Amid RCR speculation, Labonte says he's unsigned for 2009

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Jamie Squire
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Bobby Labonte has not yet signed a contract for 2009 and beyond, according to a statement released by his public relations firm.

Labonte is in the last season of his contract with Petty Enterprises, and the 2000 Cup champion is considered a heavy favorite to go to Richard Childress Racing’s fourth team next year.

General Mills, which currently sponsors Labonte’s car at Petty Enterprises, will move from the Pettys to that fourth RCR Sprint Cup car
beginning in 2009.

Amid speculation that Labonte has decided to move with General Mills to RCR next year, the statement that was released out of the Labonte camp did not indicate whether Labonte has made a decision about his future but did say that he had “made no contractual agreements for any team beyond 2008.”

Petty Enterprises has offered Labonte a contract extension but Labonte has not accepted the offer. In this third year at Petty Enterprises, Labonte has yet to win in 78 starts. He finished 21st in points in 2006 and 18th in points in 2007.

Labonte still seeks his first top-10 finish of the season and currently sits 21st in points, 136 behind RCR driver Clint Bowyer for 12th in the Cup standings. Two RCR drivers, Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick, are first and second in the standings, respectively.

“I’m very humbled by the level of interest in my future, but at this time I’m concentrating all my efforts in getting Petty Enterprises back to victory lane,” Labonte said in a statement Tuesday night. “I feel good about all the positive steps that Petty Enterprises has made and continues to make.

“General Mills has been a huge part of making the 43 team what it is today. I worked diligently with Petty Enterprises to continue General Mills involvement with the team. Today, we all learned they have made a decision. I truly appreciate all they have done to contribute to our success at Petty Enterprises.”

Labonte already is driving for RCR – in the Nationwide Series. He is running a partial schedule with the No. 21 team and crew chief Shane Wilson, who has Cup crew chief experience and helped guide RCR’s fourth team’s test at Daytona earlier this year.

“Moving forward, I’m going to work hard each week to win races,” Labonte said. “I want to do the best I can for Petty Enterprises and everyone who puts great cars under me each week.

“That’s our focus, and that’s what I feel is the right thing to do for all our partners. At this time, I have no intention to talk about my plans
after 2008 because of the immediate tasks at hand.”