Sadler exit confirmed by Yates.

Robert Yates has confirmed that Elliott Sadler will be leaving the #38 M&M's team at the end of the 2006 season following four relatively disappointing seasons.

Sadler's decision to leave the #38 team, for whom he has scored just two Cup Series wins since the start of the 2003 season, gives Yates a major driver headache for next year with neither of his two teams currently having a pilot signed for 2006.

Sadler, who is only 20th in the current points table with just one top five finish to his credit so far this year, requested that he be released from the ride and is now being linked strongly to a berth with Evernham Motorsports, possibly in place of the Toyota bound Jeremy Mayfield.

"We would like to thank Elliott for his commitment to our organisation over the past four seasons and for all the success we've enjoyed together", said Robert Yates. "We are excited about the opportunity to find a new driver who will continue the successful run of the #38 Ford as we maintain our focus on the future of our organisation."

"Our objective this year is to finish the season on a strong note," said Doug Yates. "It is our goal to continue to build this team so we will be better positioned next season to contend for the championship."

It is not yet clear whether M&M's will pull a similar move to that of Yates' other primary sponsor UPS, which is following Dale Jarrett away from the #88 team to Michael Waltrip's new Toyota team.