Post by Diamondback on Jul 23, 2006 6:52:19 GMT -6
Dale Jarrett, the "cornerstone" of RYR and driver that had the 88 team built around him for the purpose of winning championships, announces early in the season that he's leaving for the Waltrip/Toyota camp in 2007.
This past Friday, Sadler drops a bomb (imo) and announces that he and Yates have come to an agreement that he will be released from his contract at the end of the year.
What in hades is going on behind the scenes at Robert Yates Racing? Are things really that bad? Is this a sign that the MegaTeams are drowning out the one and two car operations? Is the introduction of Toyota putting such a strain on the driver pool that the "middle of the pack" drivers are getting better offers from teams? Or is it something else?
To paraphrase an interview I've seen of Sadler, "Robert wants to take the organization in a new direction, and its not a direction I want to go in." What was he gonna do? Move you to tire changer? Gas man? Were you still going to be able to drive at all? Is it because he wouldn't give you the seat in the 88? You figured since you'd played second fiddle to Jarrett for three years, you'd be offered the ride when he retired (or left, as it is). You didn't get it, so ya bolted.
The phone starts ringing, and Evernham (rumor has it) is interested in signing you to the 19 team to replace Jeremy Mayfield where you will.... wait for it.... that's right. Play second fiddle to Kasey Kahne. A driver that's probably 10 years younger than you. Hope the money is good, or you just got hosed.
And who is on the shortlist for those seats?
Ward Burton... who hasn't had seat time in a cup car in two years, and
Stephen Leicht... a teenager that makes his first start in a cup car today.
This past Friday, Sadler drops a bomb (imo) and announces that he and Yates have come to an agreement that he will be released from his contract at the end of the year.
What in hades is going on behind the scenes at Robert Yates Racing? Are things really that bad? Is this a sign that the MegaTeams are drowning out the one and two car operations? Is the introduction of Toyota putting such a strain on the driver pool that the "middle of the pack" drivers are getting better offers from teams? Or is it something else?
To paraphrase an interview I've seen of Sadler, "Robert wants to take the organization in a new direction, and its not a direction I want to go in." What was he gonna do? Move you to tire changer? Gas man? Were you still going to be able to drive at all? Is it because he wouldn't give you the seat in the 88? You figured since you'd played second fiddle to Jarrett for three years, you'd be offered the ride when he retired (or left, as it is). You didn't get it, so ya bolted.
The phone starts ringing, and Evernham (rumor has it) is interested in signing you to the 19 team to replace Jeremy Mayfield where you will.... wait for it.... that's right. Play second fiddle to Kasey Kahne. A driver that's probably 10 years younger than you. Hope the money is good, or you just got hosed.
And who is on the shortlist for those seats?
Ward Burton... who hasn't had seat time in a cup car in two years, and
Stephen Leicht... a teenager that makes his first start in a cup car today.