Pit Pass Radio

Cup Scene Daily, January 25

Greg Alleck / LAT Photo

David Gilliland was getting nervous.

After receiving the call of a lifetime last season to replace Elliott Sadler in the #38 M&M’s Ford for Robert Yates Racing, David Gilliland saw his new team wrestling with its future.

Going into the 2006 season, Robert and Doug Yates were optimistic. Elliott Sadler was looking to improve on a lack luster 2005 and Dale Jarrett was content to ride out the remaining years of his career with Yates, the team with which he’s had tremendous success.

When Jarrett announced in May that he would be leaving RYR to join Michael Waltrip’s new Toyota team, it set in motion a series of events which eventually included Elliott Sadler’s departure along with general manager Eddie D’hondt and crew chiefs Tommy Baldwin and Richard “Slugger” Labbe. UPS, sponsor of Jarrett’s #88, elected to follow him to MWR.

Gilliland, coming off an unlikely win in the Busch Series race at Kentucky Speedway in June, was tapped to drive the M&M’s Ford full time in 2007 and beyond. The team decided to forego the shot at the Rookie of the Year title in ‘07 and put David in the car immediately, starting with the Michigan race on August 30th. Todd Parrott returned “home” from a stint at Petty Enterprises to resume his role as crew chief on the #38.

An awesome opportunity to be sure, but David’s concern soon began to mount.

As he struggled to adapt to a new car, a new team and, well, racing against the best drivers in the world each week, something began to happen.

Robert Yates Racing found itself beginning to teeter on the brink of extinction.

This is the same proud team that has seen its share of tragedy as well as triumph. RYR was started when a young Davey Allison convinced veteran engine builder and friend Robert Yates to scrape together enough money to buy the financially struggling #28 team of Harry Ranier. The pairing of Allison and Yates, fielding cars prepared by Larry McReynolds, led to many wins and a championship run in 1992 that fell just short.

After the tragedy of Davey’s death in 1993, Ernie Irvan was brought in to fill the seat. Dale Jarrett came to Yates as the result of a near fatal crash Irvan suffered at Michigan. Both Irvan and Jarrett continued to have success in Yates’ cars. Jarrett even won the Cup championship in 1999.

Fast forward to 2006.

A promising open to the season had led to dissension, departure and uncertainty. There was talk of selling the entire team to Robby Gordon. DEI was interested in buying the #88. David Gilliland found himself on an island as lame duck Jarrett had one foot out the door.

“The sponsors assured me not to worry,” said Gilliland. “They put my mind at ease. But it gets to you.”

It was possible that David Gilliland’s biggest racing opportunity could become his biggest disappointment.

“We had come so close so many times, worked hard to make it. Yes, it was a concern but (the sponsors) reassured me.”

Things are definitely looking up now. Robert and Doug Yates are once again very optimistic heading into the 2007 season. Masterfoods USA stepped up its sponsorship of the team and would now brand both cars.

And oh yes, veteran and former Yates driver Ricky Rudd has returned to pilot the Snickers #88.

This could not have worked out better for Gilliland. It turns out that Rudd and Gilliland are roughly the same size. They use the exact same seats. Testing has gone very well for the team thus far as the information flows freely from veteran to rookie.

“We just hit it off,” Gilliland said of Rudd. “With DJ it didn’t feel comfortable as far as talking. But I can go to Ricky and ask him anything.

Gilliland is no longer on an island.

He now has the professor with him.