Full Throttle

I previously noted the rumors flying around J.J. Yeley and his “emanate” signing with Robert Yates Racing. That “done deal” turned into a fiasco for the rumor mongers when Yeley signed with Hall of Fame Racing.

Little did I know at the time that “done deal at Yates” would turn out to be so prophetic.

I just had the wrong deal and as things evolved this week the Newman/Haas/Lanigan/Yates deal is done. Kaput. History. No more.

Robert Yates Racing will be morphed into Yates Racing, operated by son Doug Yates and will field two Cup entries for David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil in 2008.

After 17 years, nearly 900 starts and one Cup championship with Dale Jarrett Robert Yates is hangin’ them up.

“I’m closing this chapter of my life, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for me next. My wife Carolyn and I look forward to watching Doug build Yates Racing into a championship-caliber team”.

It’s late in coming, but it does confirm all the speculation Robert would retire swirling around the team the last half of 2006.

IN OTHER NEW YOU CAN LOSE: Jimmie Johnson (pictured above, honest!) won the pole for the Richmond Cup event. Closely followed by teammates Gordon and Kyle Busch. How shocking, Hendrick machines dominate the speed charts.

Whatever happened to the “other teams are catching up” meme? Anyone seen it on a milk carton somewhere?

And speaking of Kyle, he dominated the Busch Series race at RIR, leading 227 laps Friday night en route to his second victory of the season.

That is all, more later.