Yates 3rd Team? Rudd Retiring? No to both: rumors have began to circulate about Robert Yates starting a third Winston Cup team and there are indications that Yates is already talking to other Winston Cup drivers about their availability for next year. Yates insists that’ not the case. Most of my thoughts are on how we can get the 28 and 88 (teams) more competitive and take care of business with this economy, he said. I really havent had any serious conversation about a third team. Until I can make my two teams better, Im not very interested in a third team unless it comes with an opportunity that makes you say Wow. Some have even speculated that Ricky Rudd might be ready to retire following this season. Such talk, however, is news to Rudd. If he’ driving, he hopes it’ for Yates. To be honest, I dont know what my plans are, Rudd, 45, said April 5. When you get as old as I am, you sort of just take them a year at a time. It’ a great race team, I prefer to stay where Im at. There’ no talks at all about making driver changes. … Im very pleased with where Im at and I think theyre pleased with me. But time will tell. Yates says he’ had no conversations about new drivers. I havent actually talked to anybody for next year. Right now, Im doing everything I can to make Ricky want to stay with this team, he said. We certainly want him to stay. But I respect his wishes when he came to us. (He said), I want to drive two years and that’ it. Were already past that (point). I think it’ going to be a deal where as long as he’ having fun (hell still race). Hopefully, were attractive enough for him to want to stay with us. That’ my wish.(Winston Cup Scene – need sub to see)(4-11-2002)
