Nextel Cup Silly Season already in full swing
Labonte, Green, McMurray, Rudd among movers and shakers
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
October 25, 2005
02:27 PM EDT (18:27 GMT)
Surprisingly enough, Bobby Labonte is presently a fixture of the Nextel Cup Series rumor mill. When asked about his future at Joe Gibbs Racing, the 2000 Cup Series champion was quite noncommittal.
"If I stay there, I stay there. If not, I won't," Labonte said. "I have a contract through 2008 and I plan on agreeing to agree."
Are you happy?
"It doesn't matter -- whether I'm happy or not doesn't matter."
Labonte added he's "been rumored for a while, even rumored to retire. There's nothing to say about it, because there's nothing to say."
Among the rides Labonte is reportedly considering are Petty Enterprises' legendary No. 43, and Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 42.
Petty said Tuesday no driver will get a committment from Petty Enterprises until a sponsorship deal is completed for his No. 45 Dodge.
That, Petty said, is the primary reason Jeff Green is leaving Petty to drive the Haas Racing No. 0.
Petty also said he has spoken with Labonte, but also with Dave Blaney, Johnny Benson and several other drivers regarding the No. 43 opening.
"I've heard the Bobby Labonte rumor, too!" Petty said. "Keep me in the mix and maybe it'll come true. But I'll be real clear here, we can't sign anybody at Petty Enterprises as an owner until we get the 45 car deal done. We're about two-thirds of the way there.
"That's the reason Jeff [Green] left to drive for the 0 car, is I can't commit to him. I could probably commit to Bobby Labonte before I committed to anybody, because, live I've said before, if Jeff Gordon wanted the ride I'd commit to him right now.
"And I'd probably commit to Bobby Labonte right now. But I'm kind of waiting, seeing where things shake out with the 45. I'm confident things will shake out good."
Petty also wanted to make one thing clear -- he will not be the driver of the No. 43 in 2006.
"You can kill that rumor right now," he said.
As the No. 42 turns
If Labonte -- or anyone else, for that matter -- were to man the No. 42 Dodge, Jamie McMurray would be free to move over to Roush Racing's No. 97 Ford, thereby freeing up Kurt Busch to move to Penske Racing's No. 2 Dodge.
McMurray said last weekend at Martinsville that he feels confident the situation is resolvable, and all parties involved are working to make that happen.
As for McMurray's replacement in the No. 42, Labonte isn't the lone driver mentioned. Ricky Rudd, current driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft Ford, is also a rumored candidate.
Rudd said Friday following a season-best qualifying effort at Martinsville that he wasn't ready to discuss what lies ahead.
"When everything comes out and all the hands get played, I think everyone will see there were reasons why things needed to kept under wraps," Rudd said. "The time has not come to divulge that. I wish I could.
"I wish I could tell everybody what's going on, but it's not time to do that. I just hope the fans that have been with me through thick and thin will understand that when the day comes."
Other notables
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin has secured his position in the No. 11 Chevrolet and Ken Schrader is reportedly moving to the No. 21 Ford in 2006. Calls placed to Wood Brothers Racing were not immediately returned.
From NASCAR.COM
Labonte, Green, McMurray, Rudd among movers and shakers
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
October 25, 2005
02:27 PM EDT (18:27 GMT)
Surprisingly enough, Bobby Labonte is presently a fixture of the Nextel Cup Series rumor mill. When asked about his future at Joe Gibbs Racing, the 2000 Cup Series champion was quite noncommittal.
"If I stay there, I stay there. If not, I won't," Labonte said. "I have a contract through 2008 and I plan on agreeing to agree."
Are you happy?
"It doesn't matter -- whether I'm happy or not doesn't matter."
Labonte added he's "been rumored for a while, even rumored to retire. There's nothing to say about it, because there's nothing to say."
Among the rides Labonte is reportedly considering are Petty Enterprises' legendary No. 43, and Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 42.
Petty said Tuesday no driver will get a committment from Petty Enterprises until a sponsorship deal is completed for his No. 45 Dodge.
That, Petty said, is the primary reason Jeff Green is leaving Petty to drive the Haas Racing No. 0.
Petty also said he has spoken with Labonte, but also with Dave Blaney, Johnny Benson and several other drivers regarding the No. 43 opening.
"I've heard the Bobby Labonte rumor, too!" Petty said. "Keep me in the mix and maybe it'll come true. But I'll be real clear here, we can't sign anybody at Petty Enterprises as an owner until we get the 45 car deal done. We're about two-thirds of the way there.
"That's the reason Jeff [Green] left to drive for the 0 car, is I can't commit to him. I could probably commit to Bobby Labonte before I committed to anybody, because, live I've said before, if Jeff Gordon wanted the ride I'd commit to him right now.
"And I'd probably commit to Bobby Labonte right now. But I'm kind of waiting, seeing where things shake out with the 45. I'm confident things will shake out good."
Petty also wanted to make one thing clear -- he will not be the driver of the No. 43 in 2006.
"You can kill that rumor right now," he said.
As the No. 42 turns
If Labonte -- or anyone else, for that matter -- were to man the No. 42 Dodge, Jamie McMurray would be free to move over to Roush Racing's No. 97 Ford, thereby freeing up Kurt Busch to move to Penske Racing's No. 2 Dodge.
McMurray said last weekend at Martinsville that he feels confident the situation is resolvable, and all parties involved are working to make that happen.
As for McMurray's replacement in the No. 42, Labonte isn't the lone driver mentioned. Ricky Rudd, current driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft Ford, is also a rumored candidate.
Rudd said Friday following a season-best qualifying effort at Martinsville that he wasn't ready to discuss what lies ahead.
"When everything comes out and all the hands get played, I think everyone will see there were reasons why things needed to kept under wraps," Rudd said. "The time has not come to divulge that. I wish I could.
"I wish I could tell everybody what's going on, but it's not time to do that. I just hope the fans that have been with me through thick and thin will understand that when the day comes."
Other notables
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin has secured his position in the No. 11 Chevrolet and Ken Schrader is reportedly moving to the No. 21 Ford in 2006. Calls placed to Wood Brothers Racing were not immediately returned.
From NASCAR.COM
