[Phils20]

I don't take any of this as confirmation yet! But I do like the way it sounds. I haven't wanted to let go of the idea that Bobby could win for the Pettys.

But I have to admit, the idea that this could really happen has me pretty happy.

[jks812]

Richard Childress Racing will field a fourth Sprint Cup car next season backed by General Mills, a move that leaves Petty Enterprises searching for a new primary sponsor for its flagship No. 43 car.
RCR will unveil the No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet for the 2009 season, with a driver to be announced at a later date. The newcomer will join stablemates Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer, all of whom won races and qualified for NASCAR's Chase last year. Despite that success, team owner Richard Childress viewed eventual expansion as vital if he hoped to keep pace with rival organizations with more cars.
"I think if you look at the two teams we're going to be racing for the championship against," Childress said, "Roush has four or five, seven, eight [cars], I don't know how many he really has. And Hendrick is the big number, they've had four teams and been a contender, and all their cars have been able to win races and run good. I think that's the bar that we have to shoot at. It just gives us more resources, it gives us more talent to work with. If we're going to beat these guys, we have to have the same amount of resources as they have."
Childress said he has a short list of four or five potential drivers for the car. But it didn't sound Tuesday as if Bobby Labonte, who drives the General Mills-backed car for Petty Enterprises this season -- and whose contract is up at the end of the year -- would be making the move to RCR along with his sponsor.
"I think he's going to end up staying at Petty," Childress said. "I don't know that, but I would think that we would end up staying there."
Labonte, who's driving a Nationwide car on a limited basis this year for Childress, was non-committal on his future in a statement released Tuesday.
"I'm very humbled by the level of interest in my future, but at this time I'm concentrating all my efforts in getting Petty Enterprises back to Victory Lane. I feel good about all the positive steps that Petty Enterprises has made and continues to make," he said.
"At this time, I have no intention to talk about my plans after 2008 because of the immediate tasks at hand. I respectively ask for everyone's patience in this matter and, again, am humbled by everyone's interest."

[jks812]

So I'm confused, do we listen to an unnamed source on Yahoo, or do we listen to Richard and Bobby? I think for now, until later anyway, I'll go with Richard and Bobby. At least til the end of this season.

[SteelPhoenyx]

Originally Posted by jks812

So I'm confused, do we listen to an unnamed source on Yahoo, or do we listen to Richard and Bobby? I think for now, until later anyway, I'll go with Richard and Bobby. At least til the end of this season.

Heh... good point. And there's 'no room at the inn' too.

[Fireball]

Originally Posted by jks812

"But it didn't sound Tuesday as if Bobby Labonte, who drives the General Mills-backed car for Petty Enterprises this season -- and whose contract is up at the end of the year -- would be making the move to RCR along with his sponsor.
"I think he's going to end up staying at Petty," Childress said."

Bad decision by Bobby Labonte. Somebody needs to talk to that boy.

[Ellison]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

This is on Yahoo Sports.

NASCAR on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

which means nothing, it's not confirmed ... yet.

[Phils20]

I bet they are just talking the talk. After all, didn't we hear the General Mills wasn't going anywhere as well.

Someone even posted that they wouldn't go to RCR, due to an alcohol sponsor being there.

I wouldn't expect Bobby or Richard to make any announcements until the off season, or at least very near the end of the year. With a contract waiting to be signed by Bobby from PE, I just don't think he would throw this season away by jumping ship with an early signing somewhere else.

Bobby has too much class for that. Now I'm sure he has talked to Richard, and it may or may not be the plan.

But I just don't think we'll know until at least the start of the chase, once "silly season" is in full swing.

[Jeffrey4396]

Well one thing that stands out to me is Bobby say he isn't ready to talk about his future plans. I think if he was ready to sign a deal to stay at PE then I think knowing the type of guy Bobby is and would want to put the speculation behind him would come out and say he was planning on staying. Saying stuff like I'm not ready to discuss my future sounds to me like a driver about to take off. I think everyone involed knows that as well. My only guess to the reason Loomis would say they are about to sign Bobby would be to court potential sponsors PE's way. This is all too confusing.

One thing is for sure. If Bobby stays at PE I will be heart broken. I am a Bobby fan first and PE fan second. I never did like the move to that race team. I know he feels like he is at home there, but how long till that feeling drys up due to bad run after bad run. I guess I should ask a Jarrett fans perspective on how they felt when he finished his career with MWR. That is probably how I will feel if Bobby stays at PE.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4396

Well one thing that stands out to me is Bobby say he isn't ready to talk about his future plans. I think if he was ready to sign a deal to stay at PE then I think knowing the type of guy Bobby is and would want to put the speculation behind him would come out and say he was planning on staying. Saying stuff like I'm not ready to discuss my future sounds to me like a driver about to take off. I think everyone involed knows that as well.

As they say, where there is smoke there is fire.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4396

Well one thing that stands out to me is Bobby say he isn't ready to talk about his future plans. I think if he was ready to sign a deal to stay at PE then I think knowing the type of guy Bobby is and would want to put the speculation behind him would come out and say he was planning on staying. Saying stuff like I'm not ready to discuss my future sounds to me like a driver about to take off. I think everyone involed knows that as well. My only guess to the reason Loomis would say they are about to sign Bobby would be to court potential sponsors PE's way. This is all too confusing.

One thing is for sure. If Bobby stays at PE I will be heart broken. I am a Bobby fan first and PE fan second. I never did like the move to that race team. I know he feels like he is at home there, but how long till that feeling drys up due to bad run after bad run. I guess I should ask a Jarrett fans perspective on how they felt when he finished his career with MWR. That is probably how I will feel if Bobby stays at PE.

I feel the same way. I really hope he goes to RCR at this point. I have stuck with him while he's been at PE, but I have to tell you that this is just the right thing for him to do.

Go Bobby Go.

I will always have a soft spot for the Pettys, growing up with Richard still being in top form, but I have to hope Bobby does the right things for himself, and makes the move.

The fact he hasn't signed back on with Petty yet tellls me something!

[3fanforever]

Since this is a multi-year contract with General Mills and RCR to run the Cheerios/Hamburger Helper #33 full time starting next year, and it puts Richard at the limit of teams he can run in the Cup, I wonder what all this means for the future of the "3" coming back? I know this has nothing to do with Bobby Labonte or anything you folks have been talking about, but it's what came to my mind when I heard the news.

[oncea3fan]

I think bobby will go to RCR, but not announcing it gives PE the chance to sign a sponsor for next year.

who is the gas station the kings does those commerials for ????

and for the "3" by the time childress grandson is ready for cup , burton will be retiring and I can't see the 31 losing the 1.
kinda like bill elliotts 94 to 9.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

I think bobby will go to RCR, but not announcing it gives PE the chance to sign a sponsor for next year.

who is the gas station the kings does those commerials for ????

and for the "3" by the time childress grandson is ready for cup , burton will be retiring and I can't see the 31 losing the 1.
kinda like bill elliotts 94 to 9.

I believe it is Marathon gas. Bill Elliott used to drive the #9 for Coors/Melling years ago.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Fireball

It was confirmed today that Bobby Labonte will be the driver of the No. 33 RCR car sponsored by General Mills. .

I personally heard today an interview with Bobby. He says he hasn't make any firm decision yet and respectfully requested the media NOT continue to question him on it. He says he plans on concentrating his efforts on making the #43 successful this season.

A representative from Petty Ent. was reported to say that they are currently negotiating plans for Bobby to stay with Petty until he retires. He went on to say that he was as sure that the negotiation would be "as successful as anything he could think of."

I was struck by the fact Labonte never denied he would leave Petty. It reminds me of an old saying: "If rumors are flying and there's no denying, it's the same as verifying."

My bet is that if Bobby doesn't announce intentions to stay with PE within 45 days, he's gone and Petty Ent might become as relevant to NA__AR as the Wood Brothers, Front Row racing, BAM Racing and Furniture Row racing.

A truly sad state of affairs for fans who remember...

[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

A truly sad state of affairs for fans who remember...

I totally agree. Also, I'm a little perplexed as to why Richard Childress seemed to "jump the gun" on the General Mills announcement. Petty Enterprises was already in the rumor mill about a potential partnership. This move from PE to RCR by General Mills doesn't help PE in their negotiations for a partner.