NASCAR's Bobby Labonte - From Boy to Superstar

Robert Alan Labonte was born on May 8, 1964 waswon three races at the Busch Series at Lanier,
born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Bobby Labonte as he isHickory and Martinsville although he unfortunately lost
fondly known as, grew up watching his older brother,the title to Joe Nemechek by three points which is
Terry Labonte, racing and he decided early on thatso far the closest finish in Sprint Cup, Nationwide and
he wanted to be just like him. By the time he wasthe Craftsman Truck Series.
five, Labonte was already racing in quarter-midgets.In his rookie season of the Winston Cup Series,
He won his first quarter-midget championship whenLabonte managed to pick up one top-five, two
he was only seven years old and spent most of histop-tens and 19th finish in spots. He was also
pre-teen years sweeping the competition in racesrunner-up to the Rookie of the Year title. He went
throughout the country. He was a force to beon to start in two more Busch Series with a pole win
reckoned with and did not play a fool on the tracks.and a 2nd and 24th place finish respectively. In 1994,
In 1978, the Labonte family moved to North CarolinaLabonte added another pride to his joy when his
to encourage his older brother's career on the track.own driver, David Green won the Busch Series
Labonte went on to make his Busch Series debut inchampionship for the Bobby Labonte Racing. He went
1982 with a 30th spot finish. He worked his way upon to race full-time in the Winston cup with one
to the driver's seat by first being the fabricator ontop-five and two top-ten and a 31st place finish.
his older brother's crew team once he graduatedLabonte went on in 1995 to pick up his first career
from Trinity High School. Although he did try out awin at the Coca Cola 600, the season ending race at
variety of divisions, Labonte went back to racing inAtlanta in 1996 where his older brother won the
the Busch Series in 1985. Even though he onlychampionship and in 1997 he won the season ending
finished 30th on his first race back, he bounced backat Atlanta again. His 7th spot was the best finish in
and clinched the 17th spot in the next race. He wenthis career during that time. He went on to win five
on to win his first pole position in the next seasonWinston Cup races in 1999 but in that season he had
and came in second at Road Atlanta.to persevere through a broken shoulder. The next
In 1987, Labonte won 12 races in the late-modelyear, he won 4 races at Darlington, Charlotte and
stock cars division at Caraway Speedway. The NextPocono. In 2007 Labonte won twice at the Pocono
season, he won six times at Concord Motorsportsand at Atlanta.
Park and after running six more Busch Series races,His next win took place Martinsville in 2002 which was
he came in at 16th. He managed to bring home twohis first career shot track there. He managed to
top tens, and had his first top-five finish at Northscrap through at eighth place in 2003 on standings
Carolina Speedway. Labonte announced in 1990 thatwith another 2 races at Atlanta and Homestead. He
he was going to race full-time in the Busch Series. Hehowever, hit a dry spell in 2004 with no winnings at
won two poles, six top-fives and ten-top tens with aall and not much difference in 2005. He did participate
fourth place standing and the Busch Series "Mostin the 24 hours of Daytona road race his brother
Popular Driver" award.Terry, Jan Magnussen and Bryan Herta. 2006 and
In 1991, Labonte won the NASCAR Busch series2007 proved to be better seasons for Labonte with
championship with his two wins, ten top-five and 21a windfall win at Martinsville Speedway, a miraculous
top-ten finishes. The year picked up when he won at21st spot finish at the Daytona 500 in 2007 (which
Bristol and at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He alsohad a lot of accidents), the Busch Series win at
managed to participate in two Winston cup startsTalladega Speedway which was his first Busch Series
with a 34th and 38th finish. In the next season, hewin since 1998.