Sauter to replace Jarrett

UPDATE The stars appear to have lined up perfectly for Johnny Sauter to drive Robert Yates Racing's #88 Ford Fusion in the Nextel Cup Series next season. Sauter has the inside track to the only car without a driver in the top 35 in the Nextel Cup owner points, guaranteeing a position in the Daytona 500 and the next four races in 2007. Yates is also talking to Ricky Rudd, who doesn't want to compete full time. Unless Yates can induce the 50-year-old Rudd into changing his mind — and it seems unlikely — the #88 belongs to Sauter. They're the only two drivers under consideration. CNNSI

11/20/06 Johnny Sauter, a son of veteran racer Jim Sauter, is reported to be in line to take over the vacant ride for Robert Yates next season, taking the spot that Dale Jarrett has had for the past 10 years. Winston Salem Journal