Friday afternoon, the second Roam for a Home Ride stopped at the Ronald McDonald House in the Medical Center and there was Terry Labonte, astride his #5-branded Harley-Davidson, leading the way for 100 other riders. Riders who had paid $500 for the chance to make the three-day circuit from Corpus Christi to Austin, then through the Hill Country and into San Antonio, before returning to Corpus Christi this afternoon. Labonte and his wife, Kim, recently had begun discussing which charity to help when a friend, Randy Hicks, called from Corpus Christi. Hicks had spent time in the Houston Ronald McDonald House while his girlfriend’s son underwent open heart surgery. Hicks was looking for a way to help raise funds for the Corpus Christi Ronald McDonald House and Labonte was quick to say yes.( San Antonia Express )(4-19-2003) UPDATE: In town [Corpis Christi, TX] this weekend for the Second Annual Terry Labonte/Ronald McDonald House “Roam for a Home” benefit, Labonte said the results of the second season working with crew chief Jim Long is giving the Kellogg’s Chevrolet team optimism. “We should’ve had about five (top 10s),” Labonte said. “We’ve been running in the top 10 the last four weeks in a row. We’ve only had one finish in the top 10 but they all should have been there.” Long agreed. “We’ve had good cars for the last three weeks in a row and got caught up in other people’s wrecks,” Long told NASCAR.com after the Aaron’s 499. “We know we’ve got good cars and we keep working hard. Everybody back at the shop – everybody – is working hard.” Thus, this could be a pivotal year in Labonte’s career. Since winning his second points title in 1996, Labonte has experienced a steady decline in the point standings, dropping from sixth in 1997 to 24th last season. That could go a long way toward stemming discussion of his retirement, talk of which draws a wry smile from the 46-year-old Labonte. “I’ll give you the same answer I give them: I’ve got a plan as to what I’m going to do,” Labonte said, “but I’m not going to tell you.”( Caller-Times )(4-20-2003)
