Big Shakeup at Robert Yates Racing Continues
Monday, July 31st, 2006 1:32pm CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
If you’re new around here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
[thumb:148:l:s=1:l=x][thumb:349:r:s=1:l=x]In the continuing saga of “Let’s get this train-wreck fixed” it was announced today that Tommy Baldwin, crew chief of the #38 for RYR, and Slugger Labbe, crew chief of the #88 for RYR, would both be ousted. Effective immediately.
Butch Hylton will be taking over duties for the #88, and the team said that Hylton would be Jarrett’s crew chief on an interim basis.
Charles Barraclough will take over crew chief duties for the #38.
Slugger is looking at the options available, while Baldwin is rumored to be headed over to Bill Davis Racing to fill a Team Director position. Tommy worked for Bill Davis previously from 1998 to 2002 as Ward Burton’s crew chief.
In what continues to be major changes at RYR, it shouldn’t really come as that big of a surprise. For Yates, the opportunity to completely rebuild the team has presented itself started with the finalization the neither driver currently in the seats would be returning in 2007. Add to that the firing of Eddie D’Hondt back in May, and you have an organization working towards starting fresh, and building for the long term future.
In continuance of the shakeups at RYR, the have scheduled a press conference at Indy for 1:15pm this Friday. It is rumored that it will be to announce one, or both, of the drivers for the 2007 season. Several sources across the net have indicated that it will announce Gilliland as one of the 2007 drivers.
On a Gilliland note, he is also going to be competing in the Busch race Saturday night at IRP. How “convenient” that it just happens to be in the #90 CitiFinancial Ford of RYR. It’s supposedly a one race deal, so that Stephen Leicht can focus on making the big dance at Indy on Sunday.
After a little bit of much needed off time around the Lounge, and focusing on some alternate activities over the past few days, we’re back in full swing this week as we head to the Chase. As a note, we’ll be headed to the track at Bristol for the Busch and Cup events, but the trailer isn’t making the trip. We’ll have updates as we can from the events, and a full wrap-up when we get back to the home front the following Tuesday. More to come on the event as we get closer to show time.
Filed Under: Nascar, Nextel Cup
Trackback URL for: Big Shakeup at Robert Yates Racing Continues
Loading...
“convenient?†Far more than that, the Gilliland deal is done. Clay Andrews Racing has shut its door for at least the next three years.
That wouldn’t happen if Gilliland were still available. In my mind there is no more questions, Gilliland will be in the #38. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t happen before the year is over.
Marc said this on July 31st, 2006 at 8:41 pm
That they have. Not sure which car he’ll slide into though. I’ve read rumors of both the #88 and #38. Guess it probably depends on what Yates has cookin in terms of sponsorship.
At least we (should) know by Friday.
However, Yates or not, Gilliland is definitely signed somewhere.
Luke said this on July 31st, 2006 at 8:48 pm