It's Official: Terry Labonte limited schedule

T

TonyB

Guest
from Jayski....

The Press Conference: Fox's Mike Joy hosting the Terry Labonte announcement, on stage at the table are: NASCAR's Mike Helton, Team Owner Rick Hendrick, Terry Labonte, Bobby Labonte and Ken Schrader with Labonte's family in the front row.
Terry Labonte announced he will run a limited schedule, running 20 races in 2005 and 2006, 10 in each year. In 2005 his first scheduled start will be at California Speedway Feb 27th] and the final 2005 race will be at Texas Motor Speedway [Nov 6th] and that Darlington would 'probably be one of those races.
Kyle Busch was announced as the new #5 Kelloggs driver in 2005. Decisions on shop, crew and equipment will be made and announced at a later date.
 
Labonte to run part-time schedule in '05 and '06
Jenna Fryer / Associated Press
Posted: 5 minutes ago

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Two-time NASCAR champion Terry Labonte will race a limited schedule in 2005 and 2006, joining the growing list of veteran drivers slowly easing out of racing.

Labonte is scheduled to run about 10 races next season in the No. 44 Chevrolet, followed by 10 races in 2006 in what will be his final season.

Kyle Busch will take Labonte's spot in the No. 5 Chevy and is to run a full-time Nextel Cup schedule in 2005. The 19-year-old Busch is the younger brother of current Nextel Cup points leader Kurt Busch.

Labonte, 47, 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 then-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.

His younger brother, Bobby, won NASCAR's top title in 2000, making the Labontes the only pair of brothers with series championships.

Labonte is following in the footsteps of 49-year-old Bill Elliott, who scaled back to a part-time schedule this season.

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, and the two have called a news conference for Thursday.

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.
 
At the risk of sounding controversial( Sorry Maj, et.al.) but those other Hendricks drivers will have to step up to the plate now. Kyle is likely to change the pecking order around there..... ;)
 
Another gentleman of class and distinction leaving the sport. That leaves us, what, Martin, the Burtons, Bobby Labonte, Jarrett, Schrader and Kyle Petty left?

Happy trails Texas Terry. You've been good for the sport, a higher compliment than most will ever earn. :cheers:
 
My observations of the News Conference.

Watching the press conference this morning on SPEED channel was certainly a bag of mixed emotions, for all the fans watching and most of the people on the stage.

Starting with Feb. race in Fontana Terry will run a total of 20 races (10 each year) ending at Texas Motor Speedway. He will remain with Hendricks and will still be sponsered by Kelloggs. The whole schedule hasn't been announced yet but Terry was excited that Kelloggs is allowing him to chose the races he wants to run.
It was announced (with a Corn Flake box with Terry on one side and Kyle Busch on the other) that Kyle Busch would be taking over the "5" car with Kelloggs continuing to be the sponser.
Mike Joy MC'd, Mike Helton spoke, Rick Hendrick, Kenny Schrader, Bobby LaBonte, & Kyle Busch all spoke. Bobby was extremely choked up while speaking of his admiration of his brother.

Mike Joy taking the Corn flakes box said ...look .. how appropriate (pointing to the rooster on each end) Terry on one side, Kyle on the other and Kenny Schrader on each end. LOL
 
Retiring gracefully..... Good to go out with that win from last year. :cheers:
 
A true gentleman and a wonderful man. I wish him much luck in his limited schedule and all of his future endeavors! His competitive spirit will truly be missed on a weekly basis! I'm just glad that I will at least get to see him race in Texas next year! :)


Oh, and 97! :p
 
A true champion and gentleman from what sometime seems like a more civilized era.

This may shake things up a bit in the Hendrick camp. Leaves Gordon as the old guy, I guess.
 
Terry's Ride

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I'm pretty happy about the whole thing. Terry is about as classy an act as there is in the sport and he is getting out on his own terms it sounds like. :salute:

Kyle Busch obviously has a lot of talent and adding him to the Hendrick Cup stable is great news too. :cheers:
 
I agree with Eagle, Terry is and has been one of the true gentlemen in the sport and I also believe that Kyle will be a great addition to the HMS stable.
 
I will miss Terry. Sure glad that he will run Texas next year.

He is one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet.

A true class act, and a credit to the sport.

And that 44 looks so fine.
 
Originally posted by kat2220@Oct 12 2004, 12:54 PM
and I also believe that Kyle will be a great addition to the HMS stable.
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kat, just a reminder. Kyle is already a part of the HMS stable in the #5 Busch car.
 
Originally posted by majestyx+Oct 12 2004, 02:18 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (majestyx @ Oct 12 2004, 02:18 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-kat2220@Oct 12 2004, 12:54 PM
and I also believe that Kyle will be a great addition to the HMS stable.
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kat, just a reminder. Kyle is already a part of the HMS stable in the #5 Busch car. [/b][/quote]
Thanks maj, I knew that and meant to say HMS Cup.
 
Originally posted by EatMorePossum@Oct 12 2004, 08:29 AM
Another gentleman of class and distinction leaving the sport. That leaves us, what, Martin, the Burtons, Bobby Labonte, Jarrett, Schrader and Kyle Petty left?

Happy trails Texas Terry. You've been good for the sport, a higher compliment than most will ever earn. :cheers:
Click to expand...
Well said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Here's to Terry :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
 
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