Bobby Labonte forms quarter midget racing partnership: #18 Cup driver, Bobby Labonte has entered a partnership with Ron Stanley of Robbie Stanley Racing Inc. In an effort to assist Labonte with his son Tyler’ aspirations of racing quarter-midgets, the partnership was formed not only to accomplish that, but also in hopes of bringing quarter-midget racing to the Southeast in a bigger and better way. We want to be able to help Ron start his business here in the Southeast and get his business going more than what it is today, said Labonte. It also helps if Tyler (Labonte) decides he wants to do this for several more years. That will help me as I have a lack of time with my current race schedule to do a lot of other things as you can imagine. Ron and his entire family are a lot like the mine in that we grew up racing quarter midgets and have a love of the sport. Stanley Racing was founded in 1977. Over the next 19 years, they became the leading manufacturer of quarter-midgets in the United States. In fact, most of the technology used in today’ quarter-midgets was first designed and implemented at Robbie Stanley Racing. In 1994 however, the untimely and tragic death Ron’ son Robbie, a three-time USAC Sprint Car Series champion, resulted in Stanley Racing ceasing operation. After a six-year absence though, Stanley Racing has reopened with Robbie’s brother, Ryan, running the family business. Many of today’ accomplished racecar drivers started their careers racing in a Stanley-built quarter midget. Some of the names happen to include Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Stevie Reeves, Andy Hillenburg, as well as the late Kenny Irwin and Robbie Stanley.(Camp and Assoc)(7-16-2002)
