With Cheerios to RCR, Where's Labonte Headed?

When everyone found out that General Mills was headed to the RCR Sprint Cup stable on a fourth car for next year, the popular premise is that Bobby Labonte will be following suit and moving with the sponsor.

Labonte is in his last season of his contract with Petty Enterprises and he's presently driving an RCR car in a partial schedule in the Nationwide Series but his public relations firm released a statement on Wednesday saying that he has not signed any contract for 2009 and beyond, even though he does have an offer from Petty Enterprises that he has not signed, as he reflects on his options.

What I think is the ubiquitous nail in the Petty Enterprises coffin is the following statement released by Bobby Labonte:

"Moving forward, I'm going to work hard each week to win races," Labonte said. "I want to do the best I can for Petty Enterprises and everyone who puts great cars under me each week.
   
"That's our focus, and that's what I feel is the right thing to do for all our partners. At this time, I have no intention to talk about my plans
after 2008 because of the immediate tasks at hand."

Doesn't that sound like a driver who is moving on, but putting his best foot forward?  I think it does.
Scene Daily