Elliott Sadler
Robert Yates Racing announced today that Elliott Sadler is free to look for another seat in NASCAR. That leaves two empty seats at the struggling Robert Yates Racing. And it makes Sadler the top driver available in a market that has a few teams looking for high-profile drivers for their cars. Toyota teams are still looking for drivers, but it is unlikely that Sadler will end up with a Toyota team. One report has Sadler going to Evernham Motorsports, but for that to happen, one of the Evernham Motorsports guys has to be on his way out.
Sadler's eventual move will add to the domino effect that started when Dale Jarrett decided to leave Robert Yates Racing for Michael Waltrip's Toyota team. Ward Burton looks like he might be one of the drivers to take over an empty seat at Robert Yates Racing. As for Sadler, he looks like he's headed to Evernham Motorsports. That means Jeremy Mayfield's days at Evernham are numbered. That's a shame for a guy who took an underachieving, second-tier team and made the Chase while the star of Evernham Motorsports, Kasey Kahne, was allowed to mature and experiment through his growing pains.
At least the good news for Mayfield is that NASCAR has a buyers' market. He will most likely land with Red Bull Racing, but the way drivers are moving around, Sadler could end up just about anywhere.
About Haddock
in the Paddock
Tim Haddock covers motorsports — including stock-car and open-wheel racing — for the Los Angeles Daily News.
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