Mayfield might fill-in for the No. 38, NO!
The 30-year-old driver, who tested the car with crew chief Todd Parrott, said he is close to a deal that would see him take over from veteran Elliott Sadler in a move that could come as early as this weekend at Michigan International Speedway, but he said nothing is for sure.
"We're getting closer. I believe I'm going to finish off the year in the car, and I'm real excited," Gilliland said in a news release from Kentucky Speedway. "It's just a great opportunity. After we won the Busch race here, it opened up a ton of doors. [Owners] Robert and Doug [Yates] have been great, and everyone at M&M's is willing to give me an opportunity.
"Hopefully, we can take full advantage. It definitely happened faster than a lot of people thought it would. We worked hard to get here, and feel I deserve to be here." Scenedaily.com
08/13/06 As David Gilliland contemplates his immediate future with Robert Yates Racing — namely whether or not to lose his rookie status in 2007 by taking a Nextel Cup ride now — sources close to RYR told NASCAR.com the organization is also in discussion with Jeremy Mayfield about a potential fill-in role in the #38 Ford. Mayfield, released by Evernham Motorsports earlier this week, would only be a temporary fill-in for Yates, and would not sign a multi-year deal. Sources said Gilliland is expected to man the #38 Ford for the final 12 races, but his participation in the fall race at Talladega remains in doubt. He has not yet been approved for racing on NASCAR's superspeedways. Mayfield's termination from Evernham Motorsports earlier this week opens the seat of the #19 Dodge for the current driver of the #38 Ford, Elliott Sadler. Sadler may be in the #19 before season's end, depending largely on the resolutions of various contractual agreements, sources said. NASCAR.com