Sadler finally confirms Yates switch.

One of the worst kept secrets of the year was confirmed on Sunday when Elliott Sadler confirmed his switch to Robert Yates Racing with sponsorship from M&M's. There was a twist however that still leaves Ricky Rudd's future as cloudy as ever.

"M&M's" Chocolate Candies finally announced on Sunday that it will sponsor the Robert Yates Racing Ford Taurus to be driven by outgoing Wood Brothers driver Elliott Sadler in 2003. However Sadler will be driving the #38 Ford and not the #28 Ford currently driven by Ricky Rudd and sponsored by Texaco/Havoline.

The plot thickened further when it was also confirmed that Sadler's crew chief will be Michael McSwain, currently crew chief for Rudd's #28 Ford.

The M&M's/Sadler deal is good through till the end of 2005 but casts no light on Rudd's much debated future. Rudd has been toying with the idea of retirement for some time now and at times this year his relationship with Yates and McSwain has looked more than strained. However Rudd also commented that he would stay with the famed #28 if the majority of the crew remained intact.

Recently Rudd has been linked with a possible move to several teams including Wood Brothers and Chip Ganassi Racing. Part of the deal with Ganassi appeared to involve Havoline and the legendary #28 plate and Sadler's confirmation at RYR doesn't appear to push Rudd further in either direction.

"The track record that Robert Yates Racing has put together over the years clearly makes them one of the top organizations in NASCAR and we are very excited to be joining them for the 2003 season," John King, director of sponsorships, Masterfoods USA, said. "The success of Robert Yates Racing along with the combination of Elliot Sadler behind the wheel and Michael McSwain as crew chief will hopefully bring the "M&M's" Brand to victory lane several times in 2003."

The famous candy maker joined the Winston Cup ranks in 1997 with MB2 Motorsports, running its first two seasons under the SKITTLES colors. The sponsorship switched to the familiar "M&M's"(R) colors in 1999 and veteran Ken Schrader has carried the distinctive yellow livery for the past two and a half years.

The 2003 season will mark "M&M's"(R) Chocolate Candies' seventh year in the Winston Cup Series, and the first with the successful two-car operation at Robert Yates Racing. Since Robert Yates Racing was born in 1988, the now two-car team has visited victory lane 52 times and captured the 1999 Winston Cup Championship.

Yates is excited to add Sadler and "M&M's"(R) Chocolate Candies to the mix for 2003. "All of us at Robert Yates Racing are very proud of our new association with "M&M's" and Elliott Sadler and look forward to taking Red, Green and all the great "M&M's" Brand characters with us to Victory Lane next season," RYR owner Robert Yates, said.

A four-year veteran of the Winston Cup circuit, Sadler is considered the future of NASCAR and has been labeled one of the series' young guns. Sadler, 27, won his first NASCAR Winston Cup race in 2001 at Bristol Motor Speedway, in just his 75th career start.

With one win under his belt and more than $8 million in career winnings, the 27-year-old Sadler is eager to team with Robert Yates and "M&M's"(R). "The opportunity to drive for Robert Yates Racing and "M&M's"(R) is a dream come true," Sadler said. "M&M's"(R) are all about having fun and so am I. I'm looking forward to a lot of wins with Michael McSwain and the "M&M's"(R) crew. I'm also looking forward to having Dale Jarrett as my teammate. This is the chance of a lifetime."

Although Sadler will be with a new team, he will be led by the voice of experience with veteran crew chief Michael McSwain calling the shots from atop the pit box. Now in his seventh year as crew chief, McSwain has earned three checkered flags at Robert Yates Racing and 31 top-five finishes.

McSwain hopes to continue his success on the track in 2003, now with Sadler behind the wheel. "We've got tremendously dedicated team members here at RYR and we're excited about the opportunity to continue our winning tradition next season with "M&M's"(R) and Elliott on board," McSwain said.

With a new team, new driver and new crew chief, "M&M's"(R) Chocolate Candies is eager to showcase its new look for 2003.

"Since we will have some changes for 2003, we thought that it was appropriate that we make some changes to our paint scheme as well," said King. "The "M&M's"(R) Brand is all about colorful, chocolate fun and we think that the car that takes the track in Daytona next February will represent that and be a hit with NASCAR fans."