Native Texan Terry Labonte said he is not a candidate for the Cup ride at Hall of Fame Racing, the start-up team co-owned by former Cowboys quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. “I’ve got a job,” said Labonte, a two-time Cup champ who plans to retire in 2006. “I’m going to run 10 races for Hendrick Motorsports next year. That’s for sure.” Labonte’s name surfaced here as a good fit for the Staubach-Aikman ride. The native of Corpus Christi carries with him a champion’s provisional that would guarantee the team a starting spot in the season-opening Daytona 500 — NASCAR’s Super Bowl.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(10-9-2005)
HOWEVER I keep hearing that 1984 and 1996 Cup Champ, Terry Labonte will run the #96 Hall of Fame Racing / Texas Instruments Chevy for the first five races of 2006 to take advantage of the past champions provisional, with Tony Raines running the car in all the remaining races exceot the road course, where a road course specialist will likely be hired. Expect the announcement to be initially made next Thursday [Nov 3rd] at Texas Instruments in Dallas, TX.(10-26-2005)
UPDATE 2: Terry Labonte cleverly avoided the question when asked Tuesday at TMS if he might drive a few races next season for the new Hall of Fame Racing team of Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. “I’m not going to run a full schedule,” Labonte said. “And I have a 10-race deal with Hendrick Motorsports. And I’m definitely not driving at Talladega.” That still leaves some options. Labonte could drive for Hall of Fame Racing in the Daytona 500 and a few other events at the start of the season, to ensure the team would qualify. Labonte has a past champion’s provisional. The team would build up enough owners’ points early in the season to ensure qualifying at the other events with a full-time driver, who is expected to be Tony Raines. The team is announcing its driver choices Thursday at TMS.(Dallas Morning News)(10-28-2005)
