Robert Yates has signed a five-year extension with the Ford, he told ESPN.com today. There will be a formal announcement on Friday at Dover International Raceway. “What it says to me is that Ford intends to win on Sundays and Mondays, and they’re committed,” Yates said. “We’re happy they’re happy with us. It’s nice we have signed the thing.” This ends any speculation that Robert Yates Racing was looking elsewhere [rumors with DEI/Chevy, and also Toyota]. What the five-year deal offers Yates is some stability and credibility as he continues talks with potential business partners. “The fact is, it’s organizational racing now and not individual racing,” Yates said. “We have been talking to different people and they ask, ‘What manufacturer are you with? How strong is that? How long term is it?’ [This contract] puts a lot to bed. We have a good relationship with Ford, and we continue to.” Clearly, Yates is upbeat about the future. He said his team is financially healthy with “zero debt and quite a lot of money in the bank,” he said. “I’m OK, but what I want to do is race and win,” Yates said. There was a much-publicized flirtation between Robert Yates Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc., about a month ago, but there was an obvious conflict — Yates had always been a Ford devotee, and DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt has made it clear she has deep Chevrolet ties she is unlikely to break.(ESPN.com)(5-31-2007) UPDATE: Ford Racing Technology announced today that it has re-signed Robert Yates Racing to a contract that will keep the family-owned team sporting the blue oval for at least the next five years. Robert Yates Racing is synonymous with Ford, said Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technology. We’ve celebrated the joy of winning races and championships with them, in addition to feeling the frustration that this sport can dish out. The main thing is that we’ve gone through all of those times together as loyal partners. We’re thrilled to have this deal behind us and now we can look forward to continuing getting Robert and his team back among the NASCAR elite. The agreement continues a 19-year relationship that began when Yates became a car owner in 1988. Since then, his teams have won 57 Nextel Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500 three times, and one series championship in 1999. We’re talking to sponsors and they want to know what product and what kind of support we get from our manufacturer, so this is huge. This deal is important because it plays a big role in what you’re doing to improve your operation, said Robert Yates.(Ford Racing)(6-1-2007)
