Merger off, Robert Yates retiring

[Jonesi]

http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/6657.html

Travis Kvapil to succeed Rudd.

[RaikkonenRules]

Surprised Kvapil was chosen, never even heard that he was under consideration.

[BenRoethig]

This surprises me on many counts. Most of it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense if you want a winning race team.

[ms0362]

Must be a money thang.... Probably the best they could afford.

[Speedworx]

Kvapil did ok for Penske. Good choice.

[Jonesi]

Surprised Kvapil was chosen, never even heard that he was under consideration.

Not too surprising when you take into account:
Next year Cup will be all CoT.
For months the teams/drivers/reporters have been saying the CoT races more like the Trucks than Busch cars.
So who doing well in the Truck series?
Negative points if they've had their 40th birthday, (double negative points if their wives already have their 50th birthday circled on the calendar. ;-)
Plus points if they are already driving/promoting for Ford (and a lot easier to make a deal).

Travis Kvapil at 31 this year, is 3rd in points with 3 wins and 11 top 10s in 17 races. All others in the top 8 in points are +40 in age.
Only other sub 40 race winner is:
Erik Darnell 25 this year also in a Ford, 10th in points has 1 win 6 top 10s.
Other top Ford drivers:
Rick Crawford 50 next year, 6th in points, no wins, 7 top 5s 12 top 10s,
David Starr 40 11th in points, no wins, 3 top 10s.
Travis Kvapil seems the best choice.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Sucks to see Yates leaving the sport, but everyone has to pick a time to get out gracefully, and I guess Robert chose this as his time. Classy guy....

AS for Kvapil getting the ride, well it is do or die. I like the guy in Truck's so lets see what happens. They wont do worse than this year.....not that Rudd is a bad guy, but he is past it.