Labonte out, Allmendinger in at JTG Daugherty?

I am thinking Finch has better performance, JTG probably pays more.
 
If this takes place , I'm thinkin JTG looked at what Furniture Row did by picking up a disgraced driver and didn't want to wait till AJ signed elsewhere . They are likely kicking themselves for missing Kurt.
 
Looks like this might be the end of the line for Bobby Labonte. I really can't see anyone other than an S&P team picking him up. Maybe there will be a "swap" and he could run a few races for Finch before he shuts it down.
 
I like Labonte, but he hung around way too long. IMO, AJ isn't desperate enough to give up on Indycar to get in a crappy running stock car.
 
FenderBumper said:
I like Labonte, but he hung around way too long. IMO, AJ isn't desperate enough to give up on Indycar to get in a crappy running stock car.
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Couldn't agree more. I too like Bobby Labonte, but he hasn't been a serious contender since he left JGR after the 2005 season. He probably should have retired 3 or 4 years ago.
 
Like Furniture Row , JGR has been building their program .You need a veteran driver to do that . You need a consistant run each week to track your progress as you grow . A Bobby Labonte gives you that . I'm thinkin they want to take some risks with a driver like AJ or Vickers or Kurt before they really gamble on a rookie.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Pretty sad honestly, both he and his brother. Former Cup champions shouldn't go out consistently running in the high 20's and 30's.
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I guess the million dollar+ paycheck is hard to resist. Bobby is probably making as much or more than he did in the 90's.
 
ted@economy said:
Like Furniture Row , JGR has been building their program .You need a veteran driver to do that . You need a consistant run each week to track your progress as you grow . A Bobby Labonte gives you that . I'm thinkin they want to take some risks with a driver like AJ or Vickers or Kurt before they really gamble on a rookie.
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JTG can't be too serious if they are still using Triad motors.
 
Provided Bobby can't find another ride next week, it will be the first time since the 1978 season finale at Ontario that a Labonte won't be in the field.
 
I think it's time. I like Bobby but he just can't hang with the Cup guys anymore. Perhaps he can land something in Nationwide or trucks.
 
Stewart Fan said:
I think it's time. I like Bobby but he just can't hang with the Cup guys anymore. Perhaps he can land something in Nationwide or trucks.
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Funny , that's exactly what everyone said about Terry . Then he landed a ride with Hendrick and won a championship . Be great if the same thing happened to Bobby.
 
ted@economy said:
Funny , that's exactly what everyone said about Terry . Then he landed a ride with Hendrick and won a championship . Be great if the same thing happened to Bobby.
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Dream on.

When I first heard this news I though AJ would be crazy to take it. Then I remembered Finch is shutting down and JTG wasn't that bad in Marcos Ambrose days. It really depends on whether AJ wants to focus on Indy or NASCAR.

And it is indeed time for Bobby to retire.
 
Co-owner Tad Geschickter explains: “We’re not replacing Bobby – he’s still our driver,” Geschickter said. “But we have a few races that we don’t have any sponsor activation and it was pretty easy to do (a change and) some benchmarking.
“The big issue for a single-car team, how else do you benchmark for your car? … Michigan is the only one set in stone (for a change). Bobby will be back in the car at Sonoma. It is just a good opportunity for us to verify what Bobby thinks the main issue is.”
http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/...lmendinger-michigan-race-jtg-daugherty-racing
 
ted@economy said:
Funny , that's exactly what everyone said about Terry . Then he landed a ride with Hendrick and won a championship . Be great if the same thing happened to Bobby.
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Terry LaBonte was only in his 6th full year when he won the cup.

It looks like the sun may be setting on the younger Labonte's career but he can at least say, IMO, that it's been a successful one.
 
Captain Coyfish said:
Dream on.

When I first heard this news I though AJ would be crazy to take it. Then I remembered Finch is shutting down and JTG wasn't that bad in Marcos Ambrose days. It really depends on whether AJ wants to focus on Indy or NASCAR.

And it is indeed time for Bobby to retire.
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oh how quick they are to hammer in the nails of the coffin.:)
 
ted@economy said:
Funny , that's exactly what everyone said about Terry . Then he landed a ride with Hendrick and won a championship . Be great if the same thing happened to Bobby.
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Wasn't QUITE the same situation. Terry was only 37 when he signed with Hendrick, Bobby is now 49. And while Terry did have a few winless seasons going into his first season at HMS, he was far from washed up. He had actually finished in the top-10 in points just two years earlier.
 
#17D500winner said:
Terry LaBonte was only in his 6th full year when he won the cup.

It looks like the sun may be setting on the younger Labonte's career but he can at least say, IMO, that it's been a successful one.
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Boy , you got me there . I thought it was his 18th full season when he won with Hendrick . Bad memory I guess.
 
ToyYoda said:
Wasn't QUITE the same situation. Terry was only 37 when he signed with Hendrick, Bobby is now 49. And while Terry did have a few winless seasons going into his first season at HMS, he was far from washed up. He had actually finished in the top-10 in points just two years earlier.
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Hindsight is 20/20 , obviously he wasn't washed up . I still say the fans were calling him washed up. They were saying the same thing about DJ when he signed with Robert Yates . Not saying it could happen with Bobby at 49 , but fans are quick to drive the nails in the coffin.
 
#17D500winner said:
Terry LaBonte was only in his 6th full year when he won the cup.

It looks like the sun may be setting on the younger Labonte's career but he can at least say, IMO, that it's been a successful one.
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Terry was 39 when he won his second cup. Bobby is 49...
 
I think Dinger will drive anything anyone puts under him right now. I hope he does better than his Indy performances in Detroit. Sheesh...

Bobby, remember how we used to talk about DW and his 'Past Champion's Provisional' usage? Take the hint, buddy, and don't prostitute your championship out like Terry does.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Provided Bobby can't find another ride next week, it will be the first time since the 1978 season finale at Ontario that a Labonte won't be in the field.
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wow, someone was paying close attention the last 5 years to notice him.
 
ted@economy said:
Hindsight is 20/20 , obviously he wasn't washed up . I still say the fans were calling him washed up. They were saying the same thing about DJ when he signed with Robert Yates . Not saying it could happen with Bobby at 49 , but fans are quick to drive the nails in the coffin.
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Why nail a coffin shut when you're going to bury it?
 
FLRacingFan said:
Co-owner Tad Geschickter explains: “We’re not replacing Bobby – he’s still our driver,” Geschickter said. “But we have a few races that we don’t have any sponsor activation and it was pretty easy to do (a change and) some benchmarking.
“The big issue for a single-car team, how else do you benchmark for your car? … Michigan is the only one set in stone (for a change). Bobby will be back in the car at Sonoma. It is just a good opportunity for us to verify what Bobby thinks the main issue is.”
http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/...lmendinger-michigan-race-jtg-daugherty-racing
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Translation: We're sinking with Bobby behind the wheel and we hope AJ can help us decide if we need a new driver or should quit the sport.
 
FenderBumper said:
Translation: We're sinking with Bobby behind the wheel and we hope AJ can help us decide if we need a new driver or should quit the sport.
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Honestly JTG will be completely out of the sport in a year or two. Even their sponsors have been splitting time on the 42. If Juan keeps up the better runs in Hendrick equipment they will probably jump from the 47 and split time between the 42 and 1 next year.
 
ted@economy said:
Hindsight is 20/20 , obviously he wasn't washed up . I still say the fans were calling him washed up. They were saying the same thing about DJ when he signed with Robert Yates . Not saying it could happen with Bobby at 49 , but fans are quick to drive the nails in the coffin.
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I'm not saying Bobby couldn't do it, I just dont think he'll get the opportunity. Top-tier teams aren't going to take a chance on a guy who's approaching 50 and hasn't won in nearly a decade. I know Mark Martin was 50 his first season at HMS, but he impressed enough in his part time gig at Ginn Racing or DEI or EGR or whatever the hell that was to secure the ride at HMS.
 
Jeffrey00 said:
I am probably bias because I am a huge bobby fan, but I don't think all the issues with the 47 are related to Bobby.
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Did anybody ever figure out why Bobby left Gibbs in the first place? Enlighten me, because I've been scratching my head ever since. If we ever do a 'Bonehead Move of the '00 Decade', that's my nominee.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Did anybody ever figure out why Bobby left Gibbs in the first place? Enlighten me, because I've been scratching my head ever since. If we ever do a 'Bonehead Move of the '00 Decade', that's my nominee.
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I know that he asked to be released form JGR but have no idea why.
 
#17D500winner said:
I know that he asked to be released form JGR but have no idea why.
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That was a very boneheaded move. But not quite as bad as David Ragan turning down a ride with RPM...

Anyways I think JTG is a idiot not to have AJ as their permanent driver but that's just me.
 
Captain Coyfish said:
That was a very boneheaded move. But not quite as bad as David Ragan turning down a ride with RPM...

Anyways I think JTG is a idiot not to have AJ as their permanent driver but that's just me.
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You think AJ is that desperate right now? IMO, AJ will wait until the end of the year and see if Indy or another team will sign him, perhaps FR if Kurt bolts to RCR.
 
Captain Coyfish said:
That was a very boneheaded move. But not quite as bad as David Ragan turning down a ride with RPM...

Anyways I think JTG is a idiot not to have AJ as their permanent driver but that's just me.
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Considering he went to Petty Motorsports, I have to agree.
 
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