Sadler to the 19

BobbyFord

BobbyFord

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Last Lap: NASCAR confusion for Ford
Sadler's move to No. 19 latest in long line of Ford defections
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
July 18, 2006
11:04 AM EDT (15:04 GMT)


Though he denies any contact with Ray Evernham, Elliott Sadler will drive the No. 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.

A rather substantial -- and seemingly unnoticed -- subplot to this development is the loss of yet another marquee driver by Ford Motor Company to a rival manufacturer.

Since 2000 seven drivers, including three of Ford's last four champions, have defected either to Dodge or Toyota, and another retired. A fourth champion, Alan Kulwicki, died in a plane crash in 1993, a year after he won the title.

Bill Elliott, Kasey Kahne, Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman -- a decision made by team owner Roger Penske, not Wallace and Newman individually, of course, but a departure from Ford, nonetheless -- Kurt Busch and now Sadler left Ford for Dodge.

Dale Jarrett departed to join Michael Waltrip's Toyota organization, and Ricky Rudd, a Ford fan-favorite, retired. That's a ton of star power gone to competitors. Ford added Jamie McMurray, but the No. 26 team is the biggest disappointment to date in the 2006 season.

Speaking of Jarrett and Sadler, with both having opted to leave RYR, what will become of that organization? Two seats to fill. Few prospects. Well behind the curve in the crucial engineering department.

Young Busch Series driver Stephen Leicht could very well be promoted to the team's flagship No. 88 next season, possibly backed by CitiFinancial. It's not a done deal, but it's being discussed.

Leicht has 10 Busch Series starts to his name. He'll attempt to make his Nextel Cup Series debut this weekend at Pocono Raceway in the No. 90 Ford.

And the No. 38? TBD. David Gilliland's win at Kentucky Speedway could ultimately prove to be a career maker.

Or maybe RYR can woo a marquee name to stabilize a shaky program, solidify a porous empire.

Many folks can't fathom why Sadler would leave Yates for a team much worse-off in the overall standings. It comes down to performance potential. He sees more at Evernham than at Yates.

Selfishly, I hope RYR is able to rebound like Richard Childress did. Like Childress, Robert and Doug Yates are throwbacks, good ol' boys.

We should all hope new-wave NASCAR doesn't leave them in its wake.
 
wow... what is Yates going to do? i dont see many drivers that will come along and give Yates the boost he so sorely needs..
 
This really isn't the first time something like this has happened. Also, NASCAR has shown that they don't give any perks to teams. They either make it or they don't. Witness the Wood Brothers and their woes. Other teams have bit the dust long ago. This time, it won't be NASCAR that will be letting the teams wither on the vine, but Ford. They will go into overdrive to find some drivers and probably at least an old vet. It just might be time for Yates to possibly bring back a truck racer or two.
 
majestyx said:
I'll reserve judgement/comments until an OFFICIAL statement is made.
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I agree. I don't understand Nascar.com running that story based on sources close to RYR. and absolutley no word about Mayfield.
:beerbang: :beerbang: :beerbang:
 
Has Ward Burton signed with anyone yet? I could see him in a Yates car. This will be interesting to see. I believe Sadler has made a move in the right direction.
 
racer8 said:
I agree. I don't understand Nascar.com running that story based on sources close to RYR. and absolutley no word about Mayfield.
:beerbang: :beerbang: :beerbang:
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Mayfield is going to MWR. Someone has to fill the 19. Yates racing is circling the drain. Sadler grabbed some floaties and split.
 
This rumor has been out there for over 2 weeks now, Mayfield sealed his fate when he spouted off about Evernham, it was obvious he wanted out of the 19 ride. Mayfield used this incident as a leverage point to get himself in position for Mikeys' Toyota ride. IMO Saddler will be much better off, if indeed he takes the 19 ride. About a month ago i said that Jack would absorb the Yates teams, looks like that could be happening. Jack wants as many cars on the track as possible with the new car limit rule, so this will give him a chance to use the 2 Yates cars to insert drivers , making it a 6 car team. When the 2 operations (Yates and Roush) merged or rather had their "sharing" of information and engine technology, the handwriting for Yates was on the wall.
 
There still has been no official word on Mayfield leaving the 19. and no official word on where Sadler is going, only that he is leaving RYR at the end of the year.
I do think it is likley Sadler will wind up in the 19 and that mayfield will go to a toyota start up team, but until I see a bit of real proof I still say anything could happen.
Just my opinion.
:beerbang: :beerbang: :beerbang:
 
Well nothing offical about the #19 but this is official:

From JAyski

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."
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I dont trust Jayski anymore. When the folks on TV start making fun of you, you know you aint very credible anymore.
 
Okay try this:

From the RYR web site!!

Sadler To Exit From Robert Yates Racing After 2006
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 20, 2006) – 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.
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Magnethead said:
I dont trust Jayski anymore. When the folks on TV start making fun of you, you know you aint very credible anymore.
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this one is true...but i dont trust him anymore either....there are waaaaaaaaaaaaa too many things that are on that board that never develop...but then again, it is a rumor website...thats about it.

Jayski is probably still the best place to get Nascar news though....but i dont trust them until they are "offical"
 
O.K., now it's official.

Sadler to part ways with Robert Yates Racing
Driver granted release but will finish 2006 season with team
NASCAR.COM
July 20, 2006
03:13 PM EDT (19:13 GMT)


MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Robert Yates Racing announced Thursday that driver Elliott Sadler has requested and been granted a release from his contract to take effect at the conclusion of the 2006 season.

NASCAR.COM's Marty Smith said Tuesday that Sadler was mum on his future, but multiple sources confirmed that Sadler is moving to Ray Evernham Motorsports to drive the No. 19 Dodge.

"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," Robert Yates said.

"We are excited about the opportunity to find a new driver who will continue the successful run of the No. 38 Ford as we maintain our focus on the future of our organization."

RYR has already started searching for a driver to take over the No. 38 Ford Fusion for 2007. The team also is looking for another driver because Dale Jarrett is leaving the No. 88 car to join Michael Waltrip Racing.

Ward Burton and Stephen Leicht have been mentioned as potential replacements at RYR.

"Our objective this year is to finish the season on a strong note," Doug Yates said. "It is our goal to continue to build this team so we will be better positioned next season to contend for the championship."

Sadler is in his fourth season with RYR. He joined the team in 2003 and has two wins with Yates -- April 4, 2004, at Texas and Sept. 5, 2004, at California. His first victory came March 25, 2001, at Bristol while driving for the Wood Brothers.

He has three wins in 268 Cup starts with 16 top-five finishes and 50 top-10s.

This season Sadler is 20th in points. He has one top-five finish and four top-10s through 19 races.

With Sadler moving to the No. 19, the question now is: Where will Jeremy Mayfield land, since he's still the pilot of that car.

Mayfield recently aired his displeasure of the way things have developed at Evernham, which prompted Evernham and Mayfield to play meet-the-press at Chicago to clear up any misconceptions about the race team.

Last week at New Hampshire, Bob Dillner of SPEED reported that Mayfield has been offered the opportunity to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing's new Toyota team next season.

"It's more the ball's in [Mayfield's] court," Waltrip said. "We've got a lot going on next week. We're going to Atlanta to do some stuff with UPS and Aaron's.

"Hopefully, it will come together and as soon as it does we'll let the world know. We've got a lot of things we need to accomplish between getting him signed and the 2007 season."
 
You say you can't trust JAYSKI but this is from NASCAR.com"With Sadler moving to the No. 19, the question now is: Where will Jeremy Mayfield land, since he's still tthe pilot of that car." Sadler said himself that he does'nt have a ride for next year.
 
we don't know he's going to the 19 though. He atmitted on Trackside he's gotten calls from teams he didn't even know needed drivers.
 
Where will Jeremy Mayfield land, since he's still tthe pilot of that car." Sadler said himself that he does'nt have a ride for next year.
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#00 Burger King/Domino's car with MWR

we don't know he's going to the 19 though. He atmitted on Trackside he's gotten calls from teams he didn't even know needed drivers
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Maybe Morgan-McClure or PPI (#32) is calling :))

Sadler to the 19 is still just speculation.
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More like the sports worst kept secret!!!!
 
Sadler says he has multiple prospects: #38-Elliott Sadler said Friday his decision to leave Robert Yates Racing at the conclusion of the 2006 season came down to a difference of philosophy with team owner Robert Yates. "They're great, great people, and I've definitely enjoyed driving for those guys, but pretty much we have just come to differences of opinions on which way the sport is going," said Sadler, 20th in Cup points. "I couldn't really make myself buy into the system and which way I think the company is going. So we just decided to split ways and do something different." Sadler said he's entertaining multiple offers at this point. "There are a lot more seats open than there are drivers available, I think. That's what caught me off this week with some of the phone calls I got. I'm not in a hurry to try to make a decision. I have no timelines."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(7-22-2006)
 
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