| Jim Yates, a veteran racer of Pontiac, is optimistic | | | | unfortunately they just didn't work out. As a result, it |
| and excited about the new race program of the | | | | left our program in a hole financially. We still love |
| company. He said, "I am used to competing at the | | | | what we are doing and we are still the same talented |
| top." Yates even does continue, "The only way to | | | | team that has won POWERade championships and |
| continue to do that is to find the proper funding." | | | | national event races in the past. Bill (Jenkins) |
| Yates added, "Rather than stay out here surviving on | | | | continues to improve the horsepower in our engines |
| a shoestring budget, trying to get to the next race, | | | | every week and our new Pontiac GTO is working |
| and not being able to afford the people, the parts | | | | better than ever. We're really excited about our |
| and the things we need to be competitive, our | | | | program and the potential we have and we'd love to |
| attitude right now as a team, is perhaps we need to | | | | have the money to stay out here and race." |
| take a step back. I am confident, that given this | | | | "My plan is not to go home, sell our race cars, sell our |
| situation, if we focus all of our energies on searching | | | | tractortrailer and go get a job. But if we don't have |
| for funding instead of racing, when we do come | | | | the finances to come out here and race at the level |
| back in a week, a month, or a year, we can go out | | | | we're used to, then we're going to go home, park |
| there and compete at the highest level." | | | | our stuff and spend seven days a week looking for a |
| As the 23-race NHRA POWERade tour departs from | | | | sponsor so that we can come out here and once |
| the Atlanta Dragway and moves outside St. Louis at | | | | again take our place among the top Pro Stock teams |
| the Gateway International Raceway for next | | | | in the country. Unfortunately, you need money to |
| weekend's event, Yates finds himself at a racing | | | | race with the top teams; talent only goes so far," |
| crossroad. This situation, involving the search for the | | | | Yates continued. |
| very precious source of funding, has bothered | | | | "We've been in a good position with the six-race |
| several drivers before. | | | | program we had with Sea Ray Boats and WileyX |
| As a fact, funding is deemed the lifeblood of any | | | | Eyewear, and we've got that extended for a couple |
| professional racer. This is why Yates is looking | | | | more races, which is really good for us," Yates |
| forward to having precious funding. The veteran | | | | added. "Beyond that we've got three deals working |
| racer remained upbeat and optimistic as he prepares | | | | that could carry us through to the end of the year. |
| his Pontiac GTO for a racetrack where he has had | | | | I've been working really hard on an exciting program |
| success in the past when he was able to best Allen | | | | for next year, and we're probably thirty days from |
| Johnson for the win in 1999 as well as finishing as a | | | | finding out if that's going to happen, but |
| runner-up to Warren Johnson both in 1997 and 2001. | | | | unfortunately, no one has signed on the dotted line |
| The two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion noted, "I | | | | yet." |
| think that we have some great opportunities in the | | | | Yates' resume, as powerful as the EBC brake rotors, |
| future and my plan is to explore every one of them | | | | is among the Pro Stock pits. He has been racing |
| - hopefully without missing a beat, or a race. | | | | sixteen years, has finished in the top five of the |
| Contrary to some reports, I'm not quitting or | | | | POWERade points eight times and finished in the top |
| retiring," Yates said. "I want to race, (son) Jamie | | | | ten fourteen times. Yates also has won 25 races, |
| wants to race, (wife) Toni wants to race, Grumpy | | | | been a runner-up 33 times, has won two POWERade |
| (engine builder Bill Jenkins) wants to race. We love to | | | | championships, and qualified at No. 1 at 29 events. |
| race and we think we have something good | | | | He concluded, "We are very optimistic about our |
| together. Unfortunately, not only do you need | | | | opportunities but we'll have to take a wait-and-see |
| half-inch wrenches in your toolbox, you also need | | | | approach for the next few weeks. As a team we |
| money in your toolbox. It's no secret that to run at | | | | expect to come out here, qualify in the top half of |
| the winning level of Pro Stock it takes the proper | | | | the field, win rounds on raceday and be in the |
| funding and in the past we have proven that we've | | | | 'Countdown' by Indy. We had a really great season |
| got the talent to run with the best cars out here." | | | | last year. Our objective this year is to be in a position |
| Yates added, "We had some very positive | | | | where we're able to compete as a top-half car and |
| opportunities lined up at the end of last year, but, | | | | win rounds and win races. |