Terry Labonte accepts Petty offer

kelloggs5TLfan

kelloggs5TLfan

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http://www.roanoke.com/sports/racing/wb/161554

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Former champion Terry Labonte is set to join younger brother Bobby Labonte as a teammate for Petty Enterprises next month when Kyle Petty moves to the TV booth.

Petty is scheduled to run the Coca-Cola 600 before taking a seven-race break. He'll miss Dover for his daughter's wedding and spend the next six races as an analyst for TNT. Petty will return to driving the No. 45 car at Indianapolis in late July.

Chad McCumbee and Terry Labonte are expected to drive Petty's car, pending sponsor approval. McCumbee likely will drive at Dover and Chicago. Terry Labonte likely will drive the other five races during that span. An official announcement could come later this week.

"For us, [Terry] has always been in our mind because of Bobby," said Robbie Loomis, executive vice president of operations at Petty Enterprises, before Saturday's Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington. "We saw him help out Michael [Waltrip's] deal last year. I think Kyle has always been close to him. It's a good fit. Kind of a neat deal for us."

It also doesn't hurt that Terry Labonte is eligible for a champion's provisional. Petty's car is not in the top 35 in car owner points and is not guaranteed a starting spot.

The car would make every race with Terry Labonte driving because he would be the most recent champion not in the top 35. Bill Elliott holds that spot now for the Wood Brothers but his only title was in 1988. The second of Terry Labonte's two titles came in 1996.

Terry Labonte drove three races last year for Michael Waltrip, competing in the road course events at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen. Terry Labonte also drove for Waltrip at Indianapolis last year, making the field on his champion's provisional. Terry Labonte's top finish in those races was 30th at Indianapolis and Watkins Glen.

This would be the second time the Labonte brothers have run as teammates. Terry Labonte drove in five races for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2005 when Bobby Labonte was there.

Terry Labonte ranks fourth in series history with 851 career starts. He has won 22 races.
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You were expecting them to hire Tony Stewart, maybe? What the Hell- it couldn't hurt.
 
Well, they didn't build a new shop, they moved into the old Yates facility. It's a first step in the right direction. The fact that Bobby Labonte chose to remain at PE when there was apparently an opportunity awaiting at RCR tells me that he has faith in the organization. I see Terry as an interim solution at the 45 team until Chad McCumbee gets enough seat time to drive full time. I don't realistically expect the team to challenge the likes of Hendrick or Gibbs on a regular basis, but I do see them improving into a top 10 contender.
 
Apparently they (The Petty's) don't get it, they don't need an old guy, they need a Kyle Busch type, I see more of nothing here. I love the Petty bunch, but this is rediculas. Duane
 
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