Robert Yates Racing

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Robert Yates Racing

Owner(s) Name	Robert Yates
Racing Series	NEXTEL Cup, Busch Series
Number of Championships	1 NEXTEL Cup 0 Busch Series
Car Number(s)	#88, #38 (NEXTEL Cup) #90 (Busch Series)
Driver(s)	Ricky Rudd (#88) David Gilliland (#38) Stephen Leicht (#90)
Primary Sponsor(s)	Snickers (#88) M&M's/Pedigree Dog Food (#38) Citigroup (#90)
Shop Location	Mooresville, North Carolina
Homepage	Robert Yates Racing

Robert Yates Racing is a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte. The team is owned by Robert Yates. Currently, the company races two cars in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series: the #88 and #38 Fords.

The #38 car is driven by David Gilliland, and is sponsored by Masterfoods, USA. Masterfoods alternates between advertising its M&M's candies and Pedigree Dog Food on the car. The #88 car will be driven by Ricky Rudd in 2007, and will also be sponsored by Masterfoods, USA, primarily its Snickers brand.

The power for Robert's cars are provided by the Ford Racing motors produced by the technical partnership of Robert Yates Racing and Roush Fenway Racing. Historically, Robert's motors were known as some of the most powerful in NASCAR, and Roush's as some of the most consistent. So far, the partnership that was started in 2004 has produced excellent motors, and as of 2006, all of the Ford teams in Nextel Cup are using Yates/Roush engines.

[edit] History

[edit] #88 History

Dale Jarrett's #88 Ford (which will run as the Mars #88 in 2007.

Dale Jarrett began driving the #88 in 1996. The sponsorship on the #88 car changed from Ford to UPS in 2001, although Ford has stayed on as an associate sponsor. Over the years Dale has collected 29 victories (the most wins for any driver for RYR) and he won the Winston Cup championship in 1999. He has also finished in the top 10 in points 7 consecutive seasons from 1996 through 2002. Jarrett left RYR at the end of the 2006 season for Michael Waltrip Racing. UPS was the primary sponsor of #88 Ford Fusion also left RYR and joined DJ at Michael Waltrip Racing. Despite off-season rumors of the #88 being shut down and becoming a one-car team, RYR secured Ricky Rudd to drive for the team in 2007, with sponsorship from Snickers.

[edit] #38 History

Davey Allison was the first driver for Robert Yates. He drove the #28 Havoline Ford from 1989 until mid-1993, racking up 15 wins and twice finishing 3rd in points. Tragically, he was killed in a helicopter crash in 1993; Robby Gordon, Lake Speed, and Ernie Irvan split the rest of the driving duties in 1993, with Irvan finding Victory Lane twice. In 1994, Ernie Irvan drove the #28, winning 3 times before being injured in a serious crash. Kenny Wallace took over the driving duties for the remainder of the season.

While Irvan was still recovering from his injuries, Dale Jarrett replaced him in 1995, starting at Robert Yates Racing after being with Joe Gibbs Racing since 1992. Jarrett won one race at Pocono Raceway and eventually finished the season 16th in the points standings. Ernie Irvan, who had returned for 3 races in 1995 in the #88, switched places with Jarrett in 1996, expanding Robert Yates Racing to its current two team setup. Irvan raced through the conclusion of the 1997 season before his tenure with RYR came to an end. For his career with Robert Yates Irvan won 8 times.

Kenny Irwin, Jr. drove the #28 car for Robert Yates in 1998 and 1999 but failed to find victory lane in his two seasons. The next season, Ricky Rudd took over. He would go on to drive 3 seasons in the Havoline ford, from 2000-2002, winning 3 times. Ricky finished in the top ten in the standings all 3 seasons, including 4th in 2001, his 2nd highest career points finish.

Car #88's garage at the Robert Yates Racing headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina.

Elliott Sadler was hired in 2003, and Yates brought M&M's in as the sponsor, replacing longtime sponsor Havoline. Yates also changed the car's number from 28 to 38. Sadler collected two victories for the team. On August 14, 2006 Sadler left for Evernham Motorsports to drive the #19. David Gilliland replaced Sadler in the #38, beginning with the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan. He finished out the 2006 season, and will continue to drive the #38 in 2007 .

[edit] Team Statistics

In the 17 years of Robert Yates Racing the drivers have had 897 starts, 57 wins, 266 top fives, 415 top tens, 45 poles, and one championship (Dale Jarrett in 1999).

On February 11, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway, both of Robert Yates cars qualified on the front row for the Daytona 500. David Gilliland qualified on the pole and Ricky Rudd was alongside in second.

[edit] External links

• Robert Yates Racing Homepage