see them lose those sponsors and to lose their viability. That's not what I want.''(Roanoke Times)(7-15-2006)
Leicht to make Cup debut at Indy? UPDATE 2 at Pocono: hearing the RYR Busch Series driver Stephen Leicht, will attempt to make the Brickyard 400 at Indy in a third RYR Ford.(7-10-2006)
UPDATE: Robert Yates Racing hopes to get development driver Stephen Leicht approved for the Allstate 400 next month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 19-year-old driver tested at the track Monday and will test again Wednesday in preparation for his possible Nextel Cup debut in the #90 RYR Ford.(SceneDaily.com)(7-11-2006)
UPDATE 2 - Pocono: Robert Yates Racing development driver Stephen Leicht will attempt to make his 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 #90 Ford. Leicht has nine Busch Series starts with the best finish of 10th at Kentucky. He has driven in two restrictor-plate Busch Series races. The 19-year-old driver who won the 2005 ASA Late Model Series title is considered a candidate to compete in Nextel Cup next season for the Yates team. Either Raymond Fox III or Butch Hylton will serve as crew chief for the car, said Leicht, who has never raced at Pocono.(SceneDaily.com)(7-14-2006)
Robby to add a 2nd team? RYR alliance? 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. 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. "We have a lot going on as far as having a second car in our program," Story said. "That's the most exciting thing. That was the plan all along." Story said Gordon was not in consideration to drive the No. 88 vacated by 1999 Cup Series champ Dale Jarrett. "Robby will not drive the 88 car," Story said. "Robby will drive that 7 car until the end of his career. That much I know -- unless something changes that none of us are aware of."
(in part from NASCAR.com/Marty Smith)(7-9-2006)
Yates and Rensi Form Alliance: Robert and Doug Yates announced today the formation of a Busch Series strategic alliance with Team Rensi Motorsports, a leading Busch Series racing team [#25, #35]. The strategic alliance will allow these two Ford supported NASCAR organizations to work together to enhance their Busch Series operations as well as partner on sponsorship and marketing for both organizations.(Team Rensi PR)(7-6-2006)
EA Taps EllIott Sadler as cover athlete for NASCAR 07: Electronic Arts announced that its EA SPORTS branded NASCAR videogame, NASCAR 07, will feature 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 #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."(PR)(7-1-2006)
Congrats: #38 crew chief Tommy Baldwin and wife Beth welcomed Lucas Graham Baldwin this morning at 8:30am/et, 8 lbs, 2.8 ounces. Both Mom and Baby are healthy and doing fine.(Robert Yates Racing)(6-23-2006)
Sadler to run special Pedigree scheme at Sonoma: Instead of the trusty M&M’S Characters riding along on Elliott Sadler’s #38 Ford, this weekend he has some new friends, man’s best friend that is on his Ford Fusion to spotlight The Pedigree Adoption Drive. This is the second annual drive that Pedigree has spearheaded, a multi-million dollar, cause-related campaign that rallies dog lovers to help the millions of homeless dogs in shelters and breeds rescue organizations throughout the United States. In fact, Pedigree has a goal to raise $1 million to donate to shelters and breed rescue organizations around the country. For every Pedigree Brand product purchased, Pedigree will donate a portion of sales to the cause.(Elevation Group PR)(6-22-2006)
Sadler looking to leave RYR? UPDATE Denied: Elliott Sadler has let it be known he isn't happy in the team's [Robert Yates Racing] #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.(Speed Channel)(6-17-2006)
UPDATE: Car owner Robert Yates denied Internet reports that Elliott Sadler is unhappy and wants out of his contract to drive the #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)(6-19-2006)
Mega M&M's on the #38 at Pocono: Elliott Sadler is running a special scheme this weekend on his #38 Ford Fusion sporting a special Mega M&M'S paint scheme. Mega M&M'S, a new version of the iconic color-coated candies, are on average 55 percent bigger in size than original M&M'S® and come in six new hues that appeal to adults: maroon, teal, blue-gray, beige, gold and brown. With new Mega M&M'S, chocolate lovers now get more of what they love — more chocolate and more peanut in every bite.(M&M's Racing Site), see my #38 Team Schemes page for an image.(6-10-2006)
Martin and Yates? UPDATE denied: hearing Mark Martin, driver of the #6 AAA Ford for Roush Racing may buy or buy into Robert Yates Racing in some form, would it be a Roush satellite operation? Would it get around NASCAR's new ownership rules? Martin is already listed as the owner of the #17 Roush Racing Ford that Matt Kenseth drives and has been quoted that he has no interest in owing a Cup team.(6-5-2006)
UPDATE: Mark Martin says he knows nothing about a recent Internet report that has him possibly buying Robert Yates Racing or buying into the organization. "I don't know where that came from," Martin said Friday at Pocono Raceway. "There hasn't been any discussions about it." Martin, who is running his last full-time season in Nextel Cup, says he currently has no interest in owning a Cup team outright. Martin owns an interest in the #17 Roush Racing team of Matt Kenseth. "I learned last year to never say 'never,' and I have said never would I own one of these teams," he said. "At the same time, would I think about it? I don't know. I can tell you this much, there has been no discussion and no thought from me at all. That is not on my radar screen. I'm really focused on the AAA car and trying to make this Chase and make a run for the championship and do a good job and meet all my obligations and have some fun with the fans. I'm not really worried about all that other stuff."(SceneDaily.com)(6-9-2006)
Sadler injured? is OK more: at the end of Speed Channel's Trackside show Friday, Jeff Hammond dove off the stage into the crowd, which caught Hammond [unlike the Penske crewman at the Nextel Challenge], Elliott Sadler, driver of the #38 M&M's Ford for RYR, was also on the show, and before Hammond did his dive, he dared Sadler to join him, after Hammond's successful dive, Sadler attempted his dive and slipped, supposedly sustaining some sort of head injury. The camera's moved away for the scene, Steve Byrne's the host of the show, mention Sadler may had injured his head, closed up the show and they signed off. As of 8:55pm/et, have not heard any updates on if Sadler is injured and if he is, how serious. Anything I find out off official nature will be posted.
UPDATE: John Roberts mentioned as Speed Channel's Tradin' Paint show that Sadler is fine after his mishap and will race on Sunday.
MORE-PR: 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)(5-26/27-2006)
Yates gets a Roush Chassis, to run Roush cars; 'big-name' driver ready to sign? The team [Robert Yates Racing] has been heavily involved with youngsters Matt McCall and Stephen Leicht, who have been running a combination of Busch and ARCA races in trying to get them ready for the Cup level. But with neither driver ready to step in to replace Jarrett, who will depart next year for Toyota, they both could end up elsewhere sooner rather than later. “Some of it was really the decision of mine is to try and get the two Cup teams right and have maybe one Busch team and get rid of the other stuff,” Robert Yates said. “Our great plans were to do all this stuff, but it wasn’t working, so we took all the energy and took it and relocated it. It’s all an effort to perform better. We are not going to run ARCA. We are going to focus on our two Cup deals and the #90 car (Busch). That will be shared between Elliott and both of our drivers. I’m working very hard to get full-time Busch work for both of the development drivers (Leicht and McCall) because they need to be running every week.” One immediate mechanical change is that the team has purchased its first Roush Racing chassis and will begin using Roush cars. 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.(Speed Channel)(5-27-2006)
Sadler good at Yates thru 2008 UPDATE: Though #38-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.(Speed Channel)(5-22-2006)
UPDATE: While saying there is an out in his contract if he wished to exercise it, Elliott Sadler said Thursday he has no intention of leaving Robert Yates Racing. With Dale Jarrett already leaving at season's end to go to Michael Waltrip's Toyota team, speculation has now transferred to teammate Sadler. "I'm not unhappy; I'm just frustrated with the way we've been running," Sadler said at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "That is two different scenarios. There's a difference in being unhappy and being frustrated. I'm frustrated just because I want to run good." As far as his contract goes, Sadler says he's staying put. "I've been reading stuff about, 'Contract this and contract that,' and I haven't even looked at my contract," the driver of the #38 Ford said. "I don't think that's important. Yes, I do have an out if I want an out, but who cares? I want to get this team running. My responsibility is to put that 38 car up front each and every week."
Sadler said he hasn't received any offers from other teams. He also said he's not in a rush to look into the "out" clause. And he said his plan is to return to the team owned by Robert and Doug Yates next year. "I plan to come back. I think it's my duty," Sadler said. "I love my sponsor. They take care of me very well. I've loved working with Robert and Doug, and they have pretty much taken the company back in their arms and in their control, and they want to make things happen."(SceneDaily.com)(5-25-2006)
RYR GM relesased? UPDATE: hearing that Robert Yates Racing [#38 and #88 teams] and team general manager Eddie D'Hondt have parted ways.
UPDATE: 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)(5-23-2006)
Baldwin Rumor [not here] false: Both Robert Yates Racing teams - Fords driven by #88-Dale Jarrett and #38-Elliott Sadler - struggled at Lowe's Motor Speedway in preparation for the Nextel All-Star Challenge, and it only got worse when it was reported that Sadler's crew chief, Tommy Baldwin, was fired Friday night. However, Baldwin wasn't fired. In fact, he was working Sadler's pit stall during the Nextel Open qualifying race.(Augusta Chronicle)(5-21-2006)
Red Bull Shop...and rumors: Mears? Sadler? Knaus?: Toyota's Marty Gaunt has turned the lights on over at Roger Penske's old shop [in Mooresville, Lakeside Park], hired about 40 people for NASCAR's newest team, and is now looking for a couple of good men to run Dietrich Mateschitz's Red Bull [Toyota] Camrys on the Cup tour next season. #42-Casey Mears may be signing with Red Bull for 2007, leaving Chip Ganassi. Mears, in the final year of his Ganassi contract, was courted by car owner Richard Childress, either to fill Kevin Harvick's ride if Harvick had decided to leave, or to run a fourth Childress car. #38-Elliott Sadler [but is signed with RYR thru 2008] may also be signing with Red Bull, leaving Robert Yates, who is already dealing with the defection of Dale Jarrett to Toyota's Michael Waltrip for 2007. #48-Crew chief Chad Knaus, who has put Jimmie Johnson in the thick of the Nextel Cup championship race for four years now, may also be getting a major offer from the Red Bull team, though his current contract with car owner Rick Hendrick runs through 2007. Hendrick just extended Johnson's contract through 2010, but Knaus said that no one has talked with him about a contract extension.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-21-2006)
Sadler hopes Jarrett stays at RYR: Elliott Sadler hopes Dale Jarrett will stay at Robert Yates Racing however he told Jarrett not to reveal to him too many of his future plans. Sadler joked, “I just told him to keep me out of it. I don’t want to know about it. I want to find out when everybody else does that way I won’t get into trouble." Sadler added, "If he stays that great, I would love to keep him as a teammate and love to keep him at Robert Yates Racing. If he goes I’d hate to lose him as a teammate but still I’m going to keep him as one of my best friends. I want to be there as a friend first, but if he decides to stay I definitely want to be his teammate again."(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(5-4-2006)
No COT for RYR yet: The next Car of Tomorrow [COT] test is scheduled for May 30 and 31 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. NASCAR said it hopes to have at least eight cars on the track and as many as 12. One team that won't be there is Robert Yates Racing [#38 and #88 Fords]. Yates has yet to start working on the Car of Tomorrow and doesn't plan to until NASCAR sets its rules.
Car owner Jack Roush said he's built and rebuilt the Car of Tomorrow a couple of times. Every time he gets one done, NASCAR makes changes. He said he spent more than $300,000 on the car before it ever hit the track.(Augusta Chronicle)(5-4-2006)
Sadler to run Pirate scheme: This weekend the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series comes ashore at the Richmond International Raceway with Virginia native Elliott Sadler at the helm of the #38 White Chocolate M&M'S® Ford. Looking for his first win at his home track, Sadler and his trusty hands hope that "M" marks the spot and the treasure awaiting will be a trip to victory lane. The special paint scheme on the #38 Ford Fusion is part of a promotion in conjunction with the July 7th release of the new Walt Disney Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer Film's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," as well as the introduction of the M&M'S® White Chocolate Pirates Pearls. This marks the first time M&M'S has released a white chocolate candy in the United States, which will be available nationwide for a limited time. Joining Sadler on his #38 Ford Fusion are three of his biggest supporters in the M&M'S Characters - Red, Yellow and Green. Each character will be featured in their favorite pirate costume against a tropical background with the new White Chocolate M&M'S Pirate Pearls featured on the hood. In addition, Pirate Red will be at the track for the racing action on Saturday.(M&M Motorsports)(5-4-2006)
#38 Team Takes PIt Crew Honors at Talladega: 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)(5-4-2006)
Elliott Sadler looking for new gig? UPDATE 2 thru 2008: ....When Sadler arrived at Yates, he said it was a dream job, perhaps a lifetime job. And now? He's not so sure. Sources say Sadler is talking to other team owners looking for a deal. He'll be 31 on Sunday, and in a tight market for experienced, winning Cup drivers with plenty of years left, somebody likely will be interested. Sadler has a year remaining on his contract, and he may just be testing the waters in case things don't improve. Or he may be trying to create a situation like Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray did last year by signing a year in advance and then letting the car owners work out a deal for an early release.(in part from CNNSI column)(4-28-2006)
UPDATE: been told that Sadler is signed thru 2008 with Robert Yates Racing, not just one more year.(4-28-2006)
UPDATE 2: A report states that Jarrett’s teammate, Elliott Sadler, is frustrated and looking to join another team. One destination could be the Red Bull Racing Toyota team. Sadler admits he’s frustrated with how this season has gone _ he’s 14th in points _ but remains committed to Robert Yates Racing. Last June, Sadler signed a contract extension, along with sponsor M&M’s, to remain with the team through the 2008 season. “You just can’t change a team overnight,’’ Sadler said. “It’s going to be a long process. I’m here to stay at Robert Yates. I can’t see myself going anywhere.’’(Roanoke Times)(4-29-2006)
Sadler's old crew chief 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 #29 GM Goodwrench/Reeses Chevy. "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)(4-9-2006)
Sadler's Team Earns Pit Crew Challenge Win: Elliott Sadler's #38 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. 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 #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. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(4-5-2006)
Riley Technologies leaves Indy for NC: Indianapolis lost one of its major motor sports entities Wednesday when Riley Technologies and its subsidiaries announced plans to move to stock car country in September. Since 1990, the company has built Indy cars, championship-winning sports cars and U.S. Auto Club cars in a facility located a block south of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It has 35 employees, most of whom are expected to move to a new 40,000 square foot facility in Mooresville, NC. Bill Riley, president of Riley Motorsports, said the move is based on a surge in the company's NASCAR business. Mooresville is home to a large percentage of the Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series teams and suppliers. "We want to strengthen our ties to NASCAR," said Riley, who leads the company with his father, Bob. "We're excited for what lies ahead." Riley Technologies, over which Bob Riley presides, has a road-course testing project with Robert Yates Racing, a NASCAR team. Being in the Charlotte area should afford the company more opportunities in stock car racing, Bill Riley said. Riley Motorsports won the Grand American Daytona Prototype championship last year with drivers Wayne Taylor and Max Angelelli. It will continue to work with two Grand Am teams based in Indianapolis (Ganassi and Fernandez). Meanwhile, Bill Riley said a change in the landscape of open-wheel racing has meant less business for the company. "With the IRL and Champ Car becoming more spec series, none of the teams really need our services," he said. "I grew up in Detroit going to the Indianapolis 500 with my dad, so it does kind of hurt (to leave)."(Indianapolis Star)(3-16-2006)
ARG! - Pirates scheme for Sadler at RIR: Elliott Sadler's #38 M&M's Ford is scheduled to feature the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" at Richmond in May with the M&M;s dressed up like pirates.(RacingOne), see image on my #38 Team Schemes page.(2-22-2006)
Pedigree for Sadler at Calif: Elliott Sadler’s #38 Ford Fusion will carry the primary colors of Pedigree, the Official Pet Care of NASCAR, for the first of four races during the 2006 season at California Speedway in the Auto Club 500.(Elevation Group PR), no word on the three other races, but see a scheme of the car on my #38 Team Schemes page.(2-22-2006)
Yates: Ban Cheaters: Veteran NASCAR [#38, #88] car owner Robert Yates said Friday that if #48-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.” Knaus was ejected from Daytona 500 Sunday after NASCAR inspectors discovered he had altered a rear jack bolt to move the rear window on the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in an attempt to improve aerodynamics. After ejecting Knaus, NASCAR sent him back to North Carolina for the remainder of Speedweeks and said that next week it may levy additional penalties, including a longer suspension and point fines.(Speed Channel)(2-18-2006)
Sadler added to Speed's Trackside: #38-Elliott Sadler will fill the fourth seat on Speed Channel’s popular Friday night show Trackside with Steve Byrnes, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds. Waltrip will continue to handle the first-half duties, with Sadler taking over for DW on July 7 at Chicagoland Speedway. Trackside, now in its fifth season, is a live, Friday night pre-event show from the site of each NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race.(Speed Channel)(1-31-2006)
Past 2005 News
RYR signs new driver: Two-time defending NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Midwest point series champion, Justin Diercks, will sign a contract with Robert Yates Racing in the coming days, Yates team general manager Eddie D’Hondt said Thursday. The Yates team has three Nextel Cup cars [? three? #38, #88 and ?], but D’Hondt said Diercks likely would spend the coming year driving on the ARCA circuit. D’Hondt said Diercks also could earn some starts in the Busch Series, which is raced at NASCAR tracks in conjunction with Nextel Cup events. Diercks could not be reached for comment, but D’Hondt confirmed that the 26-year-old Quad-Citian tested twice at different tracks for RYR, driving Dale Jarrett’s #88 UPS Ford Taurus once and Elliott Sadler’s M&Ms Ford on another occasion. “He did a really good job both times and on different-sized racetracks,’’ said D’Hondt, who is entering his third year with RYR and previously worked for Bill Elliott Racing and Evernham Motorsports. “We plan on making him part of our family in the near future.’’ Diercks has been racing on asphalt tracks for almost a decade and won his first feature at the age of 17. D’Hondt said a Diercks representative made the Yates team aware of Diercks a year ago, and he said RYR closely followed Diercks’ second straight Midwest Series points win last summer and fall.
Diercks interviewed with D’Hondt and RYR engine builder Doug Yates twice and impressed them, D’Hondt said. “He is just a good kid,’’ the general manager said. “He’s a racer, and he’s a worker. He has a very good background, and what he has accomplished to date is strong. Marketability-wise, he will do a good job for any sponsor. We just have to get behind him.’’ D’Hondt said Diercks would be one of three young racers RYR planned to groom for a possible Nextel Cup future, joining racers Steve Leicht and Matt McCall. Diercks will continue to test in RYR’s Nextel Cup cars throughout the year, D’Hondt said. As for getting to drive in a Nextel Cup race, “Not until he earns it,’’ the GM said. “But he’ll get to that eventually.’’(Quad-City Times)(12-24-2005)
Baldwin leaving Evernham? to Yates? UPDATE OFFICIAL RYR 2006 lineup announced: hearing that #9 crew chief, Tommy Baldwin could be leaving Evernham Motorsports and driver Kasey Kahne.(9-18-2005)
UPDATE: hearing Baldwin could end up at the #38 M&M's/Robert Yates Racing team as Elliott Sadler's crew chief.(9-19-2005)
UPDATE: 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)(11-21-2005)
UPDATE RYR Announces 2006 Lineup: 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 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.
Busch Series: In addition to the personnel changes with the NEXTEL Cup Series programs, RYR announced its driver lineup for the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series season and plans to compete in all 35 events. Sadler will drive the #90 CitiFinancial Ford for 16 events in 2006 while drivers Stephen Leicht and Matt McCall will share the driving duties during 17 events as part of the RYR Driver Development program. In addition to Leicht and McCall, Belgium driver Marc Goosens will compete in both the Busch Series road course races in 2006 as part of a joint effort between RYR and Rile Technologies, the championship team in the Rolex Series.
RYR will continue to prepare for 2006 and beyond, looking for the right opportunity to grow the organization into a four-team organization that competes in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.(Elevation Group/RYR PR)(11-28-2005)
Todd Parrott? have learned that Todd Parrott has left RYR, no word on his 2006 plans. Parrott finished up the 2005 season as Jarrett's crew chief on the #88 team after starting the season as the crew chief of the #38 team.(sources and PRN's Garage Pass Radio show)(11-29-2005)
AND Robert Yates Racing GM Eddie D'Hondt told Sirius Satellite Radio's "Sirius Speedway" that Todd Parrott is no longer with RYR. D'Hondt said, "It was a very diffcult decision to make, and it was made with a heavy heart, but we can't be sitting on our hands. We need to get both cars in the Chase next season, and to do tht, some changes had to be made." D'Hondt said new crewchiefs "Slugger"
Labbe and Tommy Baldwin are already on the job, and that the team has a full testing schedule between now and the end of the year.
AND II: heard that many of the engineering staff was released in this reorganization.(12-1-2005)
Arnold to team up with Yates? UPDATE: hearing that Arnold Motorsports will team up with Robert Yates Racing to form a third team of sorts for Yates.(11-1-2005)
UPDATE: 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)(11-26-2005)
Slugger to #88; Baldwin to #38: 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)(11-21-2005)
Baldwin leaving Evernham? to Yates? UPDATEs MANY: hearing that #9 crew chief, Tommy Baldwin could be leaving Evernham Motorsports and driver Kasey Kahne.(9-18-2005)
UPDATE: hearing Baldwin could end up at the #38 M&M's/Robert Yates Racing team as Elliott Sadler's crew chief.(9-19-2005)
more updates: see the #9 Team News and Links page for all the past rumors since Sept...getting kinda long.
UPDATE 2 - Baldwin teaming up with Yates? hearing that Tommy Baldwin, former #9 Crew Chief for Kasey Kahne, will go to Robert Yates Racing in some fashion, crew chief/part owner. Also has been rumored that a current one car operation, such as #50 Arnold Motorsports or #66 Peak Performance could partner up with RYR, which could include ownership by Baldwin, something that was mentioned in the Evernham Motorsports release on Tuesday [see below or the #9 Team News and Links page for more on that]. Cabela's is the sponsor on the #66 car this week and have heard it could become a full-time sponsor in 2006. Expect some sort of announcement this weekend at Homestead.(11-17-2005)
MORE the Yates-Baldwin press conference planned for Saturday morning has been canceled, what does it mean? no idea.(11-18-2005)
MORE II: Tommy Baldwin's future plans apparently include a cooperative effort with Robert Yates Racing. It was announced earlier this week that Baldwin, who has been Kasey Kahne's crew chief at Evernham Motorsports, was leaving that team. And his desire to own a team is well-known.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(11-19-2005)
UPDATE 100: on Speed Channel's NASCAR This Morning, Bob Dilner said Baldwins plans to start his own Cup team, but not until the 2007 season...not sure what his 2006 plans may be, but still hearing it'll be with Yates.(11-20-2005)
Slugger to leave the #19? UPDATE 3 to RYR?: hearing #19 crew chief, Slugger Labbe could leave Evernham Motorsports at the end of the season, possibly going back to Robert Yates Racing, as the crew chief for #38-Elliott Sadler?(10-26-2005)
UPDATE: Statement from Ray Evernham on the Leadership for the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger: "We have decided to make a change on the leadership team for the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger driven by Jeremy Mayfield. The team,
led by Team Director Kenny Francis for the past three years, has shown great promise and potential. We've qualified for the Chase for the
Championship for the second year in a row. But, we have high expectations for this team, both for the remainder of the 2005 season
and for next year. We still have four races to run this season, all of which are on tracks where we've been successful. We're confident that we can re-energize this team to bring home solid finishes in these last four races and move up in the Chase for the Championship. We are already planning for next year, and we recognize that we need to make several changes to regain the momentum this team had earlier in the year and to ensure we have the right people in the right places to win races and a championship.
As part of this change, Richard "Slugger" Labbe will no longer serve as crew chief for the team. Kenny Francis will continue to lead the team as he has the last three years, and Mike Shiplett, currently the car chief for the team, will share Labbe's duties with Francis. Slugger Labbe made good contributions to this team this year, and we wish him well as he pursues other opportunities."(ClearBlue/Evernham Motorsports PR)(10-27-2005)
UPDATE 2: Richard "Slugger" Labbe said a lack of chemistry with Jeremy Mayfield was behind his departure from Evernham Motorsports this week. Mayfield has one top-20 finish since making the Chase for the Nextel Cup for the second consecutive year. "I just didn't fit in," said Labbe, who declined another position at Evernham. "We got in the Chase, and we've just been mediocre. I want to win and be in the top five every week." Labbe expects to join another team by next week's race at Texas.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-29-2005)
UPDATE 3: 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)(11-3-2005)
Baldwin bolting Evernham? UPDATE 2: hearing that #9 crew chief, Tommy Baldwin could be leaving Evernham Motorsports and driver Kasey Kahne. There had been rumors he could be headed to Hendrick Motorsports and #24-Jeff Gordon, but Hendrick Motorsports says they are committed to new crew chief, Steve Letarte, for the rest of 2005 and for the 2006 season.
UPDATE: hearing Baldwin could end up at the #38 M&M's/Robert Yates Racing team as Elliott Sadler's crew chief, replacing Todd Parrott.(9-19-2005)
UPDATE 2: Baldwin recently signed a contract with Evernham Motorsports that runs thru 2010. "The only way I would leave, I guess is if Ray [Evernham] threw me out," say Baldwin. "We're not talking with him," Yates Team Manager Eddie D'Hondt said. "He's got a pretty strong contract where he is and he's happy where he is." [Evernham and #9 Kahne](NASCAR Scene Magazine)(10-1-2005)
Partypoker as a sponsor? hearing partypoker.net could sponsor a third Yates car for 2006 team or take over as the sponsor on the #6 Roush Racing Ford.(9-27-2005)
Yates looking for top crew chief for #38: Robert Yates Racing will likely go after a top-name crew chief [Tommy Baldwin?] to serve as the leader of Elliott Sadler's #38 team next season, the team said Friday at Dover International Raceway. The two-car operation moved Todd Parrott back to head Dale Jarrett's #88 team this week. The two won the championship in 1999, but the pair split after the 2001 season. #38-Elliott Sadler will run the final nine races with engineer Kevin Buskirk atop the pit box. "I am just here on a temporary basis," Buskirk said. "We will gain back some of the momentum that we lost."(NASCAR.com)(9-24-2005)
Parrott splitting with RYR? or reassigned? UPDATE reassigned: hearing Todd Parrott crew chief for the Robert Yates Racing #38 M&M's team/Elliott Sadler are parting ways or Parrott may be reassigned with the organization, expect an announcement sometime this week.(9-18-2005)
UPDATE:Robert Yates Racing announced personnel changes for both NEXTEL Cup Series teams, as well as their Busch Series program. Effective immediately, veteran crew chief Todd Parrott will assume the role of crew chief for Dale Jarrett and the #88 UPS Racing Team, while Kevin Buskirk, engineer for the #38 M&M’S® Racing Team, will assume the role of interim crew chief for Elliott Sadler. Additionally, Raymond Fox, III, will serve as crew chief for the #90 CitiFinancial Team.
With both teams sitting outside the top 10 and having just missed the Chase for the Championship, RYR management decided to make immediate personnel changes for the remainder of this season in preparation for the 2006 NASCAR season. “In the business of NASCAR racing the responsibility to perform both to ourselves and our sponsors is and has, become increasingly more important,” said Eddie D’Hondt, general manager of RYR. “We are making this change in an effort to spark both of our teams to the performance level expected of us.” For more than two years, Parrott has served as crew chief with Jarrett teammate Elliott Sadler and the #38 M&M’S Racing Team. During that period, Parrott led Sadler to two wins (Texas in 2004 and the fall race at California in 2004), as well as a non-points victory with
their win in one of the Daytona 500 qualifying races in 2004. Additionally, Parrott guided Sadler to the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship last season with Sadler finishing the year in ninth place. It marked Sadler’s first time finishing in the top 10 in the point standings.
“We felt to improve the performance of the 88 team it was important to establish a leadership that has been lacking for the last few months,” said car owner Robert Yates. “Billy (Wilburn) did a great job of coming in here and working with the 88 and 38 teams to get them on the same page. Todd (Parrott) has a record that speaks for itself both with preparing race cars and making decisions in the pits. Todd has the skills, ability and talent to lead a race team, and he is committed to winning races.” Buskirk has served as the engineer for the #38 M&M’S Team since November 2003 and has been instrumental in preparing the cars Sadler has raced during the last two seasons. Buskirk will work in the interim crew chief capacity while the team actively searches for a permanent replacement for that position. “Kevin is an important part of not only the M&M’S Team but for all of RYR,” Yates said. “He has a lot of knowledge about race cars and what
needs to happen to make them perform. He’s been on top of the pit box for the last two years helping call adjustments so he is the ideal
person to fill this interim role for us.”
Fox, who has been with RYR since the organization opened for business in 1987, will take over the race day crew chief duties for the #90
CitiFinancial car throughout the remainder of the season. Fox will also continue in his current position with the #38 M&M’S Team.
All of the principal players involved in this announcement will be available for questions from the media at 9:00am/et this Friday in
the infield media center at Dover International Speedway. This is the only time that members of Robert Yates Racing will be made available
to discuss this subject.(RYR/Elevation Group PR), no word on Billy Wilburn fate or plans.(9-20-2005)
Sadler gets a surfboard: When Elliott Sadler was inducted into [California Speedway] this track’s “Walk of Fame,” an honor bestowed largely because of his victory in the Nextel Cup race run here a year ago, he also received “a Dennis Kemp original commemorative surfboard” as a gift from California Speedway. “We race our butts off 36 times a year,” said Sadler, but it’s times like this that make it all worthwhile.”(Gaston Gazette)(9-4-2005)
Sadler to Walk of Fame: Elliott Sadler, the driver of the #38 M & M's Ford will join past NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series racers who have won at California Speedway when he's inducted into the "Walk of Fame." The ceremony, which will feature Sadler placing his footprints, signature and a bronze placard with his likeness into cement, will take place at Gate 12 on Saturday, September 3rd at 11:00am. California Speedway will present a gift to Sadler to help commemorate his historic win during the induction.(California Speedway)(8-30-2005)
#38 scheme at MIS: Elliott Sadler will run the Pedigree Dog Food scheme this week at Michigan.(Elevation Group/M&M Motorsportss PR)(8-17-2005)
Latest on possible 3rd RYR team: Robert Yates Racing General Manager Eddie D'Hondt said RYR will have to decide by the end of the month whether it will field a third full-time team next season. If that doesn't happen, look for the team's Busch Series car to run a few additional races next season, including stand-alone Busch events with a younger, development driver.(NASCAR Scene via BGNRacing.com)(8-11-2005)
Double Duty for RYR at Watkins Glen: Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler will both compete in the NASCAR Busch Series race at Watkins Glen, in an effort to get more seat time in preparation for Sunday’s event. Jarrett will drive the #90 CitiFinancial Ford, while Sadler will race a specially-designed #08 Robert Yates Racing Ford. The car will be a tribute to all of the RYR sponsors, featuring a split design with UPS on the passenger side of the car and M&M’S on the driver side of the car.(Elevation Group PR)(8-9-2005)
Yates still considering a third team: It was not that long ago when Robert Yates Racing [#38 and #88] was a state-of-the-art team. It would be tough to argue that it still is. In fact, in one key area — cars on the track — the Yates operation is lagging behind such Nextel Cup teams as Roush Racing and Hendrick Motorsports [Jayski Note: but Yates has two cars in the Chase at current, Hendrick has...one]. Yates still just has two — one for Dale Jarrett and one for Elliott Sadler. While the Yates drivers are doing fairly well — they are both in the top 20 [actually top 10] in points this week — some think they could do better if they would add another car or two to the stable. Apparently, the folks at Yates have been thinking the same thing. “We’ve had a lot of discussions” about adding a third car, Jarrett said this week. Adding more cars is beneficial on several fronts. The most important of those is the data front. More cars means more tests, more laps and more information for engineers and crew chiefs to chew upon. Again, Yates is certainly aware of all that. “We do everything that we can with the people that we have now,” Jarrett said, “but there’s a sign that there is strength in numbers.”(Kansas City Star)(7-22-2005)
UPDATE: Yates' proposed third team may be postponed until 2007, according to team sources.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-25-2005)
Combo's on the #38 at Chicago: Elliott Sadler will pilot the #38 Combo's Ford on Sunday in the USG Sheetrock 400. This marks the second race of the 2005 season where Combo's has held the primary spot on the RYR Ford Taurus. The first race was in Atlanta where Sadler finished tenth.(M&M's Motorsports)(7-7-2005)
Get Well: to #38 M&M's and #88-UPS Ford team owner Robert Yates who missed his first race at Daytona in decades. Yates was suffering from kidney stones and stayed behind in the Mooresville, NC area.(7-3-2005)
UPDATE: Robert Yates, Ford's legendary patriarch of horsepower, missed last weekend's Pepsi 400 at Daytona but intends to be back at the track for this weekend's USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, near Joliet, Ill. Yates, 61, had surgery for kidney stones last week and was advised by doctors and family members to stay home and rest. The news here, of course, is that Yates missed a Daytona race for the first time since the 1960s, when he was beginning his apprenticeship with Ford's Holman-Moody stock-car powerhouse in Charlotte.(Ford Racing)(7-7-2005)
Marlin in Childress car? or maybe Yates? Jack Daniels Distillery says it is not lobbying for Columbia's Sterling Marlin to be the driver of the Nextel Cup car it sponsors, but it expects to be "consulted" about the decision. "We will support whatever decision (team owner) Richard Childress makes, but we will be consulted," said John Hayes, brand director for the Lynchburg-based distillery. Marlin said he was offered the job near the end of last season but turned it down to honor the final year of his contact with Chip Ganassi Racing. Childress hired Dave Blaney on a one-year contract. With Marlin now officially out at Ganassi after this season, there is speculation that he might join Childress and drive the Jack Daniels Chevrolet next year. Through 17 races, Blaney has one top-ten finish and is 27th in the standings. "Dave is a great guy and has been an excellent representative for us," Hayes said. "He is a talented driver but has had some bad luck this season. We got into this a little late (waiting for NASCAR to approve sponsorship by companies that produce hard liquor) and everything considered, Dave has done a good job." Jack Daniels has a multiyear contact to sponsor a Childress Nextel Cup car and Hayes said it is important that the car be "competitive." "We're the world's #1-selling whiskey, and being competitive is important to us in whatever we do," he said. "We're in the big leagues now."
Although Blaney has not been in contention to win, Hayes said the company is "very satisfied" with the exposure it has received during the first half of the season. "Our consumer research has been very positive," he said. "We rank seventh or eighth in merchandise sales and considering that we're competing against drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, that's very good. Right now we're very happy with where we are and we will definitely be back next season." Marlin said recently he hopes to learn his plans for next season "in the next few weeks."(Tennessean)
or Yates: hearing that Marlin could be in a third Robert Yates Racing Ford in 2006, if they decide to field a third team. Yates recently said he had no plans for a third Cup team and would run the Busch team another year, while it was mentioned a few weeks before that RYR was looking into a third team with CitiFinacial sponsoring the team.(7-5-2005)
Yates special 'light' car at NHIS: #38-Elliott Sadler is definitely in learning mode during this test [at New Hampshire on Tuesday]. Sadler has a rather average average finish of 18.75 at NHIS. "We're just trying to get a handle on this racetrack," he said. "Race cars would be easy to tune if you only had one big bolt and nut to turn to adjust on it, but you have 500 or 600 different options every time you come to a racetrack." Sadler and Robert Yates Racing are "trying something new," a lightweight car with a low center of gravity designed specifically for the relatively flat one-mile oval here. The team will also likely run the new car on the mile oval at Phoenix.(Union Leader)(7-5-2005)
RYR gonna test...a lot before the Chase: Robert Yates Racing plans to test at every track that has a Cup race between now and Richmond in September with Elliott Sadler and Dale Jarrett.(Roanoke Times)(6-26-2005)
#38 Pit Crew WIns: For the third time this season the M&M’S Chocolate Thunder Pit Crew won the Checker’s/Rally’s Double Drive Thru Pit Crew Challenge Award. The M&M’S Team spent a total of 191.077 seconds on pit road to beat out their other
competitors. This victory positions the Chocolate Thunder Crew in a three-way tie with the #2 and #12 Penske Teams for the season lead.(M&M's Motorsports)(6-22-2005)
Third Yates Cup team in the works? UPDATE Denied: Robert Yates Racing [#38-Elliott Sadler, #88-Dale Jarrett] officials say the believe they need to move toward a third team, and efforts are in the works. Team manager Eddie d'Hondt said Saturday that he is to meet Tuesday in Baltimore with official of Citi Financial, current sponsor of RYR's Busch team, to see about a Cup program. Doug Yates, RYR president and leader of Roush/Yates Engines, said he understands that RYR has fallen behind the two majors, Roush and Hendrick, and that expansion is a competitive necessity. "That's the thing Robert and I always thought, that getting more teams was getting kind of greedy," Doug said. "We look back now [and realize] we missed the boat on it a little with all the opportunities we had." The RYR philosophy, as seen by Robert, has been the old Junior Johnson method: Let lesser teams develop the drivers, then snatch them up for the top seats when they are ready. It's a new world, Doug says, hinting that he has seen it coming. Yates and d'Hondt agreed that driver development will be a significant part of the team's future efforts, although Cup drivers Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler have driven RYR's newly-founded Busch car all year. d'Hondt said RYR needed to get the team up and running, with a veteran baseline, before throwing a newcomer into the seat.(Speed Channel Notebook)(6-12-2005)
UPDATE: Robert Yates Racing owner, Robert Yates [#38 and #88 Fords] said June 17th that hs is almost certain he will not have a third Nextel Cup team next season. Yates plans to continue fielding two Cup teams and a Busch Series team in 2006. "We're treating our Busch team more like it's a Cup team", Yates said. "I gives us a Saturday practice."(NASCAR Scene Magazine)(6-26-2005)
Sadler to extend contract with RYR/M&M's UPDATE: there is a scheduled press conference at Pocono Raceway on Friday, June 10th to announce the driver Elliott Sadler will extend his contract with Robert Yates Racing and that M&M's will also extend it sponsorship contract of the #38 Ford.(PR)
UPDATE: M&M’S Chocolate Candies announced today that it has extended its current contract with Robert Yates Racing (RYR) and driver Elliott Sadler as the primary sponsor on the #38 Ford through the 2008 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. “We are very proud of our involvement with Elliott Sadler and Robert Yates Racing since joining them in 2003,” said William Clements, Director of
Sponsorships and Sports Marketing for Masterfoods USA. “It was an easy decision to extend this partnership as a result of our on-track performance and more importantly the relationships we have developed off the track. M&M’S stands for fun and Elliott helps make race day a lot more colorful.”
“We couldn’t be happier with M&M’S decision to stay with our organization through 2008,” said Robert Yates, car owner of the #38 M&M’S Ford Taurus. “The #38 team has been very successful with M&M’S on board and Elliott Sadler behind the wheel. M&M’S has been an excellent partner to Robert Yates Racing. Our companies have many of the same values, both are based on family principles,
and it’s exciting that we’re able to continue carrying their colors in the NEXTEL Cup Series.”
The famous candy maker joined the NEXTEL Cup rank in 1997, running its first two seasons under the Skittles colors. The sponsorship transitioned to M&M’S Brand Candies in 1999. The 2005 season marks the ninth season for Masterfoods USA in NASCAR’s premier division and the third with Robert Yates Racing and Sadler.
"I'm very lucky to have one of the best sponsorships in the business. Not because the support they give us on track, but the support they give me and my family and Robert and his family,” said Sadler, who currently sits third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship standings. “It's unbelievable to have a sponsor that's not always wondering about things you can do for them but what they can do for you. I can't tell you how proud I am to be the driver for a company with those practices.”
“As Elliott matures into one of the premiere drivers in NASCAR, the timing of this renewal with M&M’S and the Mars family is perfect,” said Eddie D’Hondt, General Manager for Robert Yates Racing. “I foresee this team continuing to make its mark for many years with the support of one of the best sponsors in the NASCAR garage.”(Elevation Group PR)(6-10-2005)
Yates, Evernham and DEI up to 3 teams? #38 and #88 team owner, 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 (#91-Gaughan?)) and Dale Earnhardt Inc. (#1-Truex Jr.) also are expected to expand to three full-time cars next season.(Sporting News)(5-16-2005)
Sadler's donation makes the day for school kids: When 205 kindergarten students at Greensville Elementary took a field trip to Swift Creek Mill Playhouse in Colonial Heights last month, Elliott Sadler said he felt as if he were there. He wasn't, but if not for his financial help, the kids might not have been there, either. "It's probably special to them," Sadler said. "It's definitely special to me. A lot of kids might not have the opportunity to do that. I feel like I'm a big part of the reason they have the means to do that." Each grade at Greensville is covered by a sponsor in a program called C.A.R.E.S ("children are really extra special"). Sadler adopted kindergarten when his niece Halie enrolled at the Emporia school last fall. The sponsorship follows the class through graduation. "The commitment he's made is not a one-shot deal, it's for 13 years," said Dr. Bill Mueller, the school's principal. "For Elliott to come on, we're just tickled to death." Besides helping pay for travel to plays, museums and other events, sponsors also supply T-shirts. Sadler's class was dressed in the multicolor array of his primary sponsor in the Nextel Cup Series. "The kids look like a bunch of M&M's," Mueller said. "A lot of them were NASCAR fans anyway, and they love getting involved in it." Sadler said he "sends a bunch of M&Ms stuff all the time" and has read to the children along with his sister and sister-in-law. The school is arranging to bring Sadler and his show car for a visit before the end of the school year. "We're from a very small town, and that very small town has been supportive of me and my family a long time," Sadler said. "We're trying to give back to them."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-12-2005)
VA Governor, Sadler to promote GED's: Virginia Governor Mark Warner will visit the track on Thursday, May 12 at 1:00pm/et to announce a partnership with Virginia Native Elliott Sadler, Richmond International Raceway and the "Race to GED" program. The program is designed to help Virginia residents obtain a high school diploma. The track has offered its facility as an official GED testing site and race tickets for students as an incentive to complete the program.(RIR Fact Sheet)(5-10-2005)
Yates Looking to start 3rd 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. [denied he is looking, working on contract with DEI, denied by Yates] and Reed Sorenson [under contract with Ganassi]. 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. Yates, however, may be battling rival car owner Ray Evernham of Dodge for both driver and crew chief. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Truex's teammate and friend at DEI, said he has talked with Truex, who still doesn't have a contract. "I asked him how he felt, and I feel real confident he means what he says, and that he wants to be with us," Earnhardt said. "My contract took about six months to work itself out. You want everything done today or tomorrow, but you have to understand it takes time. It's good to be patient in this situation. I'm sure it will get done."(Winston Salen Journal)(4-26-2005)
Truex looking elsewhere? Yates? Denied by Yates: Martin Truex Jr., 2004 Busch Series 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. And I have not talked with Martin. But I am impressed with him. Now that you mention it, that's a great idea."(Winston Salem Journal)(4-16-2005)
The Force will be with Sadler and Jarrett at Phoenix: Storm troopers, a wookiee, Darth Vader and the Yellow M&M’S Brand Character M-Vader are all potential sights at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) on April 23, 2005. Add NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers and teammates Elliott Sadler and Dale Jarrett and the Star Wars Chocolate M-Pire is complete. This fun collaboration of characters is part a promotion between Masterfoods USA and the Lucasfilm for the May 19 release of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Masterfoods USA is debuting limited edition Dark Chocolate M&M’S in celebration of the year’s most anticipated theatrical release.
M&M’S and UPS are uniting under the banner of the Star Wars Chocolate M-Pire but are separated by dark Darth and light Jedi sides.
Supporting characters include Sadler’s ‘Darth Side’ team members and a specially designed #38 Dark Chocolate M&M’S Ford Taurus. UPS driver Jarrett and crew will channel the positive power of the Force through the efforts of the #88 UPS/Milk Chocolate M&M’S Ford Taurus representing the Jedi. Some of the popular M&M’S Characters are for the first time joining Jarrett on the #88 UPS/Milk Chocolate M&M’S Ford Taurus including Sadler’s personal favorite, Green. Action Performance Companies, the leader in licensed motorsports retail, is the official supplier of Star Wars themed NASCAR merchandise.(Action Performance/M&M's Racing/Evelvation Group), see images of the schemes on my #38 Team Schemes page and #88 Team Schemes page.(4-5-2005)
#38 Crew First at Atlanta: The M&M’S “Chocolate Thunder” Pit Crew picked up their first win of the season in the Checker’s/Rally’s DoubleDrive-Thru Challenge at the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The #38 Robert Yates Racing Team posted the best pit road service time out of the over 30 participating NASCAR NEXTEL Cup teams. The #38 Team will be recognized for their efforts this weekend prior to the start of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway where they will be awarded a $10,000 prize.(M&M's Racing PR)(3-30-2005)
RYR Loses an engineer to Champ Cars: The Champ Car World Series named veteran race engineer Scot Elkins Director of Technology in the Champ Car Operations Department. Elkins assumes Director of Technology responsibilities after serving most recently as Chief Engineer at Robert Yates Racing where he was responsible for all engineering functions for the NASCAR team. His duties included race simulations, race day fuel mileage calculation and Damper build specifications. Elkins also headed up the team’s wind tunnel and seven post testing programs.(Ford Racing)(3-18-2005)
Combo's for Sadler this week: Elliott Sadler will sport a special paint scheme this weekend as the #38 Ford will be painted with Combos -- The Official Cheese Filled Snack of NASCAR. This is the first of three appearances the Combos Brand will make this season on the #38 RYR Ford.(Elevation Group of Companies PR/M&M's PR)(3-16-2005)
IMAGE see an image of the scheme on my #38 Team Schemes page.(3-16-2005)
RWB M&M's at Daytona: #38-Elliott Sadler will run a red, white and blue M&M's paint scheme in July at Daytona in the Pepsi 400.(3-12-2005)
IMAGE: see an image of the car on my #38 Team Schemes page.(3-15-2005)
Seven Drivers in Tylenol Spots: Johnson & Johnson has signed endorsement deals with seven Nextel Cup drivers to promote the launch of Tylenol's Extra Strength Rapid Release Gels, Street & Smiths's SportsBusiness Journal reports. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Elliott Sadler make up Team Tylenol. The campaign will include television ads during race broadcasts and sponsorship at 11 tracks. Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon are scheduled to be featured on packages of the product sold during the third quarter of the year. Exact financial terms of the deal were not reported, but the story by Terry Lefton says the entire campaign is "an eight-figure investment."(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-8-2005)
Warning Light for Sadler: After being busted by NASCAR's new electronic timing system on pit road last week, Elliott Sadler's #38 Pedigree Ford will be equipped with a yellow light this week that will flash when he is maintaining the proper speed. "We just have to be more patient and more cautious on pit road," Sadler said. "It's a lot more fair than it used to be. There is no way NASCAR could check all the people that were getting on and off pit road - not with so many people in the booth and so many stopwatches. NASCAR was having to watch way too much stuff. We were putting way too much pressure on them. You can't catch 40 guys at one time on pit road."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-26-2005)
Robert Yates Racing to launch website: Robert Yates Racing officially arrives in 2005. Team Owner, Robert Yates and General Manager, Eddie D'Hondt along with the entire RYR organization is proud to announce the arrival of their "Official Website"
www.RYR.com - set to launch Saturday, February 19, 2005. RYR acquired the talents of Planning Group International, based out of Miami, FL, who designed and executed this much anticipated website. www.RYR.com stands as a tribute to everyone, past, present and future, responsible for making their organization the success it is today. "Everyone here at RYR is a valuable part of this organization. With this, our only official website, we want to welcome our family, sponsors, friends, and most of all, our fans, to visit our race shop and add some insight as to what takes place not only at the track but behind the scenes as well" says Robert Yates, proudly. "Not only are we honored and proud of our sponsors, drivers and crew chiefs, we wouldn't be who we are without those who are here day in and day out. We are all apart of one team". RYR fans can now log on [on and after Feb 19th] and listen to Robert Yates and his NASCAR Nextel Cup Series drivers, Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler, as they welcome you for the virtual tour through their home at Robert Yates Racing and introduce you to their new NASCAR Busch Series #90 CitiFinancial Ford Team. Jarrett and Sadler are scheduled to share driving duties throughout the 2005 season. The #90 race team is set to debut at California Speedway on February 26, 2005. www.RYR.com is sure to satisfy your curiosity with sections that feature Robert Yates with career timeline, stats and highlights, and his prized possession, his family. Each month Yates will enter his personal thoughts on the progression of the 2005 season, in this diary prepared especially for his loyal fans. Walk through the RYR facility and each department as you learn
something new everyday about their teams, members, and sponsors; along with announcements and paint schemes. Get up to the minute race results through Sportsticker, designed to provide RYR fans the opportunity to find qualifying results, the latest news, photos, schedules, and standings quickly and conveniently. www.RYR.com will also feature RYR merchandise and apparel.(RYR PR)(2-16-2005)
Sadler Plays DJ: #38-Elliott Sadler gladly accepted the task to be featured as a Celebrity DJ for CMT.com Radio, in support of the network debut of The Greatest: CMT 40 Greatest NASCAR Moments special. A self-admitted music fanatic, the Virginia native confesses to aspirations of becoming a country music singer if his racing career had not come to fruition. Thus it posed
no problem for the 29-year-old driver to select over 75 of his favorite songs from all music genres for inclusion in his own radio
station. This is not the first foray into the world of country music for Sadler, a participant in last season’s inaugural NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Chase for the Championship. He made his Country Music Television debut in the video for hit “Ol’ Red” released by singer Blake Shelton in 2002 followed by a second cameo in a Shelton video, this time for the singer’s #1 hit “Some Beach.” Sadler’s Celebrity DJ Station can be accessed by logging on to CMT.com and visiting Radio CMT. Sadler also is scheduled to be one of several NASCAR drivers featured in the CMT 40 Greatest NASCAR Moments airing on CMT.(Elevation Group PR)(1-29-2005)
RYR beefs up pit crews: Andy Ward, who helped build the crew that led Matt Kenseth to back-to-back pit-crew championships, has become the pit-stop coach for Dale Jarrett's team. Robert Yates Racing also has acquired Ryan McCray, an ace member of Jimmie Johnson's crew, for Elliott Sadler's team.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(1-27-2005)
Hearing that Ward will be with the #38 and not the #88, former #20 team tire changer will be the front tire changer.(1-28-2005)
Sadler and Stewart test at Texas: #38-Elliott Sadler and #20-Tony Stewart completed two days of Goodyear tire testing preparing for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Sadler is the defending champion of the race. "This is one of my favorite tracks," said Sadler. "It is like an old jacket you put on, it just feels comfortable when you come here, drive up on pit road to go out on the track." The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will make its first of two 2005 appearances at Texas in the Samsung/RadioShack 500. Tickets are still available at the speedway ticket office, by calling (817) 215-8500, online at www.texasmotorspeedway.com and at Ticketmaster locations.(TMS PR)(1-20-2005)
Past 2004 News
Sadlers win Spirit Award: Elliott and Hermie Sadler, named fourth-quarter winners of the NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award, working in conjunction with the Henrico County (Va.) Economic Development Authority, will host a fundraising benefit on Sunday to aid The Faison School for Autism and the Henrico County Christmas Mother Program. Both Richmond-area charities will receive all the proceeds from the day-long event that will allow fans to race go-karts, bowl and interact with the Sadlers. The Henrico County Christmas Mother Program is a volunteer group that provides help to those in need during the holiday season. Approximately 4,000 children, elderly and disabled residents are assisted each year in Henrico County through this program. All money donated to The Faison School for Autism will help reduce tuition costs for families in need who have children at the school. The NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity as well as sportsmanship and contributions to Motorsports. Each quarter during the year the National Motorsports Press Association names a winner of the Spirit Award. Each January, the NMPA and Pocono International Raceway honor one of the four quarter winners at its national convention. Earlier this year, Elliott hosted a charity event, the Race For Hope that raised more than $80,000. The Sadlers join Ken Patterson, Kyle and Pattie Petty and Tommy Baldwin Jr. as the quarterly winners of this year's award.(Ford Racing)(12-9-2004)
Star Wars Schemes at Phoenix: #38-Elliott Sadler, #88-Dale Jarrett and #24-Jeff Gordon will celebrate the opening (May 19, 2005) of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith with special paint schemes scheduled to race at Phoenix [April 23rd]. Sadler's M&M's car will feature "The Dark Side" with the M&M's characters dressed up as Darth Vader and other members of the dark side. Jarrett will also have M&M's on his car? and will feature "The Good Side" with characters like R2-D2 and Princess Leia. No word yet on what Gordon will have on his car.(RacingOne)(12-9-2004)
Scary Scheme for Sadler: In celebration of Halloween, the #38 M&M’S Ford of Elliott Sadler will sport a festive orange and black paint scheme with the ‘M’ Characters in costumes.(M&M's PR). See an image of the car on my #38 Team Schemes page or 2004 Cup Schemes page.(10-27-2004)
Sadler Auto Center to Launch Information Website at Martinsville: Hermie Sadler has always believed in the power of marketing in NASCAR, and his automobile dealerships are now putting their money where their mouth is. NASCAR fans know the Sadler name because of the success of Hermie and Elliott Sadler on the track, but many fans may not know that Hermie Sadler also owns and operates three automobile dealerships in Southside Virginia. Between his three dealerships, Sadler carries all domestic makes and models as well as Honda, and also handles pre-owned and program cars of all makes.
This weekend at Martinsville, Sadler is launching a simple, free "help" center for people and businesses that are interested in buying,
selling, or trading new or used cars. The website is www.sadlersearch.com. Instead of the normal automated car search websites, sadlersearch.com is simple and easy to us