Is Todd Parrott going to be Bobby Labonte's crew chief?

Based on the information we have been given this winter, Todd Parrott was going to remain with Travis Kvapil and the 28 team this season as crew chief. But with the 28 and 38 teams sponsorship situations unsettled, and Bobby Labonte and Paul Menard being the only sure things at Yates Racing as of today, that may no longer be the case.

With NASCAR's week-long Shits and Giggles Tour kicking off tomorrow (the PC name would be the NASCAR Media Tour, but I get the opinion they do this just to amuse the sponsors and members of the media...I know the drivers don't like it), I managed to track down some of the events on the schedule thanks to an article written by Lee Spencer.

It's interesting to note what I have in bold italics about "Labonte regaining past magic with Todd Parrott."

Parrott and Labonte spent the 2006 season together with Petty Enterprises, and at least the text above/below suggests they are reuniting.

Of course, this could be a misleading statement, and in reality, it just refers to the fact that Labonte and Parrott will be working together the same organization again, but not necessarily on the same team. We'll have to wait and see until Tuesday.

If something happens that Doug Yates cannot get full funding for Travis Kvapil and cuts back his third team to a part-time effort (which some rumors going around suggest, but I am not going to take it as fact until Yates releases something official about the status of the 28 and 38 cars, Kvapil, and David Gilliland), I definitely see the 2000 series champion Labonte and 1999 championship crew chief Parrott pairing up on the 96 car.

Like several other teams, there are still a lot of questions to be answered regarding driver and sponsor lineups at Yates. Hopefully, for the sake of the drivers and crew members affected, deals will be solidified within the next couple of weeks before heading down to Daytona.

Monday

• Meet the Penske Racing crew—Five years ago, who would've ever imagined that Kurt Busch would be the senior Penske stock car driver? Can David Stremme turn the No. 12's luck around? Will Sam Hornish Jr. ever get the feel of a stock car?
• GEM—Petty is in. Evernham is out under the Gillett banner. Will the new partnership thrive? Can Kasey Kahne overcome the late summer jinx? Does Elliott Sadler believe in second chances? Will a fresh start for Reed Sorenson make a difference? And will AJ Allmendinger find a happy home at GEM?
• Speedway Motorsports Inc.—There's something new cooking at Lowe's Motor Speedway. What does O. Bruton Smith have planned for his hometown track?
• Richard Childress Racing—R.C. had a phenomenal run in 2008; can his Chase trifecta of Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer keep up that pace? Will newcomer Casey Mears acclimate to the RCR system and be the fourth Childress driver to race for the championship in the postseason?

Tuesday

• Bobby Labonte breaks his silence—The ink is barely dry on Labonte's contract with Yates but it's becoming increasingly clear that cards fell in his favor. Will the 2000 champion be able to regain the magic he had with crew chief Todd Parrott?
• The Nationwide Tour—Will the Triple A series reinvent itself as a stepping stone to Sprint Cup racing or continue its identity crisis with shrinking fields?
• Speed Channel open house and Sprint Cup All-Star and Coca-Cola 600 Announcement.
• The House that Coach Gibbs built—What's life like without Tony Stewart and with Denny Hamlin as the senior teammate? Can Kyle Busch continue his winning ways? Will it be growing pains or gains for Joey Logano?

Wednesday

• Meet the New Boss—Stewart-Haas Racing opens its doors
• Dynasty Central—Hendrick Motorsports has won the last three Cup championships; can anyone stop this juggernaut? Can Jimmie Johnson make it four titles? Will the Jeff Gordon of old re-emerge? The pressure is off Dale Earnhardt Jr., with one year in the No. 88 Chevrolet but now it's go time. Mark Martin has all the Hendrick tools at his disposal and will be a player in the Chase. Brad Keselowski shone in the Nationwide Series, but will his transition to Cup be easy?
• An Evening with the Bull—Red Bull Racing finished strong in 2008. With the addition of Ryan Pemberton to lead the No. 83 team, Brian Vickers will flourish. Scott Speed has a solid shot at the rookie title under the direction of veteran Jimmy Elledge. GM Jay Frye took his new generals to observe Red Bull's Formula One operation in Milton Keynes, UK, last week to gather fresh ideas.

Thursday

• Blue Oval and Beyond—Roush Fenway Racing continues to run the Ford show with three drivers having finished in the top 10. Carl Edwards and the No. 99 team is pumped up and poised for a title run. Matt Kenseth's team is retooled and renewed. RFR veteran Greg Biffle has titles in trucks and Nationwide but still yearns for the Cup. David Ragan and Jamie McMurray both made most-improved lists, but Mac's reunion with Donnie Wingo could be the impetus for a Chase run.
• A New Look for Yates/Hall of Fame—Labonte and Paul Menard will provide fresh faces at Yates/HoF, but what's the future for Travis Kvapil? Is he just warming the seat for Colin Braun and Ricky Stenhouse?
• Back to Basics—The Wood Brothers were at their best when the No. 21 Ford ran on a limited basis. That appears to be the game plan—for now.
• Hot Rod Lunch with Tony Schumacher
• NASCAR State of the Union—Traditionally, this has been an opening-day event. With no Daytona testing and Speedweeks less than a month away, it will be interesting to hear the spin for 2009. This is NASCAR's opportunity to unveil any significant rule changes (perhaps some miracle to keep the Camping World Truck Series afloat?) The diversity candidates will also be announced along with the program's new initiatives.