Kvapil/Yates Sponsor Watch
 

I've been a fan of the Yates #28 since the days when a fine young driver named Davey Allison was behind the wheel. Since then Yates and the #28 have fallen on hard times, starkly illustrated by their struggles to get a sponsor on the car this year despite some solid runs and a very talented young driver. So here's a place to keep track of the team's look and and hope that Kvapil and the team impress somebody enough that they pick up the bill for more than a single race.

Daytona Practice Car:
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2008/s...lank-getty.jpg

Fantastic Daytona-only K&N Car:
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2008/s...kn-daytona.jpg

California and Vegas, the White Car:
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2008/s...lank-calif.jpg

Atlanta, the Zaxby's screaming Chicken car:
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2008/s...bys-layout.jpg

Ford Drive One car for PHX:
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/fe/fu...way_fresh_.jpg

Talledega: Northern Tool
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/c9/fu...on_s_499_p.jpg

Richmond, Discount Tire:
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/ae/fu..._dan_lowry.jpg

Darlington: LaFayette Ford
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2008/s...ette-front.jpg

:hmm: . . . . reminds me of "Clyde Torkle - Fastest Chicken in the South"

:jester:

http://www.spencer1984.com/image/m227a.jpg

I was a MAJOR Davey fan and still wish he were still around. I've been keeping watch on the 28 and am hopeful Travis will give Yates a much needed victory at some point this year. I may be optimistic, but with Ford and NASCAR these days you have to be.

I hope you're right, but I'm not really optimistic. Other than Roush, Ford has been dead for some time now in NASCAR. Wood Brothers can't qualify #21 even with Bill Elliott, Yates is happy if they have their drivers in Top 35 and even Roush is not what is used to be. McMurray needs to go. Good news is that Biffle is pretty good so far this season.

I think its entirely possible Kvapil will get a win this year. Doug Yates is squeezing as much info out of Roush as possible, helped by Ford Racing which wants more than 1 able team under their banner, and that should pay dividends by November. I was very impressed how he and the team took the white car in Vegas from being an afterthought to a top-10 car, even turning a couple fastest laps.It will take some luck and alot of hard work, but its doable.

The 11 Million car was a letdown, pretty much just the white car with the words "11 Million" on the hood. Probably smart, as it was still clear they're looking for a sponsor, but not thrilling either.

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I'm somewhat confounded by the continued sponsor trouble. Both Yates cars are solidly in the top-35 going into the start of this-year points qualifying and yet there's plenty of cars behind them with multi-race if not full-year sponsors. Gilliland and Kvapil each have a top-10 now, yet David's sponsor runs out in a few weeks and Kvapil's still got nothing. At this point I almost want Kvapil to win a race in the white car just as a big "F U" to everyone who won't give Yates the time of day.

Gilliland should be able to find a new sponsor, he finished 9th today.

It's pretty sad that guy who can't even qualify have sponsor, but guys who drive each week don't.

Man, I was so happy when Harvick wrecked Stewart on lap 498 today.

Still no sponsor. Really feel for Travis. He got up to 7th and looked like he had a top-5 car Sunday, then gets blind-sided by Skinner on Pit Lane and has to drive the wheels off just to get a top-20. Not so long ago the year he's had so far would have gotten him alot of exposure, and a sponsor, but not these days...

I saw that race Sunday. He's running really well considering. It is so odd to see an all-white sponsorless car in the Sprint series.

Can't they get a partial sponsor or does it go against rules to have anyone on the car that isn't paying as much as all the other cars. Say they sell the hood for $50k for one race until a full-time comes through. Is that possible? Why haven't they done that?

They ran California with small K&N stickers on the sides but a blank hood, plus the one-race deals. I don't know for fact but speculating I would say that they may be turning down partial sponsor deals in order to keep their sponsor-less state apparent. While its not for the reasons most would want, the white car DOES stand out and calls attention to the fact that they need a sponsor; they could be hoping that provides incentive for someone to sign a big check.

I was reading a story few days ago how Ken Schrader from Toyota's BAM Racing, who only qualified for 3 races this year, got Microsoft to sponsor him, but guys like Kvapil and Gilliland who are in Top 24 in standings and each has one Top 10 this season can't get a sponsor. This really sucks.

That's what drives me the most nuts. They each have a top 10 and they're WELL in the top-35, sponsors with drivers who are already in the bucket should be beating the door down, but aren't.


Enter conspiracy theory: NASCAR's attitude toward the Yates team the last few seasons has been along the lines of "they're still here?" Now, they're going out of their way to tee-off Jack Roush. I'm starting to wonder if NASCAR is trying to push Ford out, and maybe the sponsors' reluctance is a symptom of this.

Latest: Despite both drivers being well in the top 35 and each having a top-10 this season, neither Yates car has a sponsor this week.:screwy:

That sucks.

Well, both finished in the top 20 after qualifying in the basement. Nice runs, still no sponsors.:doh:

Deja-vu all over again.
Look at the way NASCRAP turned it's back on Bud Moore Racing.

Sadly, looks like all Ford teams are gonna disappear in the near future. Ford only has 3 teams now, one of them can't qualify (Wood Brothers), one can't find sponsors (Yates) and Roush is still successful.