Bobby Labonte to leave #71

[Burhead]

Sources said that he is leaving TRG Motorsports today or tomorrow and could possibly drive RGM's #7 for the full race this weekend. Interesting, wonder where he winds up or does he retire?

Sources: Bobby Labonte plans to leave TRG Motorsports this week | NASCAR News Now - SceneDaily.com

[TennesseeFan07]

Who does TRG get?

[Burhead]

Originally Posted by TennesseeFan07

Who does TRG get?

Yeah that too.

[doozer]

Originally Posted by TennesseeFan07

Who does TRG get?

more importantly, who cares?

[USAF_Vol]

Yessssssss
Posted via VolNation Mobile

[TennesseeFan07]

Bobby would benefit if he would go to the trucks.

[rbroyles]

The start in the #7 is just a one race deal. I wish this would have happened before Red Bull hired Sorenson. I believe you will see Bobby in a Cup car outside the top 35, as he has the PCP to put them in every race. May not be a permanent ride in 2010, but look for one to materialize for 2011.

[Burhead]

Originally Posted by rbroyles

The start in the #7 is just a one race deal. I wish this would have happened before Red Bull hired Sorenson. I believe you will see Bobby in a Cup car outside the top 35, as he has the PCP to put them in every race. May not be a permanent ride in 2010, but look for one to materialize for 2011.

I was hoping to see him in the #83 too but Bobby is a Coke driver and it require some serious negotiating to get him in to the Red Bull car. They also changed the PCP rule awhile back so he can only use it six times in a single season so its not much use any more.

Update: On Nascar it said he was looking into all possibilities including Cup, Nationwide, and Trucks series for the remainder of the season.

[Burhead]

Well he now has a ride for the next three races; this week in the #7 and Daytona and Chicagoland in the #09. It might be a coincidence but Reed Sorenson's deal with Red Bull is for three races, maybe we'll see Labonte given a chance to pilot the #83 at some point.

[TennesseeFan07]

I'd like to see that happen. It's interesting how Robby was going to park with PJ, but once Bobby was available they decided to go the distance.

[Burhead]

Originally Posted by TennesseeFan07

I'd like to see that happen. It's interesting how Robby was going to park with PJ, but once Bobby was available they decided to go the distance.

Yeah probably help keep the #7 locked in the top-35. Plus Finch plans on racing the entire events at both tracks. Plus he said if he can secure additional sponsorship he would like to keep Labonte in the #09 for more races. I wouldn't be surprised if Rick's Hendrickcars.com doesn't sponsor one or both of the races Bobby is slotted for. Could be a plan to start getting the #09 into the top-35 for next year if Kahne is farmed out to Finch.


Also don't shoot the messenger but I've started reading rumors today that RCR might be looking into expanding back to four cars and that some of the sponsors that wanted Harvick are open to a Labonte/RCR deal...

[TennesseeFan07]

Originally Posted by Burhead

Yeah probably help keep the #7 locked in the top-35. Plus Finch plans on racing the entire events at both tracks. Plus he said if he can secure additional sponsorship he would like to keep Labonte in the #09 for more races. I wouldn't be surprised if Rick's Hendrickcars.com doesn't sponsor one or both of the races Bobby is slotted for. Could be a plan to start getting the #09 into the top-35 for next year if Kahne is farmed out to Finch.


Also don't shoot the messenger but I've started reading rumors today that RCR might be looking into expanding back to four cars and that some of the sponsors that wanted Harvick are open to a Labonte/RCR deal...

For the sake of RCR, I hope not.

[rbroyles]

Originally Posted by TennesseeFan07

I'd like to see that happen. It's interesting how Robby was going to park with PJ, but once Bobby was available they decided to go the distance.

It is simple, Jones is a less than average driver and Bobby is a proven winner. With PJ the point difference between 40 something and the high 30 something he would get, if he finishes, is not that great.

[TennesseeFan07]

The car is still junk, though. With Bobby it's only going to be about a 5 position improvement and they still don't have sponsorship. If that wasn't bad enough, I heard Labonte smashed up the car pretty good in practice earlier and they're going to a backup(I've been at the gym all day so the crash may not have been as bad as I was informed).

[TennesseeFan07]

Gilliand will pilot the 71 this week at Daytona. After that, he'll join back up with the FRM crew for the remainder of the season. Lally won't be a solution for the ride as he is already driving in 3 other road course divisions.