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David Gilliland harbors no ill will toward Yates, ready for next adventure
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Friday, February 20, 2009
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FONTANA, Calif. – David Gilliland admits he’s a little nervous, a little frustrated and a little excited about his upcoming four races with TRG Motorsports.
Gilliland, who has driven 86 of his 87 career Cup races under the Yates banner, has the next four events to prove his worth and try to get the team into the top 35. If it does, team owner Kevin Buckler said he would try to continue racing in Cup this season.
The organization has two cars it bought from Richard Childress Racing, is using Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies engines and has hired Richard “Slugger” Labbe as Gilliland’s crew chief.
“It’s really, really weird being here and not being in a Yates car, but that’s the way it worked out,” said Gilliland after practice Friday at Auto Club Speedway. “This car drove really well [in practice]. I was pleasantly surprised
“I think the guys did a great job in getting the car prepared and have a fighting chance, and that’s all you can ask for. I feel pretty good with it.”
The 32-year-old Gilliland said he doesn’t feel this is a make-or-break situation for his career. He has two career top-five finishes.
“A lot of guys on our team have a lot of good experience but they’re out of jobs because of all the layoffs that happened, so they’re kind of auditioning for a job,” Gilliland said. “Slugger doesn’t have anything full time and wants to be back in here. I want to be back in here. … We all have a lot on the line right now, and that’s what I like about the deal.”
Gilliland said he has no ill will toward Yates Racing, where he finished 27th in points last year but was left without a ride as the team found sponsorship for Paul Menard and Bobby Labonte - but not for him. The team is running a partial schedule for Travis Kvapil but had nothing for Gilliland this year.
“They’ve been so good to me – they brought me into the Cup series, gave me my first opportunity here and really stood behind us last year when we weren’t fully funded and did run us all year,” Gilliland said. “They stuck their neck out on the line for Travis and myself when we weren’t fully funded.”
One of the reasons Gilliland got the ride was because he had a lot of experience in NASCAR’s new car.
“Of all the drivers that were available out there that were fast qualifiers and had COT experience, David was No. 1 on the list,” said Buckler, whose team failed to make the Daytona 500 with Mike Wallace. “He fits our model real well – a nice, young, hard-working clean-cut guy who is hard working, just like we are.”
TRG Motorsports had one win in the Truck series last year and has a long pedigree in sports-car racing, including a victory in its class in the Rolex 24 At Daytona this past year.
“We decided to take a run and come to the Truck series, which is brutally competitive,” said Buckler, whose team was 22nd in owner points last year in the Trucks. “Instead of embarrassing ourselves, we ended up having a great season. We needed to come down here and learn the lay of the land. I think we learned enough to at least try to come here and run.”
NASCAR’s moratorium on testing has helped the team, Gilliland said.
“I haven’t been in a race car since the middle of November at Homestead,” Gilliland said. “We had good speed right off the bat. It helps coming to a track I’ve ran at more than a handful of times.
“It really would have hurt us if everybody had come tested and we didn’t. That definitely has played into our favor a little bit.”
Mentioned Drivers: David Gilliland
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
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Comments
11 responses to "David Gilliland harbors no ill will toward Yates, ready for next adventure". Post a Comment.
Cathy Rooks said:
Feb 20, 2009 at 9:08 PMI am sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings by saying this but this is for the best! David and the 55 needs to find a different line of work. After Somona last year David needs to go!
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» Confirm Abuse Reported gordon said:
Feb 20, 2009 at 9:37 PMWow Cathy,I'm sure you've hurt Davids feelings,probably to the point that he will find another line of work like you've suggested.But first he's got to a race to run as he's put TRG and the #71 car into their first Cup race.
Report as AbuseGO DAVID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCathy Rooks said:
Feb 20, 2009 at 9:42 PMYates dropped him today Ed! David wrecks so many people in just about every race.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCathy Rooks said:
Feb 20, 2009 at 9:42 PMYates dropped him today Ed! David wrecks so many people in just about every race.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJozef Colomy said:
Feb 20, 2009 at 9:56 PMYates dropped him so he could drive for TRG...David's a good driver. I agree about the 55 of Michael "Fabuloussss" Waltrip, though. Get out.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportShorty Jr. said:
Feb 21, 2009 at 9:36 AMWhen you get replaced by Paul Menard and has been Labonte you can't drive!He should be thankful he's got a shot but he should be careful around #42,there's an old due that needs to be paid.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbluey Hills said:
Feb 21, 2009 at 10:51 AMDon,t think anything will happen on the track with the 42 Shorty, in case you haven,t noticed Montoya and Gilliland are now kind of teammates so i don,t think the owners will go for that.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbluey Hills said:
Feb 21, 2009 at 10:57 AMBy the way Cathy why does David need to go after Sonoma last year, he finished 2nd behind Kyle and i don,t remember him wrecking anyone...........are you thinking of another race ???.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportfred thibault said:
Feb 21, 2009 at 5:51 PMwow, talk about a hater. isn't this the guy who helped yates last year and was picked by them since he won a nationwide race in an unsponsored car. oh,yes isn't he the guyt who has never a bad word to say when he gets taken out by some young immature driver. i am not a true fan of david's but geez give him some credit
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBruce Lassiter said:
Feb 21, 2009 at 7:06 PMCome on guys, David Gilliland is a good guy and a pretty fair driver. There are plenty more out there that are a lot worse than he is. David, I wish you all the best luck in finding a new ride!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdana rose said:
Feb 22, 2009 at 3:11 AMIts quite a shame when people that have so little knowledge of this sport can post senseless opinions..
Report as AbuseDavid Gilliland is a fine young driver. The seperation between skills of these people is seat time and MONEY..
Put this kid in a Hendricks or Roush car and he's well known..
Not sure if anyone heard the Dale Jr. comercial concerning his blatant stupidity at Daytona last week..
But I believe its Jeff Burton making the statement that everyone of us have caused wrecks in this sport.. Anyone that hasn't is lying..
Its a damn shame what has happened to Nascar..
where money without a doubt dictates who wins weekly..
The seperation in skill between 1 and 43 is experiance and small at that. there are no God gifted talented drivers.. There's money and equipment..possibly arrogant supidity..
What a joke.
Go Dave..With what little you have.
Put J. Johnson in Gilliland's car and watch him post 35th every week.. He's did'nt land that ride for being better he was available first nad two automotive engineers cheat better than the rest.
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» Confirm Abuse Report