[Gotham Dark Knight]

General manager Eddie D'Hondt was fired last week as car owners Robert and Doug Yates decided they needed to be more hands-on with the team. Robert and Doug Yates insist talk of their demise is premature, pointing out that Jarrett and Sadler are 16th and 17th in the standings _ still close enough to rally their way into the Chase for the championship. But in almost the same breath, Robert Yates acknowledges the race track is the last place he's wanted to be lately.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;...v=ap&type=lgns

So what gives on this team? I thought Team Yates was good...or am I just listening to our own Team Yates girl on this?...Can this team pull out of the slump this year?

[LSC9901]

If you're not in the top 10 or within 400 points then you are considered to be in a slump and the drivers/owners and sponsors will do anything to change that. No doubt Yates is disappointed in his standings. I suspect he is also disappointed that at least one of his drivers is defecting. Yates has it all ... they just need to smooth out some of the rough edges and they'll be fine.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

If you're not in the top 10 or within 400 points then you are considered to be in a slump and the drivers/owners and sponsors will do anything to change that. No doubt Yates is disappointed in his standings. I suspect he is also disappointed that at least one of his drivers is defecting. Yates has it all ... they just need to smooth out some of the rough edges and they'll be fine.

So LSC9901, who is the new driver coming in?

[Nevadastars]

LSC pretty much hit it dead on. Childress Racing was in the same basic predicament last year, but they are turning the corner this year and doing much better. The competition keeps raising the bar each year, and it has to be extremely hard to stay on top.

[Smoke842]

2,278 posts? Amazing! Yes, RYR is struggling, no question about it. DJ used to win multiple races every year. He won 1 last year. I love DJ but since he isn't running well it's no fun. And Sadler hasn't done much better. TeamYates can give you more info when she sees this!!!

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Smoke842

2,278 posts? Amazing! Yes, RYR is struggling, no question about it. DJ used to win multiple races every year. He won 1 last year. I love DJ but since he isn't running well it's no fun. And Sadler hasn't done much better. TeamYates can give you more info when she sees this!!!

Hey what can I say?...I have a team of people working round the clock to post things for me...

So what would TeamYates have to say?...I am not so sure she would agree with you on this... ...I think she would say, "Team Yates has just hit a bad patch of track"...

[Smoke842]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Hey what can I say?...I have a team of people working round the clock to post things for me...

So what would TeamYates have to say?...I am not so sure she would agree with you on this... ...I think she would say, "Team Yates has jsut hit a bad patch of track"...

Guess we'll just have to see when she sees this...

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

So LSC9901, who is the new driver coming in?

The last "RUMOR" I heard was that they were looking at Ward Burton ... I think. So many rumors and so little time to verify them. Ward is OK and possibly with a good team, and Yates racing is good, he will do just fine.

As for the bar being raised every year in respect to the level of ability of the teams it is so true. Each year brings new and improved teams with better "Knausing: abilities. Next years COT may present an all new challenge to them. Theoretically the cars will be more equal so the competition should be closer for more teams. We'll see. Someone will find a way around the rules.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

The last "RUMOR" I heard was that they were looking at Ward Burton ... I think. So many rumors and so little time to verify them. Ward is OK and possibly with a good team, and Yates racing is good, he will do just fine.

IRT RCR :When they lost Dale they lost a working leader and they didn't get a leader until the Got Jeff. Now look how RCR is doing.
The same with Yates...when they lost Todd Parrott they lost the enterprises' working leader and Wahrd "might" fill the bill.
But with the dissension in the organization, and with the management style of Robert, RYR sure needs something and I hope they get it.

Just my personal opinion...

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

IRT RCR :When they lost Dale they lost a working leader and they didn't get a leader until the Got Jeff. Now look how RCR is doing.
The same with Yates...when they lost Todd Parrott they lost the enterprises' working leader and Wahrd "might" fill the bill.
But with the dissension in the organization, and with the management style of Robert, RYR sure needs something and I hope they get it.

Just my personal opinion...

Well, Bob.... your on to something... RYR losing Parrot has lost a leader... It's because of Yates.... There are some things better left alone... I agree there should be some change... however when it screws success up, you don't mess with it. I look at Jarrett leaving Yates like Burton leaving Roush. It's a good thing, and has the potential of sparking something back in DJ. I believe it's the state of the organization that has caused the two teams and drivers to perform below expectations.

[LSC9901]

You guys are no doubt correct in your assumptions. After watching the Speed channel yesterday I realized that there will be more teams suffering next year. It was noted that Toyota isn't directly throwing money at specific individuals, it will be the owners of the teams themselves that, theoretically, make those decisions. You can bet that with a truck load of money and Toyota's desire to do well, the new owners will try to buy the best crew chiefs and every other crew member right down to the person that goes and refills the gas cans. This will most certainly create some voids in the teams that are now doing OK and you can only imagine what will happen to the rest. No doubt there will be a domino effect, so NASCAR fans ............ get ready for a totally different season next year.

[Team Yates]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Hey what can I say?...I have a team of people working round the clock to post things for me...

So what would TeamYates have to say?...I am not so sure she would agree with you on this... ...I think she would say, "Team Yates has just hit a bad patch of track"...

Robert Yates has been building motors for 50 some years, first taking lawn mower engines and turning them into go-karts, engines in heavy equipment, and finally Nascar engines, including building Chevy engines for Junior Johnson while working at Moody-Hollman building Ford engines (1971). He knows engines inside out, unfortunately he has weathered more than his share of adversities throughout the years, losing a million of his own money, losing Davey and Kenny due to accidents, losing Ernie due to "complications", losing crew chiefs and other key people, losing a sponsorship due to the "amount" they were able to give him for sponsorship. But each and every time he has weathered the storms and raced on, as I'm sure he will continue to do so as this is his life, this scenerio isn't new to this organization and certainly not the worse thing to happen to them, they will prevail. Robert is a tough man who takes it all in stride, he'll just tighten his boot straps and dig in deeper to turn it around once again. I have alot of faith in Robert's ability, he will get it done, it will take a little bit of time, but we will see it this year - D.J. and Sadler will be in the chase! So, yeah, "Team Yates has hit a bad patch of track."

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

"Team Yates has hit a bad patch of track."

See I knew it...just a bad patch of track...thanks for the history lesson Yeatsie...

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

Robert Yates has been building motors for 50 some years, first taking lawn mower engines and turning them into go-karts, engines in heavy equipment, and finally Nascar engines, including building Chevy engines for Junior Johnson while working at Moody-Hollman building Ford engines (1971). He knows engines inside out, unfortunately he has weathered more than his share of adversities throughout the years, losing a million of his own money, losing Davey and Kenny due to accidents, losing Ernie due to "complications", losing crew chiefs and other key people, losing a sponsorship due to the "amount" they were able to give him for sponsorship. But each and every time he has weathered the storms and raced on, as I'm sure he will continue to do so as this is his life, this scenerio isn't new to this organization and certainly not the worse thing to happen to them, they will prevail. Robert is a tough man who takes it all in stride, he'll just tighten his boot straps and dig in deeper to turn it around once again. I have alot of faith in Robert's ability, he will get it done, it will take a little bit of time, but we will see it this year - D.J. and Sadler will be in the chase! So, yeah, "Team Yates has hit a bad patch of track."

Good point Team Yates, Good point. I tip my hat to you.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

Robert Yates has been building motors for 50 some years, first taking lawn mower engines and turning them into go-karts, engines in heavy equipment, and finally Nascar engines, including building Chevy engines for Junior Johnson while working at Moody-Hollman building Ford engines (1971). He knows engines inside out,

I totally agree, Yates. More than you could imagine I wish NASCAR could return to the days when a top-notch mechanic, like Robert Yates, Bud Moore, or Smokey Yunick, could build cars and run a successful team(s). Unfortunately for us old-time race fans, those days are gone. Now, to be successful in NASCAR a team owner has to have the CEO skills of a Jack Welch or a Lee Iaccoca (sp). This is merely my personal opinion, differing from yours, I'm sure, but I don't believe this is where Robert is, at this point in time. I'm not sure how good Robert is in delagating authority?

Originally Posted by Team Yates

unfortunately he has weathered more than his share of adversities throughout the years, losing a million of his own money, losing Davey and Kenny due to accidents, losing Ernie due to "complications",

For all his medical and personal problems, Ernie was one of the classiest drivers of the period.

Originally Posted by Team Yates

and every time he has weathered the storms and raced on, as I'm sure he will continue to do so as this is his life, this scenerio isn't new to this organization and certainly not the worse thing to happen to them, they will prevail. Robert is a tough man who takes it all in stride, he'll just tighten his boot straps and dig in deeper to turn it around once again. I have alot of faith in Robert's ability, he will get it done, it will take a little bit of time, but we will see it this year - D.J. and Sadler will be in the chase! So, yeah, "Team Yates has hit a bad patch of track."

Rolling over has NEVER been one of Robert's traits. I agree, he'll hang in there as long as possible. I'd love to see more Robert Yates', Ray Everham's, and Richard Childress' in NASCAR and fewer Rick Hendrick's, Cal Wells', and Chip Ganassi's.

Please don't take this personal but isn't your "DJ and Sadler will be in the chase (aka playoff)..." a bit optimistic? <g>