Robert Yates Racing
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| Owner(s) | Robert Yates, Doug Yates, Max Jones |
|---|---|
| Base | Mooresville, North Carolina |
| Series | Sprint Cup, Busch Series |
| Car numbers | 28, 38, 88, 90, 98 |
| Race drivers | Davey Allison, Robby Gordon, Lake Speed, Ernie Irvan, Kenny Irwin, Jr., Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd, Elliott Sadler, Travis Kvapil, David Gilliland, Paul Menard |
| Sponsors | Texaco/Havoline, Ford Motor Credit, United Parcel Service, M&M's, Menards |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Opened | 1989 |
| Closed | 2009 |
| Career | |
| Drivers' Championships | 1 – Winston Cup Series (Dale Jarrett, 1999) |
| Race victories | 58 |
Yates Racing was an American team that competed in NASCAR until the 2009 season when it merged with Richard Petty Motorsports. Previously known as Robert Yates Racing, the team was owned by Doug Yates, who has officially owned the team since his father Robert's retirement on December 1, 2007. The Yates family owned the team since purchasing it from Harry Ranier and J. T. Lundy in October 1988.
The team was noted for its strong engine program and its success on superspeedways. Throughout most of its history, the team fielded Ford cars numbered 28, 38 and 88, although in its final season it fielded the number 98.
After purchasing the assets of Ranier-Lundy Racing in October 1988, Robert Yates' first driver was Davey Allison, who had driven for the Ranier-Lundy banner since 1987 (his rookie season), and drove the No. 28 Havoline-sponsored Ford from Yates' takeover of the team until mid-1993, racking up 15 wins and twice finishing 3rd in points. He was tragically killed in a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway in July 1993; Robby Gordon drove at Talladega later in July and Lake Speed drove in the next three races, before Ernie Irvan took over on Labor Day weekend at Darlington, winning at Charlotte and Martinsville before the season concluded. In 1994, Ernie Irvan continued to drive the No. 28, winning 3 times before being injured in a crash at Michigan in August. Kenny Wallace took over the driving duties for the remainder of the season.
While Irvan was still recovering from his injuries, Dale Jarrett replaced him in 1995, starting at Robert Yates Racing after being with Joe Gibbs Racing since 1992. Jarrett won one race at Pocono Raceway and eventually finished the season 16th in the points standings. Ernie Irvan, who had returned for 3 races in 1995 in the No. 88, switched places with Jarrett in 1996; that meant Jarrett moved to the No. 88 and Irvan was back in the No. 28. Irvan won at New Hampshire in July, his first win since returning from his injuries, and at Richmond in September. Irvan won at Michigan in June 1997, the same track he almost died on three years earlier. Irvan left at the end of the 1997 season to drive for MB2 Motorsports.
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