Bobby Labonte Responds To Rumors Of Accident: Rumors of an accident and/or the possible death of 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte are completely and totally false. Earlier Thursday, reports of Labonte being involved in some sort of accident were being spread nationwide. Contrary to these reports, Labonte has spent the entire week close to his family’ side following the untimely death of his father-in-law this past Sunday. In addition, Labonte spent Thursday with his son for an end of the school year party when the rumors started to circulate. Needless to say, it has already been an emotional week for he and his family and this has just compounded an already fragile situation. To hear these rumors floating out there today is very unnerving, said Labonte. I am very upset and disappointed to see this happen again. It has been a very emotional week for my family with the passing of Donna’ father and to think someone could start a rumor like this is just tasteless. I am not really sure how to respond to be honest except to say this makes me very angry. I would think someone would want to have all the correct information before either reporting it or saying anything to anyone else and contributing to the rumor mill, but I guess we dont live in that type of society anymore. Everyone just wants to be the first to report something no matter if there is truth to it or not. When asked if he knew how it might have gotten started, Labonte responded, No, I have no idea. We went through this same thing last year during the California race weekend and unfortunately we never really figured out how that got started either. It’ just a shame people are not more considerate. When there’ a rumor like that out there, I would think that you would want to call the proper people who would have reliable information and get some type of verification, but that never seems to happen anymore. Now it’ just gets so spread out it becomes a big catastrophe I guess you might say. It’ very sad and disturbing and it has not made the week any easier for my family.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR), NOTE: no idea what site posted this rumor or why they did.(5-31-2002)
