LONG POND, Pa. (AP) _ Robert Yates Racing has officially hit rock bottom.
Both Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler have jumped ship, choosing to flee RYR for new rides in 2007. Sponsor UPS is also leaving with Jarrett, creating a chaotic time for a once-proud organization.
Despite the turnover, no one was panicking Friday. Instead, there seemed to be an overwhelming sense of relief following Sadler's long-awaited decision.
``We finally have a clear-cut direction for the organization now that we know Elliott is leaving,'' said Tommy Baldwin, Sadler's crew chief. ``We just wanted a direction. This has been going on since January, and it's been a real thorn in our sides.
``We just wanted it to end, one way or the other, so we all knew what the deal was going to be from here on out.''
Sadler had been mulling his future with RYR for several months, and finally asked for and received his release on Thursday.
Although he's expected to replace Jeremy Mayfield at Evernham Motorsports _ with Mayfield likely going to one of Michael Waltrip's Toyota's _ Sadler insisted Friday he does not have another job lined up.
Instead, he cited a difference in philosophy between himself and Yates as his reason for leaving.
``I just have a difference of opinion on which way the sport is going than those guys did,'' Sadler said. ``I couldn't really make myself buy into the system in which way I think the company is going, so we just decided to split and do something different.''
RYR was one of the top teams in NASCAR from its 1989 debut. The team won 57 races and had 419 top-10 finishes, while Jarrett won two Daytona 500s and a championship in 1999.
The team also placed at least one driver in the top 10 in the point standings in 10 out of 17 years.
But a decline began in 2001, when its six-year streak of placing a driver in the top five of the final standings ended. Jarrett has not made the final top 10 since 2002, and Sadler only did it in 2004.
Heading into Sunday's event at Pocono Raceway, Sadler is 20th in the standings, Jarrett is 24th and neither are contenders to make the Chase for the championship.
They struggled in Friday's qualifying, too. Sadler was 25th and Jarrett was 39th. Denny Hamlin, who won here last month, won the pole.
Despite the difficulties, those inside the organization insist the sport is cyclical and RYR will rise again.
``Robert has been in this sport for a long time, he's one of the premier people and he's not going anywhere,'' crew chief Slugger Labbe said. ``If he cut his finger, he'd bleed racing. He'd sell his soul to give a fast race car to Dale or Elliott.
``He just wants to get back on top. It's a vicious circle.''
Yet it's not clear how Yates plans to fix his mess. RYR's driver development program isn't stocked with talent, although the team does have newcomer Stephen Leicht in the pipeline. He'll make his Nextel Cup debut on Sunday after qualifying 36th.
Because of Jarrett and Sadler's defections, the 19-year-old Leicht could find himself on the fast track into one of RYR's vacant Nextel Cup seats.
``We have a future with Stephen Leicht,'' team co-owner Doug Yates said. ``Is he ready for Cup next year? I don't know. We'll let that take care of itself these next few weeks and the rest of the year.''
RYR is also believed to be talking to former Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton, who has been out of racing for almost two years but has recently been searching the garage for an available ride.
But Doug Yates was coy about potential drivers.
``There are a lot of guys available that maybe need to revitalize their career or another chance, so we'll look at that as well,'' he said.
Sadler believes that RYR can bounce back with the right driver, but he's not it.
``I'm not saying it won't work for somebody else,'' Sadler said. ``I think if you get a good driver to come in here and buy into what Robert and Doug are doing with their company, I think they are going to run good next year.''
