Labonte to run part-time schedule in 2005 and 2006

[Elwood]

Labonte to run part-time schedule in 2005 and 2006

 

By JENNA FRYER, AP Motorsports Writer

 

October 12, 2004

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- It was no secret that two-time NASCAR champion Terry Labonte was thinking about scaling back to a limited racing schedule. Even so, the official announcement brought tears to most everyone present.

 

Everyone, that is, except ``The Iceman'' himself.

 

Labonte, 47, was as classy and stoic as ever Tuesday in announcing plans to run just 10 races a year for the next two seasons, and to make 2006 his final year of competition.

 

``I came here to watch a professional like Terry and see how you gracefully get out of this business,'' said driver Ken Schrader, a former teammate of Labonte who choked up while talking about him.

 

``I'm just glad he's getting to leave on his terms.''

 

Labonte will drive the No. 44 Chevrolet for car owner Rick Hendrick beginning next season.

 

The No. 44 was the car Labonte drove when he won his first NASCAR title in 1984. His younger brother, Bobby, used that number when he won the Busch series title and his son, Justin, was in the No. 44 when he won his first Busch race this season.

 

The first of Labonte's final 20 races will be next February at California Speedway and the Corpus Christi, Tex., native will make his last start at Texas Motor Speedway in 2006.

 

``This is going to be an effort where we can look at race tracks we think we can win at,'' he said. ``We are putting together a genuine effort to try to win races.''

 

The rest of his schedule is still being ironed out, but he's leaning toward intermediate tracks and will likely avoid the superspeedways at Daytona and Talladega. By skipping Daytona, Labonte will end his career without a victory in the season-opening Daytona 500.

 

``I figured I've raced there 26 times and haven't won -- why would I want to do it again?'' he deadpanned.

 

Labonte began his cup career in 1978, running five races for Billy Hagan. His first full season of competition was in 1979 and he went on to set a record of 655 consecutive starts that was broken in 2000.

 

He won two series titles along the way, in 1984 and again in 1996. He has 22 career victories, the most recent last August at Darlington Raceway in the final Southern 500 run on Labor Day weekend -- a victory that broke a 156-race winless streak.

 

It lofted Labonte to a 10th-place finish in the final standings and renewed hope he again could be a contender. But his Hendrick team has struggled this season, and when it became clear that Labonte is no longer a threat for a third title, he said he contemplated retirement.

 

``I thought a while about just walking away and I couldn't do it, but I didn't want to do a traditional farewell tour,'' he said. ``This is the way I want to do it.''

 

Terry and brother Bobby became the only brothers to win a series title when Bobby won the 2000 championship.

 

But the highlight for the Labonte family came in 1996 when Terry won the title in the season finale at Atlanta -- the same day Bobby won the race. Their parents, who were in attendance Tuesday and at that 1996 race, wiped away tears as Bobby recalled the afternoon.

 

``I've always wanted to grow up to be like my brother,'' Bobby said, choking back his own tears.

 

Kyle Busch, who will replace Labonte in the No. 5 Chevrolet next season, said he watched that 1996 Atlanta race with his brother, Kurt.

 

``I remember dreaming, `What if myself and my brother can have that opportunity one day?' `` Busch said.

 

Kurt is currently leading the Nextel Cup series standings, and Kyle is scheduled to run a handful of events later this season.

 

Terry Labonte is following in the footsteps of 49-year-old Bill Elliott, who scaled back to a part-time schedule this season. Labonte said his decision was inspired in part by Elliott's example.

 

Rusty Wallace also has announced that 2005 will be his final season; other longtime NASCAR mainstays probably aren't too far behind.

 

Car owner Jack Roush said in August that 45-year-old Mark Martin indicated next season will be his last. Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd were born the same year as Labonte and Wallace. Sterling Marlin and Jimmy Spencer are 47, and Kyle Petty is 44.

 

``There are individuals in the sport that you have an attachment to,'' NASCAR president Mike Helton said. ``To think that there is a day where you won't see Terry walking through the garage in a driver's uniform, it's bittersweet.''

[General Lee 01]

It's something I don't get.... If you're going to cut back to a limited Schedule why Skip the Daytona 500?

 

 

It makes me sad to think that All the guys I grew up always watching on Sundays willbe gone within the next 2 or 3 years.

[Elwood]

I would figure that it is because Plate races are so much more stressful/dangerous, etc AND if your limited you want to run tracks you think you have a better chance of winning, and maybe the plate races do not fall into that category.

[General Lee 01]

Jayski has an image of his #44 car for next year. It's going back to the look he had in the mid-90s. I think it looks good on the current body style.

[antig24]

The new paint scheme looks good, I just am not sure that Kyle Busch has enough experience for full-time cup racing... I think he needs another year or 2 in BGN.