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.
UPDATEs 2 -3 : see my #38 Team News and Links page for the full progression
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)
