Hand it to Doug Yates. This organization may actually be in better shape than it was going into 2008. Last year, Yates entered the season working furiously to cobble together sponsorships for David Gilliland’s #38 and Travis Kvapil’s #28. He stuck it out, strung together a small army of sponsors, and by golly, the team survived.
Now there seems to be some thinking out there that the team, especially with Bobby Labonte in the #96 for Hall of Fame Racing ride could do a little more than that in 2009. Is this crazy talk?
Well, let’s consider the reasons for optimism.
In a climate like we have now, there seems to be two kinds of teams poised for a move past mere NASCAR survival: 1) The start-up team with low overhead and no baggage from overspending during the years where the money flowed freely and, 2) The teams that figured out that smart alliances with other teams smartly run and a little bit better off might be a better way go. It’s the old “two heads are better than one” approach.
Yates is getting their equipment from the old professor himself- Jack Roush. Hmmm, last time I looked, the Roush team was doing pretty good. In 2008, it’s really hard to remember a time where the Roush-Yates engines failed. “OK”, you may say, “I don’t remember Gilliland and Kvapil setting the world on fire.” True that- BUT consider this: Kvapil had just returned from a year off from Cup racing, making 2008 the first time he had ANY exposure to the CoT. I think he did pretty darn good to keep his nose clean and finish races with only 2 DNFs. It’s not making the Chase, but hey- it’s better than “go or go home” status.
As for Gilliland, he did have that 2nd place finish at Infineon. Granted, he’s
taken some heat for on-track incidents with Matt Kenseth, Juan Montoya and Michael Mc Dowell. His points have been shuffled over to Paul Menard’s #98, appearing to leave Gilly as the odd man out. It is just my opinion, but I’ll say it: Gilliland looks like a guy who could benefit from some seat time in the Nationwide Series, and there’s no reason to believe he couldn’t be a fine competitor there. He’s still under contract with Yates, so if Kvapil doesn’t pan out, Yates has options.
Kvapil is like a minor league guy who’s belted the cover off the ball in the bush leagues, leaving him nothing to prove anywhere but here . He’s been a stud in the Craftsman Truck Series- winning a championship in 2003. The Wisconsin native also captured a pole at the second Talladega race. It’s time to try to establish whether or not he can really compete in Cup. In a worst case scenario, he’s a guy who can bring the car home most nights.
In an environment where teams are chasing down sponsors, Paul Menard brings something unique with him: he brings a sponsor with him wherever he goes. This rubs some people the wrong way, it’s kind of like the Little League player on the team whose dad supplies the bats, the uniforms and the pitching machine. You know who’s gonna get a sweet spot in the lineup. In Menard’s defense, he, like Kvapil, generally steers clear of trouble. Menard DID win a P-1 at Daytona in July and he also managed a top 5 and a top 10 while driving for DEI.
The question in running for DEI the last few years has been their seeming inability to
keep up, and keeping in mind the alliance with RCR, there has been a lingering question about having the horses under the hood.
Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen. I guess we’ll find out now.
The real measuring stick may very well be provided in the form of 2000 champion Bobby Labonte, a recent signee with the “96″ Hall of Fame team which has cast its lots with Yates. The “Texas Tornado” seems energized after departing the old Petty Enterprises organization. The fact that he was rather in demand during the last 12 months or so suggests that many NASCAR people think the 44-year old still has the chops to be relevant.
Just today, Marty Smith and Boris Said of NASCAR Now had Labonte pegged as a dark horse.
This organization is one of the more intriguing situations in NASCAR. Some have suggested that whomever Jack Roush releases from RFR could end up here. This is also another prime study for how much of NASCAR racing is the car, and how much of it is the driver. One could argue that all Yates needed was drivers. One could also argue that all the likes of Labonte, Menard and Kvapil needed were good cars.
I say, let’s get them on the track already and settle it!
PHOTO CREDITS- Yates Racing sign photo by buld216, Menard and Kvapil pictures by Walter G. Arce, Gilliland photo by plstt, Labonte photo by Mulsanne. these photos and the work of these photographers may be found at flickr.com.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Just a few things to point out. The picture of the building is of Robert Yates Racing, not Yates Racing. The above building was leased to Petty Enterprises last year. Yates Racing operates out of a Concord shop, right across from Roush-Fenway. The RYR of yesterday is a distinctly different business than the Yates Racing of today, both in scope of operation, and in business relationships.
Second, of course Menard and Bobby will do better. Last year, there was no testing out of YR, other than the sanctioned races. This year, Paul has already been to Rockingham, and with that one test will have doubled what was done than all of last year. And Doug Yates did not have a team engineer for either car. Most of the cars were purchased at the beginning of the year, and very few new ones came in to the fleet. Why will this be different this year? Because they now have funding for those cars. They had so little sponsorship that they could not afford any of the extras. I am impressed with what Gilliland and Kvapil managed under extremely trying conditions.
Many have felt that David Gilliland is not good enough to continue in this series. His points were sure good enough for a past champion to take them over, to protect that past champs starting position. While I understand the business needing to take him out of a ride, I don’t like it!
@Snafam. I understand that’s the old Robert Yates building. I don’t have a photo of anything new, just the same as I don’t have all these guys in their new get-ups. Still, it is the newly revamped Yates, but you get the idea. I think I have also gone to some length to point out the differences between the Yates of old and the Yates of today.
I’d also like to point out, with the engineering intelligence out of Roush- everybody connected will be better off.
Yates is a survivor, and I’d like to think the tone of my post bears that out. You know what else? You’re entitled to your opinion (as am I) and if you don’t like seeing Gilliland shut out, you by all means are entitled.
At the end of the day…you’re right. That Yates survived 2008 is a testament to him and his entire organization.
I for one would like to see some parity, so a good YR year would good for all as far as I’m concerned.