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Team Owner Robert Yates Retiring

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By TONY FABRIZIO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2007

RICHMOND, Va. - In a strangely timed announcement minutes before the start of Friday night's Busch Series race at Richmond International Raceway, longtime NASCAR team owner Robert Yates retired and passed the reins to his son Doug Yates.

Doug Yates will field a two-car team next year in Nextel Cup with David Gilliland driving the No. 38 Ford and former Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil replacing retiring Ricky Rudd in the No. 88 Ford.

A recently announced partnership between Robert Yates Racing and Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing of the Champ Car Series has been disbanded, and the team will be known as Yates Racing.

'My first order of business is to revamp our infrastructure into one that can field race teams that can compete ... with the pre-eminent teams in the sport,' Doug Yates sad. 'I personally think the best business and competitive model in the sport to emulate for long-term success is that of Jack Roush and Roush Fenway Racing.'

Robert Yates, 64, purchased Harry Ranier's team in 1989 and has been a prominent team owner since, although his team has struggled in recent years. Among those who've driven for him are the late Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Ricky Rudd and Dale Jarrett, who won the 1999 Winston Cup championship with the team.

Yates said his team will have full support from Roush Fenway Racing, including hardware, engineering, marketing and operational practices. The teams already build engines together.

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