Gilliland piecing together rest of '09 Cup schedule

David Gilliland's Sprint Cup future, which seemed on the rocks Thursday morning when TRG Motorsports put Bobby Labonte in its No. 71 Chevrolet in Gilliland's place for Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, doesn't look so bad after all.

Gilliland will race the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford at Atlanta for an ailing Bill Elliott. Then he will run three races -- Charlotte, Texas and Homestead -- for Joe Gibbs Racing in a fourth entry for the team and at least one race for owner/driver Robby Gordon.

Gilliland

On Monday, Yates Racing took Labonte out of the No. 96 Ford it operates for Hall of Fame Racing, for seven of the final 12 races this season. On the recommendation of crew chief Slugger Labbe, who had formerly worked with the Labonte family team, TRG hired Labonte to drive the No. 71 in those seven events, potentially cutting Gilliland's schedule to less than five races.

TRG owner Kevin Buckler on Thursday afternoon said he considers Gilliland, with whom he's had a handshake agreement all season to drive his cars from week to week, "an integral part of our team and an integral part of our success, and we're still going to drive with David in the races we can. David's been our friend and he's been great and nothing will change about that.

"We've talked about every opportunity that's come along for David and it's kind of been a two-way street. When Bobby's opportunity came along we called David and told him, and he understands. We're certainly not kicking him to the curb, because it's been a good ride for both David and TRG Motorsports.

"But when you're building a team I have a responsibility to the team -- our staff and employees, the partners and our investors -- that putting a past champion, with the history that Bobby has, and his popularity in our series in the seat for the rest of the year, was a no-brainer. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't accept that opportunity, period."