Yates may sell the #88 team to DEI, Red Bull may also be interested
Quote selected text Published November 12th, 2006 in NASCAR News
Robert Yates said Saturday that the fate of his #88 team will be known prior to heading to Homestead, Fla., next week for the Nextel Cup season finale. While Yates would provide no specifics, Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s Steve Hmiel said there have been negotiations between the two entities.
The negotiations have centered on DEI’s purchasing the team’s shop and equipment, as DEI has long been looking for a way to expand its capacity. The team will begin fielding a third full-time Nextel Cup Series team when Paul Menard moves to Cup next season.
Hmiel said the negotiations have not involved simply buying the rights to the #88, which would bring with it the owner points earned by Dale Jarrett this season. If, however, DEI bought the shop and equipment, with Yates fielding only the #38 on his own, DEI could acquire the #88’s owner points as part of a larger purchase.
“If we can have more capacity, the number would be a bonus,” Hmiel said at Phoenix International Raceway. “We’ve heard Team Red Bull has made an offer to buy the number, but we’re not looking to buy just the number.” A number of obstacles remain, as RYR fields Fords and DEI runs Chevrolets, so it would have to be determined whether the shop was split into two separate entities; or whether RYR ran on its own or struck a deal with another Ford operation, perhaps Wood Brothers Racing. That would leave Robert Yates Racing with just the #38 team next season.
RYR has fielded two teams on a full-time basis since 1996, but is losing both driver Dale Jarrett and sponsor UPS from its #88 after the season. Yates systematically danced around the issue on Saturday, saying only that he had four options to consider. Talk in the garage is that a decision by Yates must come by Tuesday.
Yates said fielding just one car is an option, especially after crew chief Todd Parrott reminded Yates that he once fielded his two cars out of separate shops. And whether or not a deal is struck with DEI, Yates said he’ll still be in the sport next year with the #38 team and driver David Gilliland.
- Yates decides not to sell part of team
- Yates interested in signing Yeley
- Martin, Rudd on Wish List for Yates #88
- Yates looking at investors as well
- Robert Yates to turn over team to son Doug in 2008
Robert….. Sell the #88 team to the highest bidder and go back to the #28 its been long enough now.. the #22 is back and look who died in that car…. when I think of Robert Yates racing I think of #28 … think of the fan base …..Return the number twenty-eight..Davey would want that for your survival in the sport……………
yeah that would make senior turn in his grave if they decided to field a ford along with his chevies…
Senior had A few wins in a ford himself,driving the BUD moore wrangler T-birds In 1983 he had 2 wins . He also finished 8th in the cup points . Dale drove his first cup race in a 1975 Dodge with the# 8 on it in the world600 at Charlotte he finished in 22nd 45 laps down….. Richard Childress finished 23rd..He also had 1 win in 1982 and was 12th in points for Bud Moore So Mr. E drove all makes of cars before he hooked up with RCR check the records………
first of all if ya’ll read up on the hole thing DEI wants the driver points from 88 and the yates facilitys so they can feild a third team and a possably fourth team as well as the busch team there is and possibly another one of those also so he would not be turning in his grave fielding fords will not happen i know i can’t spell but i smart enough to find out more about something befor i comment on it