Bobby Labonte News

Escape Hatch Proposed:

Escape Hatch Proposed:

May 15, 2003
The extensive injuries suffered by Winston Cup driver Jerry Nadeau in a crash at Richmond International Raceway this month have some of the series' physically bigger drivers talking to NASCAR about escape hatches. Similar to the setup found in the roofs of NHRA Funny

Nemechek wins at Richmond:

Nemechek wins at Richmond:

May 3, 2003
#25-Joe Nemechek wins a slightly rain shortened Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Speedway, his first win in 45 races when he last won at Rockingham in November 2001. #18-Bobby Labonte was 2nd, his third 2nd place finish in a row. The race was rain shortened

Yates in No Hurry:

Yates in No Hurry:

May 3, 2003
Robert Yates [#38 and #88 team owner] said Friday at Richmond that he prefers to keep Jarrett's No. 88 team intact for the time being and let that group solve the team's problems. Team engineer Garth Finley took over as interim crew chief after Robert Yates Racing

Bobby Labonte’s Pit Crew Scores Second Straight Win:

Bobby Labonte’s Pit Crew Scores Second Straight Win:

April 30, 2003
The pit crew of Bobby Labonte's #18 Interstate Batteries Chevy made it two-in-a-row by winning the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway in Fontana. Labonte's car, which finished second in the 500-mile

Busch wins the Auto Club 500

Busch wins the Auto Club 500

April 27, 2003
at California. #97-Kurt Busch won at California Speedway, the first multiple winner of 2003. #18-Bobby Labonte ended up 2nd, fighting #2-Rusty Wallace, who ended up 3rd. #17-Matt Kenseth ended up 9th and holds on to the points lead. #43-John Andretti had his first

Saturday AM practice

Saturday AM practice

April 26, 2003
#18-Bobby Labonte was the fastest at 184.091mph, followed by #32-Ricky Craven at 132.978 and #12-Ryan Newman at 182.936. Pole sitter #1-Steve Park was 36th with a speed of 178.811. Slowest were #37-Derrike Cope at 176.138 and #14-Larry Foyt at 177.506. See speeds at

Nine different winners in the first 9 races of 2003:

Nine different winners in the first 9 races of 2003:

April 18, 2003
So far in the 2003 Cup season, 9 different drivers have won the 9 races run. The drivers are: Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Ricky Craven, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. The current 'modern-era' [1972-present

Tiebreaker Gives Bobby Labonte’s Pit Crew First Place Prize in Martinsville:

Tiebreaker Gives Bobby Labonte’s Pit Crew First Place Prize in Martinsville:

April 15, 2003
The crews of #18-Bobby Labonte and #38-Elliott Sadler tied for the top honors in the Virginia 500 among participating teams in the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by Powerade, but Labonte's squad took the $20,000 prize by virtue of a tiebreaker.. Each

Jeff Gordon wins at Martinsville:

Jeff Gordon wins at Martinsville:

April 13, 2003
#24-Jeff Gordon won the Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway, his first of 2003 and 62nd of his career [he is 7th All Time ]. It was Gordon's first win in 15 races, his last being at Kansas in Spet 2002. Gordon as now won at least one race a season for ten years in

Ramblings – Texas:

Ramblings – Texas:

March 29, 2003
Joe Gibbs Racing experienced both ends of the spectrum today. First, Tony Stewart's Home Depot Chevy was confiscated and impounded by NASCAR for further inspection back in Charlotte. Some little thing about not fitting the templates and the offset in the rear deck

Busch wins the Food City at Bristol Motor Speedway:

Busch wins the Food City at Bristol Motor Speedway:

March 23, 2003
#97-Kurt Busch backed up his 2002 win at Bristol with one Sunday, his first win of 2003 after having three 2nd's this year. Teammate #17-Matt Kenseth was 2nd, #18-Bobby Labonte finished 3rd in his purple car. Four of the top five cars were powered by Roush Racing.

Closest Finishes UPDATE:

Closest Finishes UPDATE:

March 18, 2003
Margin Winner Runner-up Track Date .002 Ricky Craven Kurt Busch Darlington March 16, 2003 .005 Dale Earnhardt Ernie Irvan Talladega July 25, 1993 .006 Kevin Harvick Jeff Gordon Atlanta March 11, 2001 .010 Dale Earnhardt Bobby Labonte Atlanta March 12, 2000 .025 Jimmy

#8 Crew ‘Fastest’:

#8 Crew ‘Fastest’:

March 12, 2003
Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s crew for the #8 Budweiser Chevy driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by Powerade for the second consecutive week. NASCAR says Earnhardt Jr. spent 288 seconds in the pits on his way to finishing

Fatback gets the Boat:

Fatback gets the Boat:

March 11, 2003
#18-Bobby Labonte already owns a boat, so he won't be keeping the one he won for taking Sunday's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But he announced during a postrace interview that he would keep the bonus prize within Joe Gibbs Racing. "He gets the

Atlanta TV Ratings:

Atlanta TV Ratings:

March 10, 2003
Nielsen's overnight figures show that Fox's broadcast of Sunday's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 Winston Cup race from Atlanta Motor Speedway was the weekend's most-watched sports program, today's Sports Business Daily reports. The race, which was won by Bobby Labonte in