Crew chief Todd Parrott, left, is moving to Dale Jarrett after helping RYR teammate Elliott Sadler to the Chase last year. Credit: Autostock

Yates moving Parrott from Sadler to Jarrett

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Robert Yates Racing on Tuesday announced personnel changes for both Nextel Cup Series teams, as well as its Busch Series program.

Effective immediately, veteran crew chief Todd Parrott will assume the role of crew chief for Dale Jarrett and the No. 88, while Kevin Buskirk, engineer for the No. 38, will assume the role of interim crew chief for Elliott Sadler.

Additionally, Raymond Fox III will serve as crew chief for the No. 90 Busch Series team.

	Neither Elliott Sadler or Dale Jarrett have found Victory Lane through 27 races. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Robert Yates Racing (Cup 2005)   Jarrett Sadler Wins 0 0 Top-5 3 1 Top-10 5 9 DNF 1 2 Avg. Start 21.2 15.2 Avg. Finish 18.1 17.5 Rank 16 11

Both Jarrett and Sadler have been in the top 15 in the point standings throughout most of the 2005 season. With both teams sitting outside the top 10 and having just missed the Chase for the Nextel Cup, RYR management decided to make immediate personnel changes for the remainder of this season in preparation for the 2006 season.

"In the business of NASCAR racing the responsibility to perform both to ourselves and our sponsors is, and has, become increasingly more important," said Eddie D'Hondt, general manager of RYR. "We are making this change in an effort to spark both of our teams to the performance level expected of us."

For more than two years, Parrott has served as crew chief with Sadler. During that period, Parrott led Sadler to two wins -- Texas in 2004 and the fall race at California in 2004 -- as well as a non-points victory in one of the Daytona 500 qualifying races in '04.

Additionally, Parrott guided Sadler to the inaugural Chase last season with Sadler finishing the year in ninth place. It marked Sadler's first time finishing in the top 10 in the point standings.

"We felt to improve the performance of the 88 team it was important to establish a leadership that has been lacking for the last few months," said car owner Robert Yates. "Billy [Wilburn] did a great job of coming in here and working with the 88 and 38 teams to get them on the same page.

ROBERT YATES RACING •   RYR Team Page •   Dale Jarrett Driver Page •   Elliott Sadler Driver Page •   Todd Parrot Crew Chief Page

"Todd [Parrott] has a record that speaks for itself both with preparing race cars and making decisions in the pits. Todd has the skills, ability and talent to lead a race team, and he is committed to winning races."

Buskirk has served as the engineer for the No. 38 team since November 2003 and has been instrumental in preparing the cars Sadler has raced during the past two seasons. Buskirk will work in the interim crew chief capacity while the team actively searches for a permanent replacement for that position.

"Kevin is an important part of not only the [No. 38] team but for all of RYR," Yates said. "He has a lot of knowledge about race cars and what needs to happen to make them perform. He's been on top of the pit box for the last two years helping call adjustments so he is the ideal person to fill this interim role for us."

Fox, who has been with RYR since the organization opened for business in 1987, will take over the race day crew chief duties for the No. 90 car throughout the remainder of the season. Fox will also continue in his current position with the No. 38 team.