Notes: Martin announces race schedule in DEI's 8 (cont'd)

Yates seeking sponsors

Yates Racing co-owner Doug Yates has been around the sport his entire life, but his entrée as the sole owner of his family race team is on uncertain territory as Preseason Thunder opened at Daytona.

Kvapil

The team's No. 28 Ford -- formerly the No. 88 before former owner and Yates' father, Robert, ceded the number to Rick Hendrick for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s use -- is on hand with new driver Travis Kvapil.

But instead of sponsor signage the two cars are wearing decals on their quarter and TV panels that say "SponsorYates.com."

"The paint jobs are the same as everybody else's cars here -- they're all primer," co-owner Max Jones said through a smile. "We're working away and we've got lots of things in the works, but we're just trying to make sure we put the right situation together."

The Web site has a letter from Doug Yates and advises that "opportunities are available for both the 28 and No. 38," scheduled to be tested next week by David Gilliland.

"I'm hoping there's something on 'em by Speedweeks," Jones said of the likelihood of the cars appearing in Yates Racing livery, alone. "When you're down here, there's curiosity and everybody's looking -- so there's no harm in having people look at our Web site."

Gordon happy to be speaking Frank-ly

Robby Gordon's disgruntlement with the cancellation of the Dakar Rally was evident Monday morning at Daytona (read more), but so was his pleasure at being reunited with crew chief Frank Kerr, who last season worked with rookie David Reutimann at Michael Waltrip Racing.

Gordon

"This is my third time with Frank Kerr, so he's not a new crew chief to me," Gordon said. "I was looking for what made our program competitive in the past -- we won Busch races with him and ran really good with Frankie and Greg [Erwin]. There were two of them there, but they were a team [because] this is not a one-guy sport anymore.

"Obviously, he was the best-running Toyota last year hands-down. If you look maybe not where they finished with a rookie, but they were the best qualifying Toyota. They did a good job, they really and truly did.

"I know Frank, Frank knows us. He was part of our team when we started it when it was a Busch car and I'm glad to have him back in the house."

Roush Fenway, 3M to benefit Red Cross

Greg Biffle, who won his first Cup Series event in the 2003 Pepsi 400 at Daytona, took advantage of Preseason Thunder's opening to announce that Roush Fenway Racing, in conjunction with its No. 16 Sprint Cup Ford's primary sponsor, 3M, will donate the car's full paint scheme to the American Red Cross for two races in 2008 -- at Talladega in April and Phoenix in November -- along with donating space on the rear-quarter panel of the car where the Red Cross logo will appear in eight other races during the year.

"I'm honored to help support an organization that touches millions of lives every year in communities nationwide," Biffle said. "Besides collecting blood and helping people recover from disasters, they give incredible support to our military personnel and their families [so] I want to help get the message out to race fans that the Red Cross needs our help, now."

Gilmore back at track

Richie Gilmore, the chief operating officer for ECRT -- Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies, the new combined Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. engine collaboration -- is back at the track for the first time since being stricken with an aneurysm this past October at Talladega, and was looking fit Monday at Daytona as he tended after DEI's No. 1 and No. 8 Chevrolets, driven by Aric Almirola and Mark Martin, respectively. (test speeds)

Mayfield's new number

In his four-race debut for Haas CNC Racing last season, Jeremy Mayfield was in the team's No. 66 Chevrolet, but as Preseason Thunder opened, Mayfield was in the sister car, the No. 70 Impala SS.