Bobby Labonte's Career Stats

Year	Car Owner	Starts	Wins	Poles	Top-5	Top-10	Earnings
1991	B. Labonte	2	0	0	0	0	$8,350
1993	Bill Davis Racing	30	0	1	0	6	$395,660
1994	Bill Davis Racing	31	0	0	1	2	$550,305
1995	Joe Gibbs Racing	31	3	2	7	14	$1,413,682
1996	Joe Gibbs Racing	31	1	4	5	14	$1,475,196
1997	Joe Gibbs Racing	32	1	3	9	18	$2,217,999
1998	Joe Gibbs Racing	33	2	3	11	18	$2,980,052
1999	Joe Gibbs Racing	34	5	5	23	26	$4,763,615
2000	Joe Gibbs Racing	34	4	2	19	24	$7,361,386
2001	Joe Gibbs Racing	36	2	1	9	20	$4,786,779
2002	Joe Gibbs Racing	36	1	0	5	7	$4,183,715
2003	Joe Gibbs Racing	36	2	4	12	17	$5,505,018
2004	Joe Gibbs Racing	36	0	1	5	11	$5,201,397
2005	Joe Gibbs Racing	36	0	0	4	7	$4,847,507
2006	Petty Enterprises	36	0	0	3	8	$4,909,058
2007	Petty Enterprises	36	0	0	0	3	$4,586,960
-	TOTALS	510	21	26	113	195	$55,226,679

PERSONAL:
•He and brother, Terry, had a park named in their honor in 2001 in their hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas.
•In 2004, initiated the building of the North Carolina Quarter-Midget Association Speedway in Rowan County, N.C.
•Racing heroes while growing up included, A.J. Foyt, Richard Petty and brother, Terry.

Biography

During his two seasons as driver of the No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge at Petty Enterprises, Bobby Labonte has led the legendary team through a revival that culminated in an 18th place finish in the 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. That finish was the best for a Petty Enterprises entry since 1999. Several moves and changes during the off-season at Petty Enterprises will give Labonte the opportunity to showcase the immense talents that served him well during his 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship season. New crew chief Jeff Meendering brings 13 years of experience from Hendrick Motorsports to the No. 43 team. These two form a potent combination that should see the team qualify for the 2008 ‘Chase for the Championship’ and battle for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.

Labonte, like Petty Enterprises, knows what it’s like to taste victory and reach domination. His life has revolved around racing. The younger brother of two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Terry Labonte, Bobby is a native of Corpus Christi, Tex. He grew up not only watching his older brother compete, but deciding for himself that he wanted to be a winner too. At the age of five Labonte strapped himself into his first competitive machine, a quarter-midget, and began his path to success.

The early start to his racing career was met with good fortune. He won his first national quarter-midget race at the age of only seven. His pre-teen days were spent winning numerous quarter-midget races throughout the United States. Like champions, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, who made their starts in quarter-midget racing, it was Labonte who dominated the scene years before.

The stepping stones complete, Labonte’s racing career took more of a concrete shape during his teen years. His brother worked up the ranks of Sprint Cup, and Labonte moved with his family to North Carolina in 1979. It was soon after when he was first introduced to NASCAR and Sprint Cup. Labonte worked for Hagan Enterprises in 1982 as a mechanic and fabricator on the cars that his brother raced to a third-place finish for the national championship. The introduction into Sprint Cup racing convinced Labonte that he wanted to be a champion. A goal reached later in his career.

First, however, Labonte had to prove that he was a championship-caliber driver and had the commitment to the sport it commands. Labonte didn’t take this challenge lightly. While continuing to work at Hagan Enterprises, he raced late models throughout North Carolina and in his spare time began building his own NASCAR Nationwide Series car. Labonte wanted to show others his skills of building his own car, taking care of his own equipment, and being a winning driver were better than none. This approach is almost unheard of in today’s ‘young gun’ era where drivers rarely work on their own cars or have ever owned the machines they have driven.

The hours of work were countless, but the time was well spent. Labonte made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in 1982 at the age of 18 at the Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The youngster finished 30th and took home just $220. The humble beginnings were the start of Bobby Labonte Racing, and the platform used to propel him into the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Throughout the 80’s Labonte continued making Nationwide Series starts for his own team, but really honed his driving skill racing late model stock cars at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C., and Concord Motorsports Park in Concord, N.C. Labonte won the late model championship at Caraway Speedway in 1987 and won six times at Concord Motorsports Park in 1988. His best Nationwide Series finish was fourth at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C..

With proper funding finally in place, Labonte was able to take his own team and compete in his first full season on the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 1990. His first full season was successful, and he scored six top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. Labonte finished fourth overall in the series and also was named the Nationwide Series “Most Popular Driver.” Labonte proved that he could master the sport’s most difficult tasks of being a driver/owner. He solidified that fact by winning the 1991 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship, and also won his first Nationwide Series race at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in April and won again at the Indianapolis (Ind.) Raceway Park in August. The highly rewarding 1991 season marked another first for Labonte when he made his Sprint Cup debut driving for his own team at the Dover (Del.) International Speedway. He finished 34th after running into engine problems.

Labonte continued his success in the Nationwide Series in 1992. He won three times and finished second in the championship by just three points-the closest in any of NASCAR’s major touring series. Bobby Labonte was a household name, and like older brother Terry, proved that he was a champion. Labonte’s biggest break came at the start of the1993 season when a call from winning car owner Bill Davis came. Davis offered Labonte a full-time ride in the Sprint Cup series. His dream was now being fulfilled.

Labonte’s first full season in Sprint Cup earned him his first career Sprint Cup pole at the Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, and he finished runner-up in the rookie-of-the-year standings to Jeff Gordon, while scoring a top-five finish and two top-10 finishes. Labonte returned to race for Davis in 1994 and finished 19th in points. The 1995 season was when Labonte finally made a move that would be very long-term, especially in terms of motorsports - he began his first of 11 seasons at Joe Gibbs Racing. That first season Labonte won his first career Sprint Cup race at the Coca-Cola 600 at what is now Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Labonte also won both of the races at Michigan to help him finish 10th in the point standings.

Labonte made starts for Joe Gibbs Racing and the No. 18 Interstate Batteries machine for 10 more seasons and won 18 more times. The 2000 season, however, was the season that fulfilled all of Labonte’s dreams. He won the Sprint Cup championship after posting four wins, and along with brother Terry (1984 and 1996), became the first brothers to win the Sprint Cup championship. The championship put Labonte in the field of the elite and made him a part of Sprint Cup lore forever. He finished his career at Joe Gibbs Racing with 21 wins including a win in the prestigious Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis (Ind.) Motor Speedway and finished in the top 10 in championship points seven out of his 11 seasons.

Labonte made the decision late in 2005 to drive for Petty Enterprises and take the reigns of the famed No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge. In 2006 Labonte had everyone on their feet at tracks nationwide as he posted three top-5 and eight top-10 finishes. The 2007 season saw Labonte give Petty Enterprises its best points finish since 1999.

On an even brighter note was the fact that Labonte garnered his best finishes of the 2007 season at Phoenix (Ariz) International Raceway and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway the tracks where the new Dodge Charger was utilized. In 2008 the new car will be used full-time.

In addition to the hiring of Jeff Meendering, Petty Enterprises will also operate out of a new, state-of-the-art facility in Mooresville, N.C. in 2008. This move will place the organization in the middle of the operational hub of NASCAR. With these new resources in place, and the talented Labonte still behind the wheel, the No. 43 team should find its way to Victory Lane in 2008.

CAREER

2007
•Second season with Petty Enterprises and the No. 43 Cheerios Dodge.
•Earned three top-tens with eighth-place finishes at Phoenix and Bristol.

2006
•First season with Petty Enterprises driving the legendary No. 43 Cheerios Dodge.
•Earned three top-fives and eight top-tens with a season best third-place coming at the fall Martinsville race.

2005
•Finished ninth in Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Grand American Rolex Series race. Teamed with brother, Terry, IRL IndyCar Series driver Bryan Herta and road-racing specialist Jan Magnussen.
•Started 20th and finished 43rd in Daytona 500, his worst finish since Atlanta in Nov. 1998. Experienced engine problems and completed only 14 laps.
•Scored first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory on April 9 at Martinsville. Became 12th driver to win in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions and the only driver to win in all divisions at one track (Martinsville).

2004
•Finished 12th in NEXTEL Cup Series point standings in tenth season with Joe Gibbs Racing. Failed to score a victory for the first time since 1994, ending a nine-year streak. Michael McSwain served as crew chief for the first 18 races before being replaced by Brandon Thomas.
•Earned Bud Pole at Texas, marking the ninth time in the last 10 years he has won at least one Bud Pole.
•Scored five top-five and 11 top-10 finishes including second-place finishes in the spring at Darlington and Martinsville.
•Started 13th and finished 11th in Daytona 500, his best finish since 2000 when he finished sixth.
•Competed in three Busch Series races, his first since the 1999 season. Finished ninth at Texas driving for Richard Childress Racing as part of the ESGR program. Competed at California 2 and Charlotte 2 driving the Banquet Foods Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing. Finished seventh and 14th, respectively.
•Drove in two Craftsman Truck Series events for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports as part of Chevy’s All-Star Program, his first Truck Series events since Phoenix in 1996. Finished third at Martinsville 2 and started fifth and finished 29th at Miami after engine problems ended his day after 87 of 134 laps.

2003
•Scored two wins en route to eighth-place finish in points. Season marked the first that Labonte and Crew Chief Michael McSwain worked together. Team switched to Chevrolet after using Pontiac cars since 1997.
•Victories came at first Atlanta race and season-finale at Homestead. Took lead at Homestead on final lap when leader Bill Elliott’s car cut a tire exiting Turn 2.
•Won four Bud Poles (Las Vegas, Texas and both Michigan races).
•Finished in the top five 12 times and the top 10 17 times. Led 497 laps.
•Started 22nd and finished 41st in the Daytona 500 after being involved in an accident on Lap 57. Completed 81 of the 109 laps in the rain-shortened event.
•Announced in June he would remain with Joe Gibbs Racing through 2008 season.

2002
•Finished 16th in points, his first finish outside of the top 10 since 1996.
•Scored only win of the season at spring Martinsville race.
•Failed to win a Bud Pole for the first time since 1994.
•Earned five top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes.
•Started 10th and finished 34th in the Daytona 500, completing only 153 of the 200 laps after being involved in a 16-car accident.
•Finished fifth in IROC points.

2001
•Finished sixth in points scoring wins at second Pocono race and second Atlanta race.
•Started 39th en route to a victory at Atlanta, the furthest back any race winner has started in a NEXTEL Cup race since the modern era began in 1972. Took lead on final lap when leader Jerry Nadeau ran out of fuel.
•Scored nine top-five and 20 top-10 finishes and won the Bud Pole at California.
•Struggled early in the season, finishing outside of the top-20 in four of the first seven races of the season. Was 25th in points after seven races.
•Finished 40th in Daytona 500 after starting 37th. Involved in a 19-car accident late in the race and completed 173 of the 200 laps.
•Won International Race of Champions series title, scoring wins at Talladega and Indianapolis. Victory at Indianapolis, coupled with 2000 Brickyard 400 victory, made him the first driver to win in two major series at Indy.

2000
•Won NEXTEL Cup Championship on the strength of four wins and, along with brother Terry (1984 and 1996 champion), became the first brothers to win NEXTEL Cup championships.
•Scored wins at first Rockingham race, second Charlotte race and second Darlington race. Also won prestigious Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
•Victory at Darlington came in dramatic fashion after Labonte won race off pit road just before rain forced the race to end after 328 of the 367 laps. Labonte did not lead a green flag lap and won the race in a back-up car after the primary car was involved in an accident during the Friday practice session.
•Took points lead after third race of the season at Las Vegas. Fell to second after he finished 21st in April race at Talladega. Finished second in next race at California to regain points lead for remainder of season.
•Scored 15 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes and finished outside of the top-20 only twice.
•Won two Bud Poles (Michigan 1 and New Hampshire 2).
•Failed to complete only nine of 10,167 laps and earned a career-best $7,361,386.
•Started 13th and finished sixth in Daytona 500.
•Finished fourth in IROC points, scoring win at Talladega.

1999
•Finished second in points and won a career-best five races, sweeping both races at Pocono and winning first Dover race, second Michigan race and season-finale at Atlanta.
•Scored 23 top-five finishes and 26 top-10 finishes, includes 10 consecutive top-10 finishes to close out the season.
•Won career-best five Bud Poles (Atlanta 1, Dover 1, Las Vegas and both Charlotte races). Also won pole for NEXTEL All-Star Challenge at Charlotte.
•Started third and finished 25th in Daytona 500.
•Finished third in IROC points after finishing second in season-opening Daytona event.
•Competed in one Busch Race at Las Vegas for Joe Gibbs Racing. Started 35th and finished 16th.
•Suffered broken shoulder blade in a crash during Busch Series practice in March at Darlington, but did not miss a NEXTEL Cup start. Did not compete in Darlington Busch race or any other Busch races for remainder of year.

1998
•Scored win at Talladega 1 after starting on the pole and also won spring Atlanta race en route to a sixth-place finish in points.
•Won Bud Pole for Daytona 500 and finished second behind winner Dale Earnhardt.
•Had 11 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes.
•Scored one win, in March at Darlington, in eight Busch Series for Joe Gibbs Racing.

1997
•Won season-ending race at Atlanta for the second consecutive year and finished seventh in points.
•Had nine top-five and 18 top-10 finishes and won Bud Poles at Dover 1, Darlington 2 and Rockingham 2.
•Started 15th and finished 21st in Daytona 500.
•Team used Pontiac cars after being with Chevrolet in previous seasons.
•Started 16 Busch Series races for Bobby Labonte Racing and scored one win, in May, at Dover.
•Made IROC debut June 21 at California Speedway as a substitute for the injured Robby Gordon. Labonte started 10th and finished second behind Mark Martin. Labonte led laps 23-47 before Martin gained the lead for the final three laps of the 50-lap event.

1996
•Won season-finale at Atlanta on the same day his brother, Terry, clinched his second NEXTEL Cup Championship.
•Finished 11th in points and had five top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.
•Earned Bud Poles at Atlanta 2, Charlotte 2, Dover 2, and Phoenix.
•Started 35th and finished 17th in Daytona 500.
•Competed in first career Craftsman Truck Series event Oct. 26 at Phoenix International Raceway. Started 24th and finished 34th in the No. 77 Rotary Lift Chevrolet after completing only 31 of the 186 laps after a valve problem ended his day.
•Competed in 16 Busch Series events for Bobby Labonte Racing and scored one win, in March, at Nashville Speedway USA. (Not the current Nashville Superspeedway). Finished in the top-five eight times (50 percent).

1995
•Finished 10th in points in first season with Joe Gibbs Racing.
•Scored first career win at Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May. Also won both Michigan races.
•Earned seven top-five and 14 top-10 finishes and won Bud Poles at Michigan 1 and Martinsville 1.
•Finished 30th after starting 20th in Daytona 500.
•Did not compete in any Busch Series events.

1994
•Competed in second NEXTEL Cup Series season for Bill Davis Racing and finished 19th in points.
•Earned one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
•Finished 16th after starting 42nd in Daytona 500.
•Competed in 12 Busch Series events for Bobby Labonte Racing and scored one victory, in August, at Michigan.
•David Green, driving for Labonte’s Busch Series team, won the Busch Series championship on the strength of one win and 10 top-five finishes. Also won nine Busch Poles.

1993
•Finished 19th in points in rookie season of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition driving for Bill Davis Racing. •Finished second in Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings to Jeff Gordon.
•Earned one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
•Won first career NEXTEL Cup Bud Pole in September at Richmond.
•Started 25th and finished 20th in his first Daytona 500.
•Competed in two Busch Series races for Bobby Labonte Racing. Started third and finished second at spring Martinsville race. Won Busch Pole in November at Hickory Motor Speedway, but finished 24th after engine problems ended his day after 188 of the 300 laps were completed.
•David Green took over as full-time driver for Labonte’s Busch Series team. Green scored six top-five finishes en route to a third-place finish in points.

1992
•Finished second in NASCAR Busch Series standings to Joe Nemechek, losing by just three points, the closest margin in NEXTEL Cup, Busch Series or Craftsman Truck Series history.
•Won three Busch Series races driving for Bobby Labonte Racing (Lanier Raceway, Martinsville, Hickory Motor Speedway)
•Did not make a NEXTEL Cup start.

1991
•Captured NASCAR Busch Series championship for Bobby Labonte Racing on the strength of two wins, 10 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes.
•Scored first career Busch Series victory on April 13 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Also won at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
•Competed in two NEXTEL Cup Series races in cars he owned. Started 33rd and finished 34th in NEXTEL Cup debut at Dover. Completed only 88 of 500 laps due to engine problems. Finished 38th after starting 40th at second Michigan race and completed only 40 of 200 laps again due to engine problems.

1990
•Competed in first full season of NASCAR Busch Series for Bobby Labonte Racing and finished fourth in points.
•Scored six top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. Won first career Busch Pole in April at Bristol. Also won Busch pole for fall Bristol race.
•Voted Busch Series “Most Popular Driver.”

1989
•Drove in seven Busch Series races for Bobby Labonte Racing. Scored first career top-five finish in Busch Series competition with fourth-place finish in the spring at Rockingham. Finished seventh at Darlington (fall) and sixth at Charlotte (fall).
•Also competed in late-model sportsman races Concord Motorsports Park in Concord, N.C.

1988
•Participated in six NASCAR Busch Series races for Bobby Labonte Racing. Best finish was 16th in the fall at Darlington.
•Won six of 22 late-model sportsman races at Concord Motorsports Park in Concord, N.C.

1987
•Captured late-model stock-car championship at Caraway Speedway in Ashboro, N.C. Won 12 of 23 races and finished in the top five in 20 races. Also won seven poles.
•Worked for Jay Hedgecock Racing.

1986
•Competed in a limited number of races in various divisions.
•Car owned and built by Bobby, and driven by brother Terry, won the pole and finished second in first Busch Series race at Road Atlanta.
•Left Hagan racing with his father, Bob, and brother, Terry, after Terry moved to Junior Johnson’s team. In four years at Hagan, Bobby worked under crew chiefs Jake Elder, Dale Inman and Steve Hmiel.

1985
•Drove in two NASCAR Busch Series races, both at Martinsville, for Bobby Labonte Racing. Best finish was 17th in the fall.
•Competed in a limited number of races in various divisions.

1984
•Competed in a limited number of races in various divisions.
•In spare time began building a Busch Series car.
•Continued working at Billy Hagan Racing, while his brother, Terry, won his first NEXTEL Cup Championship driving for Hagan.

1983
•Competed in a limited number of races in various divisions.

1982
•Made NASCAR Busch Series debut at Martinsville, finishing 30th and earning $220.
•Competed in late-model stock cars in North Carolina.
•Graduated from Trinity High School in Trinity, N.C.
•Began working at Billy Hagan Racing as a mechanic and fabricator. Brother Terry, who drove for the team, finished third in NEXTEL Cup points.

1980-81
•Competed in a limited number of races in various divisions.

1979
•Moved from Texas to North Carolina with family after father, Bob, was hired to join brother, Terry, at Hagan Racing.

1978
•Began competing in go-karts.

1971-1977
•Competed quarter-midgets and scored numerous victories throughout the United States.

1970
•Won first national quarter-midget race.

1969
•Began competing in quarter-midgets