Article DetailsNASCAR's Terry Labonte - From boy to Superstar |
| Date Added: September 02, 2008 03:27:42 PM |
| Author: Pyke Simmons |
| Author's Website: http://www.maranan.us |
| Category: Recreation and Sports |
NASCAR's Terry Labonte - From boy to Superstar by Chris DiCicco Terrance Lee Labonte was born on November 16 in 1956 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is also the older brother of Bobby Labonte and the father of Justin Labonte. Labonte started out with the quarter-midgets in 1963 and by the time he was 9, Labonte had already won a National Championship. Once he reached his teens, Labonte took on the local short stacks and won track championships in Corpus Christi, Houston and San Antonio. Labonte made his NASCAR debut in 1978 when he qualified for the 19th and finished fourth that weekend at Darlington Raceway. The next year, although he lost out to the NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the year title, he went on to finish up in the top-ten in points. He bounced back the next year when he won the Winston Cup on Labor Day. Although he did not make any big wins for the next couple of years, he maintained on the top five positions through out those couple of years. In 1985 he made his Busch Series debut and won the race at Charlotte. In 1986, he had four pole starts and won the Holly Farms 400. In 1988 he won the fourth place in points and went back to tenth spot in 1989 for the championship. He did however, win his fist pole in 1991 and had four top five finishes in 1992 with a 8 eight spot finish in points. He had a better year in 1996 when he managed to win North Wilkesboro and won the championship as well. Even though he was driving with a broken hand, he managed to pull it off and drove through the dual victory lap with his younger brother Bobby, who had won the race. The Labonte brothers made history that day to be the only time siblings had brought back the championship and the won the race at the same time. In 1997 Labonte had twenty top-ten and won at Talladega Superspeedway. He won at at Texas Motor Speedway and the Winston all star race in 1999 but only came in 12th in points. The next year, Labonte was forced to miss several races as he was diagnosed with inner ear injuries. He went back in 2001 and won two top-six finishes but came back in 23rd in final points. The next year he went down to the 24th spot in points. In his next season, he won his second career best at the Mountain Dew Southern 500 and his pole since 2000 at Richmond. Into the 2004 season Labonte made it known public that he would make that season his last full-time season. In 2005, he came in 12th at Pocno Raceway while driving part-time. The next year, Labonte past-champion's winnings gave his team the spot needed in the first five races. They finished with the 30th spot that season in points. In the next season, Labonte finished at third place at Infineon after taking a fuel mileage gamble. Labonte, who is an avid hunter is also known as the IceMan for his calm nerves on the racetrack, is also actively involved in charities like the Ronald McDonald House and the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which are the few among many. He was also voted on of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998 and both the Labonte brothers have a park named after them in Corpus Christi. They've also been inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of fame. Labonte's son, Justin Labonte, used to race in North Carolina and was also a late model track champion at Caraway Speedway. Love Nascar? Visit NASCARsupershop.com . We carry Nascar Die Cast Cars and Nascar Jackets Article Source: Link |
