Bobby Labonte
CLICK HERE for more information on MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING!
CLICK HERE for more information on HORSES!
CLICK HERE for more information on RACING COMPETITIONS!
Drivers Having a Hard Time Leaving Nascar
They say that racing is in your blood. For most of these drivers, it is all that they have ever done…tinkered with cars since their boyhood. That may justify the reason why it is extremely tough to walk away from the most competitive form of Auto Racing in the United States. Several NASCAR superstars of the 1980’s and 1990’s are having a difficult time walking away from the sport. When you look at some of the drivers that are returning in 2009, whether it is on a full-time basis or just part-time, it is rather surprising considering that NASCAR has supposedly evolved into a young man’s sport.
.
Bill Elliott announced his retirement from full-time competition following the 2003 season. Nevertheless, he continued to compete on a part-time basis in 2004 with Evernham Motorsports. When Elliott walked away from the No. 9 ride in 2003, he was on top of his game, winning at Rockingham in the final month of the season. In 2005 and 2006, he continued his partial schedule, driving for Evernham Motorsports and Front Row Motorsports. The performance was not there, and ‘Million Dollar Bill’, or ‘Awesome Bill from Dawsonville’ was a mere field filler. In 2007, Elliott began driving for the Wood Brothers in select races, hoping to facilitate the team from a performance standpoint. With Elliott behind the wheel, the venerable No. 21 Ford improved, but it was nothing dramatic. Elliott returned to the Wood Brothers in 2008 for a partial schedule. In 2009, Elliott is expected to compete in at least twelve races
.
It is good to see Elliott at the racetrack, and he will always be a legend, but you cannot help but question how his sticking around has affected his legacy. When you think of Bill Elliott, you want to think of his super speedway dominance in the mid-1980’s in the red Coors Ford Thunderbird, or him turning a lap that surpassed the 212 miles per hour mark at Talladega in the pre-restrictor plate era. You do not want to remember Elliott as the driver that used up his past champion’s provisionals, and was lapped by the leaders ever fifty laps. Terry Labonte is another name that comes to mind when thinking of drivers that seem to be having a difficult time hanging up their helmet. He relinquished his full-time ride with Hendrick Motorsports following the 2004 season, but remained with the organization to run a partial schedule in 2005 and 2006. Since stepping away from a full schedule, Labonte has driven for Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Hall of Fame Racing, and Petty Enterprises. Labonte will drive for the upstart Prism Motorsports in the 51st running of the Daytona 500. He recently admitted that he is interested in adding to his workload in 2009
.
“I wouldn’t mind running eight, ten, or twelve races, something like that. It would depend on who it was. I’ve got to know them. I had a blast last year. It was actually fun,” said the two-time champion. Of course, you have the irresolute Mark Martin. Now fifty years old, Martin announced his ‘Salute To You (fans) Tour’ in 2004, as the 2005 season was supposed to be his final season. When Kurt Busch asked for his release from Roush Fenway Racing in August of 2005, Jack Roush needed another driver, and nobody available was more qualified than Martin. He agreed to return to the No. 6 Ford for one last season
.
The problem with Martin was the fact that he was still ultra-competitive, qualifying for the Chase for the Championship in 2004, 2005, and 2006. He still wanted to race against the world’s greatest drivers. He signed with the now defunct Ginn Racing to compete in a limited schedule in 2007, and stayed with the team in 2008, even though Ginn Racing was absorbed by Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. In fact, Martin replaced the mega-popular Dale Earnhardt Jr in the No. 8 Chevrolet
.
When Martin raced, he was competitive, nearly winning on several occasions. By the summer of 2008, he decided to return to full-time competition, but this time he will endeavor to win the elusive title with Hendrick Motorsports, in the car that, ironically, Terry Labonte used to drive. Martin’s success at the half-century point in his life is reminiscent to Bobby Allison, who was still contending for wins up until a career-ending injury at Pocono in 1988. Allison was fifty years old at the time of his devastating injury, and could have possibly raced until he was in his mid-fifties. Unfortunately, Bill Elliott and Terry Labonte are hanging on a little longer than they should, similar to Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty. Well, at least the two stock car luminaries are still having a blast
.
About the Author
I write Nascar Racing articles for http://www.nascapper.com and handicaps nascar weekly. Check out nascar racing picks in my articles.
Jimmie Johnson over Bobby Labonte: 2005 Coca Cola 600
|
|
BOBBY LABONTE PAINTING NASCAR ROBERT STEPHEN SIMON $3,000.00 |
|
|
1996 PRESS PASS ~ BOBBY LABONTE ~ TIRE CARD AND 1:64 CAR STILL SEALED $2,500.00 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Pit Crew Issued Gold Ring 1997 Winner Napa 500 Atlanta Speedway $1,250.00 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte NASCAR ONE OF A KIND Lunch Pail Box used in Commercial SIGNED COA $899.99 |
|
|
RARE Sparco Bobby LaBonte #20 JGR Banquet Firesuit Pants Race Worn by FORTSON $625.00 |
|
|
Nascar BOBBY LABONTE Redskins Helmet Replica SIGNED 2x $599.95 |
|
|
104- BOBBY LABONTE NASCAR INSERT CARD LOT MINT $432.00 |
|
|
Washington Redskins Racing Helmet Autographed by Bobby LaBonte & Joe Gibbs #18 $399.95 |
|
|
BOBBY LABONTE COCA-COLA CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT LOT OF 100 $299.99 |
|
|
BOBBY & TERRY LABONTE 1/24,1/18,1/43 SCALE DIECAST SIGNS, POSTERS ,WALL CLOCK $275.00 |
|
|
2008 Bobby Labonte #43 Cheerios 1/24 WHITE GOLD Elite $199.99 |
|
|
NASCAR BOBBY LABONTE CHEERIOS BLACK LEATHER JACKET M $200.00 |
|
|
NASCAR AUTHENTIC BOBBY LABONTE CHEERIOS BLACK LEATHER EMBROIDERED JACKET S $199.99 |
|
|
NASCAR BOBBY LABONTE CHEERIOS BLACK LEATHER JACKET L $199.99 |
|
|
Mens XL Bobby LaBonte Leather 2000 Winston Cup Champion Jacket Very Good $199.00 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Signed Sam Bass Nascar Litho JSA $195.00 |
|
|
BOBBY LABONTE NASCAR COKE COCA COLA MACHINE FRONT $139.99 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Penrose race used team pit crew uniform S/P L $179.99 |
|
|
2008 Press Pass Hot Threads BOBBY LABONTE Pillsbury Logo Firesuit Patch #’d 3/6 $179.95 |
|
|
Simpson Bobby Labonte #19 JGR ConAgra/Banquet Foods 2004 Pit Crew Member Shirt $175.00 |
|
|
RARE Nike Bobby Labonte #18 JGR Interstate Batteries Pit Crew Shirt Size XL $175.00 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Signed 2007 Dodge Cheerios 1:24 Car COA $154.99 |
|
|
Autographed Dale Earnhardt Bobby Labonte 1991 Gatorade Circle of Champion Poster $165.00 |
|
|
BOBBY LABONTE INTERSTATE BATTERIES LEATHER JACKET XL $149.99 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte MBNA race used team pit crew shirt & cap $149.99 |
|
|
Nascar Bobby Labonte Pennant + Cards/ Framed $125.00 |
|
|
Simpson Bobby Labonte #18 Hunts Ketchup JGR 2005 Busch Series Pit Crew Shirt $150.00 |
|
|
Simpson Bobby Labonte #19 Hunts Ketchup JGR 2005 Busch Series Pit Crew Shirt COA $150.00 |
|
|
2002 Bobby Labonte 18 Interstate Lets Roll 911 RWB 1/24 $129.00 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Maxwell House race used pit crew shirt M $129.99 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte NASCAR Bank – Franklin Mint – NEW $134.99 |
|
|
2002 BOBBY LABONTE #18 LET’S ROLL 1:24 GRAND PRIX $118.18 |
|
|
1995 monte carlo nascar Bobby labonte bumper piece $95.00 |
|
|
2004 BOBBY LABONTE SHREK 2 MAC TOOLS 1:24 1 OF 288 $108.00 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte #33 Dentyne $100.00 |
|
|
NASCAR BOBBY LABONTE CHAMPION COTTON JACKET L $99.99 |
|
|
2001 BOBBY LABONTE #18 COKE POLAR BEAR RCCA 1:24 ELITE $112.00 |
|
|
#43 BOBBY LABONTE PETTY RACING SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED ELITE $99.99 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Official JH Twill Adult XL $99.99 |
|
|
BOBBY LABONTE signed NASCAR BRICKYARD 400 TROPHY 11X14 photo with COA $99.95 |
|
|
225- VINTAGE BOBBY LABONTE NASCAR CARD LOT $95.00 |
|
|
2011 BOBBY LABONTE #47 KROGER USO TOYOTA CAMRY 1/24 DAYTONA 500 VHTF & RARE JR $89.99 |
|
|
2011 BOBBY LABONTE #47 CLOROX KLEENEX TOYOTA CAMRY 1/24 VHTF & RARE JR $89.99 |
|
|
#18 InterstateBattery Bobby Labonte Nascar metal sign $80.00 |
|
|
BOBBY LABONTE FRANKENSTEIN REVELL #18 IN PLEXIGLAS CASE $100.00 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Reversible Jacket Youth 16/18 Large $99.99 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Reversible Jacket Youth 16/18 Large $99.99 |
|
|
#18 BOBBY LABONTE INTERSTATE HOOD – METAL 1:2 SCALE! $79.99 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Signed 2001 Coca Cola Polar Bear Car JSA $99.00 |
|
|
BOBBY LABONTE #18 LETS ROLL ACTION 1/24 2002 $95.00 |
|
|
RARE Victory Lap 2000 Winston Cup Champion Bobby Labonte Interstate 1 24 Action $79.99 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Nascar Interstate Battery Jacket $79.95 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte DEALERS Diecast car 1:24 ACTION 1 of 300 $71.99 |
|
|
2011 BOBBY LABONTE #47 KINGSFORD 1:24 Flashcoat Color AUTOGRAPHED / SIGNED $89.95 |
|
|
ACTION-1/24 INTERSTATE BATTERY-BOBBY LABONTE AUTOGRAPHED PIECE ! $89.95 |
|
|
1:24 ACTION 2011 #47 KINGSFORD CAMRY BOBBY LABONTE SIGNED AUTOGRAPH W/COA! NIB $89.95 |
|
|
NEW BOBBY LABONTE XL TWILL JACKET COAT $89.00 |
|
|
Bobby Labonte Small Soldiers 1:24 Diecast Collectable $79.99 |
|
|
2012 Richmond Nascar Race Used Sheetmetal Bobby Labonte #47 JTG Racing $47.00 |
|
|
BOBBY LABONTE SILVER ~ GOLD COMMEMORATIVE COIN GIBBS $79.99 |
Be the first to comment.