M&M’s Announcement Friday UPDATE 3 It’s M&M’s, Yates, Sadler and……#38:

M&M’s Announcement Friday UPDATE 3 It’s M&M’s, Yates, Sadler and……#38: M&M’s to announce 2003 plans on Friday, August 16, 2002 at Michigan.(8-13-2002) REVISION: the announcment has been changed to Sunday morning, August 18th at MIS.(8-14-2002) UPDATE: Elliott Sadler will drive the #38 M&M’s Ford for Robert Yates Racing beginning next season, it was announced Sunday. Michael McSwain will serve as Sadler’s crew chief. The 2003 campaign is the first of a three-year sponsorship between the two organizations.(NASCAR.com)(8-18-2002) UPDATE 2: The Fords owned by Robert Yates, driven by Elliott Sadler and sponsored by M&M’s next season will carry the #38. That final piece of the puzzle fell into place Sunday morning as the deal was formally announced. “This is the biggest honor and privilege I’ve ever had,” said Sadler, 27, who will complete this season in the #21 Fords owned by the Wood Brothers. “To me, this is a career opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime deal.” Yates said giving up the #28 that has been part of his team since he bought it from Harry Ranier in 1988 “tore a few heart strings, but I got over it the first night.” The new number gives the team a new identity, he said. Yates will also field the #88 Fords for Dale Jarrett again next season. Michael McSwain, crew chief for driver Ricky Rudd on the #28 Fords now, will be Sadler’s crew chief. “I’m really pumped up about it,” McSwain said. “To get someone who’s got the energy that Elliott’s got, the intensity that he’s got and the desire he’s got is pretty exciting for me as a crew chief.” Sadler said he knows there will be pressure on him to perform for a high-profile team such as Yates’ operation. “I need to win races,” said Sadler, who has one career victory. “We need to run well each and every week. This car has always run well, so I think the pressure on me is probably going to go through the ceiling. I need to step in there at Daytona next year and try to run for a championship. That’s what’s on our minds, that’s the mentality we’re going to have.”(ThatsRacin.com). AND see the full press release at the Sadler Fanclub site. NOTE: Owners points of the #28 will transfer to the #38 in 2003, just like they did with Ganassi in 2002 when they changed from the #01 to the #41 and from Cingular to Target.(8-19-2002)