NASCAR's Dale Jarrett Waves Goodbye to Ford

Seven or eight years ago, I would have never imagined Jeff Burton driving anything other than the #99 Ford. So when he parted ways with Roush Racing to pilot the Chevrolet's at Richard Childress Racing, it took some getting used to.

And when Bobby Labonte announced that he was ending his eleven-year tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing to join the Petty Enterprises organization, I was even more perplexed.

But when Dale Jarrett declared his intentions to leave Robert Yates Racing, the organization that he had been aligned with since 1995, I came to the realization that no driver is bound to one organization or number.

For the past decade, Jarrett has been associated with Ford and the #88. When he initially arrived at Robert Yates Racing, he was handed the keys to the famous #28 TexacoHavoline Ford, previously driven by the late Davey Allison and the injured Ernie Irvan. In fact, Jarrett was the fill-in for Irvan while he recovered. After a successful season in which Jarrett won at Pocono, Ford and Yates formed a second team specifically for Jarrett.

For five years Jarrett embodied the blue and red Ford Credit/Quality Care colors. Jarrett won the Daytona 500 in the team's first race together. He would also win the Brickyard 400 that same season. He marginally lost the championship to Jeff Gordon in 1997, and in 1998 he would win three more races. In 1999, Jarrett and Robert Yates Racing were on top of the world as they both were rewarded with the Winston Cup championship.

In 2001, Jarrett traded the blue and red for the brown and gold colors as UPS became the new sponsor on the #88 Ford. Jarrett and UPS seemed to be a match made in heaven as the ongoing 'Race The Truck' commercials have proven over the past five years. Both Jarrett and his teammate Ricky Rudd were in the thick of the championship race and Robert Yates Racing was Ford's leading organization.

In 2002 came the turning point for Jarrett and Robert Yates Racing. Towards the end of the season, Rudd announced his departure as well as long-time sponsor TexacoHavoline. Yates hired Elliott Sadler and M&M's became the primary sponsor. The proverbial #28 was converted to the seldom used #38. Jarrett would undergo a superfluity of crew chief changes.

In 2003, Jarrett would endure his worst season since joining Robert Yates Racing. Despite winning a race, he would plummet to 26th in the final Cup standings. Since then, Jarrett's results have improved, but they have never been able to return to championship form.

And that leads us to the present-day. Earlier this season, it was officially proclaimed that Jarrett would team up with Michael Waltrip Racing and drive Toyotas. Even though most everyone anticipated the announcement, it has provoked a number of responses. While some fans concede that Jarrett's best days with Yates were behind him, the majority of fans believe that money was the root, and that Jarrett's loyalty to Yates had diminished. Many blue oval fans will probably begrudge Jarrett for the remainder of his career.

Jarrett's move definitely sparks interest, mainly because many wonder if the move is an upgrade as far as performance is concerned. It's no secret that Yates' organization is struggling. But Jarrett is joining a relatively new team with a brand new manufacturer. This may have been considered an intelligent move if it was for the long term, but Jarrett has already stated that he is planning to retire after 2008.

I believe that Toyota will have an impact on the sport, but not immediately, I don't care how much money and resources they have.

Should he have stayed with the team and organization that he is familiar with? Or does Jarrett need this change of scenery?

Regardless of how people may feel about his decision, Jarrett should be remembered as a Champion and a great driver. Not as the driver who turned his back on the manufacturer and the organization that supported him throughout most of his career.