Labonte tabbed to drive No. 71 for TRG at Atlanta

Bobby Labonte didn't sit idle for long.

The 2000 Cup Series champion's streak of 568 consecutive starts may remain intact through the end of this season, thanks to a last-minute deal from TRG Motorsports owner Kevin Buckler.

Labonte, relieved in the No. 96 car for seven of the final 12 races this season by Erik Darnell because of sponsorship reasons, will drive the No. 71 Chevrolet in place of David Gilliland this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, according to the most recent entry list posted by NASCAR.

Labonte

Buckler's start-up team has made 23 consecutive races after missing the season-opening Daytona 500. Labonte will drive for TRG in the seven events he will miss for Yates -- at Atlanta, New Hampshire, Kansas, Talladega, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead, a team spokesman confirmed.

"This whole thing came together over the last 24 hours," Labonte said Thursday. "Slugger [Labbe, TRG Motorsports crew chief] called me [Wednesday] morning and had an idea and wondered if I would be interested or not. I had some openings I wasn't planning on, so it just kind of worked out.

"I am just trying to go to the rest of the races full-tilt. I talked to Kevin a couple of times [Wednesday] and he seems very committed and I think it will work out for both of us."

TRG has competed in 22 races with David Gilliland and one with road-course specialist Any Lally. The No. 71 car's best finish was 14th at Las Vegas in March.

"I have the utmost respect and appreciation for what David Gilliland and TRG Motorsports has done together this year," Buckler said. "He performed behind the wheel and was the consummate professional and a great guy. I know he has some terrific opportunities coming up with several top teams. We maintain our relationship with David and he will be in our car again before the season is over."

Labonte will not have access to the past champion's provisional for the Atlanta race, given that his move to the No. 71 car took place after the entry deadline. The past champion's provisional accrues to the car owner, only if the driver is entered "for that owner in that car" before the entry deadline, according to NASCAR's rulebook. Labonte will have to qualify on speed Saturday.

Buckler's team, 37th in owners' points, has been a "go-or-go-home" qualifier since it fell out of the top 35 earlier this season. If Labonte is entered by the deadline for New Hampshire, the first event in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, he'd be able to use the past champion's provisional there.

"One of the things we have learned in our first year in the Sprint Cup Series is that sponsors and fans have very strong connections to the series' most popular drivers," Buckler noted. "Bobby brings an impressive resume of performance on the track and off. We are looking forward to our first race together in Atlanta and to seeing what the remainder of the season will bring."

Labonte's regular car, the No. 96 of Hall of Fame Racing, didn't have enough sponsorship to finish the season. Darnell's arrival brought sponsorship from Northern Tool and Equipment, which would help Yates Racing -- which fields the Hall of Fame entry -- fill the late-season gap.

Northern Tool also sponsors Darnell's Nationwide and Camping World Truck series efforts at Roush Fenway Racing.

Darnell, the 2006 Truck Series Rookie of the Year, is scheduled to make his Cup Series debut in the No. 96 Ford this weekend.

Labonte's consecutive starts streak is eighth on the all-time list; only Jeff Gordon (569 starts) has a longer active streak. Labonte and Gordon each began their full-time Cup careers at Speedweeks 1993, but Gordon made his Cup debut in the 1992 season finale at Atlanta.

Even if Labonte fails to qualify and ends his personal consecutive starts streak, the Labonte family's streak of 882 consecutive Cup starts remains intact. Terry Labonte, the 1996 Cup champion, is eligible for the past champion's provisional at Atlanta in owner John Carter's No. 08 Toyota.

The elder Labonte began the family string in the 1979 season-opening Winston Western 500 at Riverside International Raceway.

The Sporting News Wire Service contributed to this report.