By JIM UTTER

ThatsRacin.com Writer


HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Veteran Nextel Cup engine builder Doug Yates and veteran crew chief Tommy Baldwin are expected to partner together to own a Nextel Cup team that could hit the track full-time in 2007, ThatsRacin.com has learned.
A formal announcement of the Yates/Baldwin partnership is scheduled for Saturday morning at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Evernham Motorsports announced a reorganization of its Cup programs this week, which included Baldwin's departure at the end of the season. The Evernham announcement also indicated Baldwin was interested in pursuing ownership in a Cup team.

The Yates/Baldwin team is not expected to field a full-time effort next season and is not expected to be a third entry for Robert Yates Racing, sources said. Yates currently fields Fords for drivers Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler in Cup.

Baldwin, 39, who served as Kasey Kahne's crew chief most of the past two seasons, is expected to work within the Yates organization, but in what capacity remains unclear, sources said.

Baldwin's crew chief career began in 1997 with veteran car owner Junie Donlavey. He joined Bill Davis Racing at the end of the 1998 season and stayed with the team until the latter part of 2002, serving as crew chief for driver Ward Burton.

During that span, the Baldwin/Burton team won the Daytona 500 in 2002 and posted a pair of victories at Darlington, S.C.

After one season with the No. 7 Ultra Motorsports team and driver Jimmy Spencer, he moved to Evernham Motorsports for the 2004 season.

From 1990 until 2003, Doug Yates, 38, was responsible for providing Robert Yates Racing's horsepower for drivers such as Jarrett, the late Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan and Ricky Rudd.

In 2004, his duties expanded as Ford Motor Co. tapped him to lead Team Ford Racing's Cup engine program, making him responsible for supplying engines to not only the Yates teams, but also to all five teams at Roush Racing.

Best of luck to Tommy... I can't wait to we see the day we can all say Tommy Baldwin, car owner.

Good Luck to Tommy!

GOOD LUCK TOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!

:hehe ...that would be weird!!

Good luck Tommy...We still love you...I wonder if Kasey would ever drive for him in the future???

Me either...maybe one day we'll see Kasey driving for him...

Good luck to Tommy!!!

wow, Good luck Tommy!!!

Good luck Tommy!

But if that car is gonna be a Ford.......I somehow doubt we'll ever see Kasey driving for Tommy, unless its just a race or two long after his regular Cup career is over.

But then again stranger things happen.......so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

:clap YAY TOMMY!!

Best of luck to Tommy. :clap

jayski says the press conference has been canceled.......wonder what that means?

*Yates go away and let us have our Tommy back.......yes, I know wishful thinking*

:hehe

Please? Don't make us beg!!

I wish them the best!

haha yeah!!

wishfull thanking :)

:rolleyes: Yes, it would be cool if Tommy came back....(sigh)

that would be asum!!!!!!! but wait wat kind of cars would he have? as long as they are not fords! i hate fords!