The M&M’s are melting in his hands

By Mike Harper

One must wonder what NASCAR owner’s Robert Yates and Chip Ganassi are thinking these days. Actually, both have a few things in common. First, they each have an open seat in one of their Cup cars for next season and second, they’re both experiencing a time where drivers want to leave their organizations.

For Ganassi, this is the second straight season where driver retention has been a problem. Last season Jamie McMurray announced that he succeeded in terminating his contract with Ganassi early, giving him the avenue to join forces with Roush Racing this season. Most recently, Casey Mears decided not to renew his contract with Ganassi allowing him to sign with Hendrick Motorsports.

In the midst of realizing the same hardship, Yates has lost NASCAR champion Dale Jarrett to Michael Waltrip Racing for next season and Elliott Sadler is rumored to be heading out the door as well.

Drivers leaving and jumping ship makes me wonder what is happening internally at these organizations. If the owners of these teams were 100% honest with themselves, they would know that a driver wanting to leave their organization is troubling, but multiple drivers looking to get out is a huge red flag that something must not be right inside their stable.

If we look at Sadler specifically, Yates is in trouble. I truly believe Jarrett leaving will not sit well with Sadler and you’ve got to ask the question, if Yates’ drivers were performing as well as the Roush Racing drivers, would Jarrett be leaving in the first place? I’m sure Sadler has thought about that very question.

FOX Sports’ Larry McReynolds had some interesting thoughts about the Sadler/Yates topic. "Whose shoulders is it on to fix the problem? That's one man: Robert Yates," said McReynolds. "Sadler wants to make this deal work, but something is going to have to change. If something doesn't change, he isn't getting any younger so he's going to need to look at some other options."

Other options? Darn right, because he’s got them. Depending on where UPS ends up, Sadler could be their driver in two years. If and I mean if, Sadler follows his mentor Dale Jarrett to Michael Waltrip Racing and UPS moves with Jarrett, Sadler could drive the Dominos/Burger King sponsored car until Jarrett retires in two years, then he could move into the UPS car. My mind amazes me sometimes.

Will Ford Motorsports have that? No way! Ford lost Jarrett and I’m sure they’re fighting for Sadler at this very hour. That said, with a ton of help from Ford, Sadler might stay in a Ford either at Yates (if they can turnaround their program) or he’ll end up at Roush Racing in the No. 6 car replacing Mark Martin.

Roush was replacing Martin next season with current Busch Series driver Todd Kluever, but Kluever’s lackluster start must surely have Roush rethinking his 2007 plans.

Sadler could also end up at:

• Red Bull Racing’s second car
• Penske Racing if Kodak keeps their promise and comes back next season
• Ganassi’s No. 42
• Evernham Motorsports if they move out Jeremy Mayfield
• Back home to the Wood Brothers
• If DEI and MB2 merge, there’s a few options

Maybe it’s just easier to stay put.