David Gilliland to drive TRG Motorsports' Cup entry at Auto Club Speedway
By SceneDaily Staff
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Yates Racing’s David Gilliland has been named to drive the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet NASCAR Sprint Cup entry this weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
Gilliland, who was not on the preliminary entry list for the Auto Club 500, drove the No. 38 Yates Racing Ford last season. He remains under contract with Yates, which approved his driving for TRG. Since TRG is outside the top 35 in owner points, Gilliland must qualify based on speed to make the race.
"I was at Daytona when [TRG Motorsports team principal] Kevin [Buckler] called me," Gilliland, 33, said. "It is a good opportunity. We are going to lean on each other.
"I am excited to run in my hometown. When I lived in Riverside, I was about 10 minutes from the track before I moved to North Carolina. It is going home for me. I won't sleep in my old bedroom, but I will be as close as I have been in a while."
Gilliland said that the track is a good one for him after finishing 17th in a Cup race there a year ago.
"I have had some good runs at the track," Gilliland said. "It is the track that I have the most experience at on the schedule, which gives me a lot of confidence for the weekend. It is a great place for me to debut with TRG Motorsports. They didn't make the race at Daytona, and I think we can definitely change that this weekend."
Richard "Slugger" Labbe will be the crew chief for the team. Labbe has worked as a crew chief at Yates Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc., among others, and most recently worked in driver development at Red Bull Racing.
"I haven't worked with Slugger in the past," Gilliland said. "I think he left the week before I got to Yates. I have worked with him the last couple of days, and I am looking forward to racing with him on the pit box."
Popular News
-
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS: Which Sprint Cup star will snap his long winless streak first?
Comments (186) -
For Dale Earnhardt Jr., life as an Earnhardt is not easy, especially when you're not winning
Comments (139) -
Jeff Owens: Should RCR’s black No. 3 return to NASCAR’s Cup series?
Comments (119) -
Hendrick Motorsports’ Mark Martin more prepared mentally and physically for 2010
Comments (105) -
Dale Earnhardt Inc. plans for Jeffrey Earnhardt still in flux
Comments (96)
Recent Headlines
-
SEASON PREVIEW: Mike Skinner optimistic about 2010 prospects
Post Comment -
SEASON PREVIEW: Camping World Truck Series Top-20 Rankings
Post Comment -
Josh Wise to drive in Nationwide Series for Specialty Racing
Post Comment -
HBO’s ‘24/7 Jimmie Johnson’ documentary series expected to shift into high gear tonight
Comments (1) -
SEASON PREVIEW: Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards hungry to regain place among Sprint Cup’s elite
Comments (1)
Poll PositionView All
After qualifying and the Budweiser Shootout, who is the favorite to win the Daytona 500?
Promotions
-
Tweet your thoughts about each race and join the conversation with other fans.
-
Drive an authentic NASCAR Sprint Cup car at the NASCAR Racing Experience.
Comments
11 responses to "David Gilliland to drive TRG Motorsports' Cup entry at Auto Club Speedway". Post a Comment.
Howard Englishman said:
Feb 17, 2009 at 3:10 PMDavid needs to drop a level and race in the Nationwide series. he wasnt ready for Cup but they jumped on him anyway. 1 win does not make a cup level driver out of anyone.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportPat Draper said:
Feb 17, 2009 at 3:47 PMFor once i agree with Howard David is not a cup level driver. The nationwide series would be best for him. I think he was a big disappointment to Yates after his first year. He can not handle a car like he should. More seat time for David but not in a cup seat.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reported gordon said:
Feb 17, 2009 at 3:57 PMHey guys I for one think he does have enough talent to be in the series.As far as being a big disapointment to Yates,I'm sure he was disapointed in the drivabilty of the cars that they fielded for him.Do you see anyone else setting the world on fire in any of those rides? No and you probably won't for a while.
Report as AbuseHoward,one win doesn't make him a cup level driver?Stremme and Regan have no wins in Nascars big 3 yet they hold jobs.Put Gilliland in the #6,in that program with that personell and tell me he wouldn't succeed as well.
Report Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportShorty Jr. said:
Feb 17, 2009 at 4:11 PMWhy the #6?Ragan has more talent than Gilligan wishes he ever had.It's pretty bad when Menard replaces you.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportJozef Colomy said:
Feb 17, 2009 at 4:26 PMThat's true, but to be fair we all know Menard only replaced him because he had the money behind him. I think David is a good driver, but I do agree that perhaps another year or two in Nationwide would do him good.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportken parsley said:
Feb 17, 2009 at 9:11 PMBelieve me when i say ,this man has the ability to be a great racer!dont beleive me?look at the track record ,dominance in many of the series he has competed in!yes in cup he finished 27th.16 better than the rest,and got in on time every race!we have past chmpionsunable to duplicate that!yates equipment for david was inferior.with decent cars david will win
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportMS said:
Feb 17, 2009 at 10:36 PMWell, actually, he wasn't replaced by Menard, he was replaced by Labonte. Menard took the points and car from Travis Kvapil.
Report as AbuseAnd Bobby and Paul have David and Travis to thank for their first five races being guaranteed starters. David was certainly good enough for them to do that! And in a start up team, that could not afford to test at all.
And as far as his RYR days, he got into cars that Sadler bolted from, and that Dale Jarrett wouldn't drive for another year.
And there are a lot of drivers who made it to Cup without ever winning a Busch/Nationwide race. And many of them had success because they dropped right into top-line equipment. Ragan is one of those. No matter what you may think, the ride with both RYR and Yates Racing are not top line rides. Last year, David drove the cast-offs from Roush.
But David will get the most out of that car. And TRG seems really committed to getting a foothold in NASCAR.
Report Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportThomas Hines said:
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:36 PMI have to aggree with MS, David has won in every series he has entered including the toyota all star race. Davids first drive ar Daytona was the pole and finished 8th,compaired to joey Lagono's first experiance--was out of the race in the begining and they call him the wonder boy. Give him the right equpiment and he will win
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportJon D. said:
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:01 PMDavid was outrun in the same equipment by his teammate, who has struggled with other teams. You aren't going to get to a better team by being outrun by your teammate. You've got to be the best on your team, and the best in your equipment.
Report as AbuseHe needs to go back to Nationwide and get some more experience.
Report Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportbluey Hills said:
Feb 18, 2009 at 2:49 PMYou know you can all argue all you want but it really comes down to the politics of the sport and who has the most money, week after week we always see the same drivers at the front, mostly the big boys, and if they do not finish well they always blame some supposedly second rate driver and never themselves, last year Johnson said he hates being near the back or in the middle as it the most dangerous place, what a pile of crap, Kenseth came all the way from the back last week and kind of won, i wonder how some of the so called big boys would do in a Yates car.....then see them whine.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportKaren Petersen said:
Feb 18, 2009 at 10:01 PMI agree # 10
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Report