David Gilliland, who has won one Busch Series race, said yesterday he has been contacted by several teams for next year. The Charlotte Observer reported that one of those teams was Robert Yates Racing, reporting that Yates had extended Gilliland an offer to replace Emporia native Elliott Sadler in the #38. Gilliland wrecked out of the Goody’s 250 on Lap 163. Shortly after Gilliland emerged from the team’s hauler, Jack Roush pulled him aside for a short conversation. Gilliland didn’t mention specifics yesterday but said his goal hasn’t changed. “We’ve got a lot of options. I got a lot of phone calls,” Gilliland said. “I want to race full time next year.”(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-23-2006)
UPDATE: Forgive David Gilliland if he’s a bit overwhelmed by the sudden rush of calls to his cell phone from top NASCAR team owners like Richard Childress, Robert Yates and Jack Roush. “We’ve got some pretty good opportunities and we’re going to take our time in trying to make the right decision,” Gilliland said yesterday of his unexpected headline status in the stock- car rumor mill. “I’ve talked to probably 10 teams, and we’re just weighing our options. It’s hard to pass up an opportunity because you might not get another one. I’ve talked with Richard Childress a lot, and his operation is on top of the game right now, and it’s hard to pass up a deal like that. But I haven’t signed anything with anyone.” Mike Dillon, Childress’ director of team operations, said his team wants to sign Gilliland to a Busch-Nextel Cup package that would include all the Busch events in 2007, plus a couple of Nextel Cup events. “He has to make a decision on his future, and we’ve got to make decisions, too,” Dillion said. Yates is apparently offering an even bigger deal – a full Nextel Cup ride. Gilliland said he’s bounced his options off his father, Butch Gilliland, a veteran Winston West racer, for advice. “And I just talked with Kenny Wallace, and he gave me some really good advice. He’s been around the sport a long time and seen people move up too fast or not fast enough. I’m not 20, so we might not get another opportunity. But at the same time you don’t want to move too fast. How do you know if you’re ready until you try it?”(Winston Salem Journal)
UPDATE 2: David Gilliland, who shocked the NASCAR world when he won a Busch Series race at Kentucky Speedway last month in an unsponsored, part-time car, has emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace Elliott Sadler in the #38 Robert Yates Racing Ford next year. Gilliland was at Pocono Raceway Sunday where he reportedly met with representatives from sponsor M&M Mars. While he did not confirm he would drive for the team next year, Gilliland showed up for an interview on SPEED while eating a bag of M&Ms and proclaiming that they were his favorite candy.(Speed Channel)(7-24-2006)
