Rudd gone from RYR? McSwain leaving the #28? but staying with Yates? UPDATEs: during an interview on ESPN2’s RPM 2 Night, Ricky Rudd said he has made no decision on his future (today was supposed to be decision day for Rudd), but mentioned the crew chief [Michael ‘Fatback’ McSwain] would be moving on, no word what team McSwain is going to. AND Comments made Monday by Winston Cup driver Ricky Rudd and his car owner, Robert Yates, indicate Rudd’s tenure at Robert Yates Racing will likely draw to a close following this season. Monday was a self-imposed deadline for Rudd to make a decision regarding his future in the series. At a test at Indianapolis, he said he still hadn’t made a final decision, but it appeared the option of remaining at Robert Yates Racing was becoming increasingly less likely. Asked if there was room for Rudd at RYR next season, Yates answered: “I’d say it’s slim. I won’t say none, but I’d say slim because I think his best situation would be he goes somewhere that will be very competitive and pay very well. That’s just not in my deal,” Yates said. “My deal is too thin. In the best year, unless it’s a championship win, it just comes out upside-down.” Rudd, however, said the two had “worked through” any money issues and felt the differences lie in how Rudd’s #28 would be structured next season. “At Yates Racing, regardless of what you read it’s not a money issue and what I will say about that is I wasn’t getting answers that I needed to have,” Rudd said. “I want to make sure that if I come back to the 28 that it is indeed the 28 team as we know it today and not all the people have been moved off my team to a third team.” Asked to clarify the changes that might be made to his team, Rudd said if he were to stay at RYR, Yates indicated Rudd’s crew chief, Michael McSwain, as well as others on his team would not remain. “The crew chief will not be with the 28 team next year, if I stayed,” Rudd said. Asked if a third team would be added thought to be Elliott Sadler with a team owned by Robert’s son, Doug Yates Rudd said: “If I move on, there probably won’t be a third team. If I stay, there will be a third team.”(ThatsRacin.com)(7-15-2002) UPDATE: Rudd says Havoline, sponsor of the #28 car, pays $6 million less a year than Yates’ other sponsor, UPS. If M&M Mars brings more money than Havoline, Yates might not be able to justify keeping his best crew members on a team that isn’t paying him as much. Rudd says his current crew chief, Michael McSwain, already has been assigned to work with Sadler next season. Rudd has identified other members of his team that would have to stay in order for Rudd to stay, but Yates hasn’t responded.(USA Today)(7-16-2002) so what Rudd’s options? New Yates 3rd team Stay at he #28 with a new crew 3rd Ganassi Dodge Andy Petree/Jerry Jones team From what I hear, DEI is no longer an option.(7-16-2002) UPDATE 2: hearing the Petree-Jones team may be the front runner and hearing that Pizza Hut will be involved as a sponsor.(7-17-2002) UPDATE 3: McSwain came to Yates with Rudd in 2000, but wont leave with the driver if Rudd moves elsewhere next year. Ive got a contract for two more years, McSwain said.(Winston Cup Scene – need subscription to read)(7-18-2002)
