Bobby Labonte disappointed about lack of success, sponsor at Petty Enterprises

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
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Bobby Labonte says changes in the economy hampered efforts at Petty Enterprises.

John Harrelson
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Bobby Labonte says that he can’t be angry over his departure from Petty Enterprises but is disappointed that the 2008 purchase of a majority of the team by investment company Boston Ventures didn’t produce the NASCAR Sprint Cup results he had anticipated.
 
Labonte announced last week that he would leave the Petty Enterprises on the same day the organization announced it had entered into talks with Gillett Evernham Motorsports about a possible transaction that could roll the No. 43 car into the GEM fold.
 
Labonte won the 2000 Cup title at Joe Gibbs Racing and had won 21 races during 11 years there, and he had hoped a move to Petty in 2006 would rejuvenate his career and give him the opportunity to rebuild the sport’s oldest and winningest organization.
 
“It’s very disappointing,” Labonte said. “Everybody there gave me a great opportunity … [Petty executives] Robbie Loomis and Kyle [Petty], they sold me on the program three years ago, and at that point in time, … we made it a step forward.
 
“There were a lot of things that happened from that point on – other teams getting stronger and they were grouping together or whatever, and it hurt us. Boston Ventures came in, and we had high expectations to proceed on and keep doing it, and I can say it was something that we all had in our minds and our hearts to help out and be a part of that program. It just didn’t work out. It is disappointing, but we gave it our best shot, and that’s the way it is.”
 
Petty Enterprises has not been able to get a sponsor for the No. 43 car to replace General Mills, which announced in April that it would leave the team for Richard Childress Racing.
 
“I thought back in March and April that if the economy turns sour, these guys have got all these connections, and hopefully we can get a sponsor, keep a sponsor, blah, blah, blah,” Labonte said Tuesday during a conference call with reporters. “But it seemed like a perfect storm [with the economy]. They had great intentions and meant well, but obviously they don’t have 20 years of racing knowledge, either.
 
“That probably hurt them some because I think there was some [financial] surprises that anybody would get that was just getting into it. Unfortunately, they’re not experienced in racing even though they’re great probably in business. … It’s not like they did anything per se wrong."
 
Labonte said he was unsure if a merger with GEM will be finalized.
 
“I have no idea,” he said. “I haven’t talked to those guys about it. There is obviously talks about it. … I’m not really sure what’s going to happen.”
 
When Boston Ventures first arrived, Labonte said that he wrote a list of things that needed to get done, and those things started to happen. But then everything seemed to hit a wall – the bleak economy – that they couldn’t get through.
 
He said if Boston Ventures had gotten involved two years ago when the economy was better, it could have helped the organization grow.
 
“It sounded great, and I signed a contract for a lengthy period of time, and it was going forward from there,” Labonte said. “Unfortunately, their crystal ball got kind of cloudy, too. They weren’t able to do the things that they had wanted to do, and trust me, I know they feel bad about that.
 
“Nobody would want to get to that point. To a certain point there, and it just happened to be last week, it was going to be tough for them to go on like they had planned on, and the scenarios that were set out in front of me and the contract that I had, there was a lot of implications, a lot of stuff happening that it was probably best to agree to shake hands and part ways.”
 
The veteran driver indicated that Petty Enterprises might not have been able to fulfill his contract without sponsorship, and it was beneficial for both sides to move on without the other.
 
“Their direction today is probably different than when they had me,” he said. “I had a contract with them that was obvious [it] was going to be for more than six months or a year, and it was kind of expensive.
 
“So it was going to be hard for them to make sure – how are they going to uphold that? It was a tough decision for them. It was a tough decision for me.”
 
So is Labonte angry that he is left searching for a ride in December after there was so much hope just six months ago?
 
“I’m not angry,” Labonte said. “I can’t be angry. It’s just the way it is. If I could do things over again, I’m angry more over what I could have done before, but I thought I was doing all the right things. I don’t think I did anything wrong, and I’m not angry because of what I did or didn’t do, and I’m not angry where I’m sitting at today.
 
“I’m more focused today than I was probably Sunday morning before [the finale at] Homestead because I feel like I’m in a better position in one way, but I’m not in a better position in another way. My anger is I wish I was working towards February whatever the date is [for the Daytona 500], and I’m disappointed or not happy about that. But I’m probably more relieved and more focused on getting to that point than I ever have been.”

Comments

7 responses to "Bobby Labonte disappointed about lack of success, sponsor at Petty Enterprises ". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Johnny Come Lately said:
    Dec 16, 2008 at 2:15 PM

    With Petty gone it is truly the end of an era.

    BUT....someone needs to pull Bobby aside and tell him there is no shame in retirement. Its time.

    Even if he drove for Childress or Hendrick, the only way Bobby Labonte will ever win another race in his career is if he stayed out on a caution, it starts to rain one lap after half way and they call the race.

    Its just the way it is.....

  2. 2
    willie sims said:
    Dec 16, 2008 at 3:12 PM

    i think he has a better chance with a team like hendrick for example then mark martin or earnhardt.when is the last time either of those 2 won except for the fuel dibacle of earnhardts? prior to that neither he nor martin have won in years either.......

  3. 3
    Casey Forsythe said:
    Dec 16, 2008 at 6:19 PM

    I guess willie is a KB lover and is still mad at mark and jr

  4. 4
    Jenifer James said:
    Dec 16, 2008 at 8:24 PM

    I have a lot of respect for Bobby and Bob
    but when it is time it is time, Terry left and screwed the pooch and I guess Bobby will at least leave with some dignity.
    The Labonte Family is good until they owe you money, just ask

  5. 5
    Grover rickman said:
    Dec 16, 2008 at 9:26 PM

    Willie, give it a REST Bobby will get a good ride, don't be a JR Hater he is going to be around for a long time to chap your A.S.S. HA,HA,HA, GO DALE JR>!!!!!!!!!

  6. 6
    said:
    Dec 17, 2008 at 5:02 AM

    Retire!!! Are you kidding? Just because you've been driving for a team isn't doing well doesn't mean that it's time to retire. Dale Sr., Bobby Allison and others have shown that you can still be a valid force even though some people consider you to be too old. What about Mark Martin? Do you think that a man who is nearly 50, and who has more talent than most of the you guns should retire even though he's considered to be old? I'm sure Rick Hendrick would have been looking at him had he not signed Mark first. If you hadn't noticed, during the past year both Petty teams struggled, especially the 45 team. Of course everyone blamed Kyle even though he wasn't the only one driving the car. The big problem with PE, is that they have fallen so far behind due to all of the changes in Cup racing that they might never catch up to the rest. Retire, not Bobby, he just needs to find the right team to settle in with.

  7. 7
    Priscilla Bartels said:
    Dec 22, 2008 at 11:58 PM

    From the first day a friend told me that sunday was race day in their house And invited me to stay and watch Bobby has been my favorite driver.He has been the most decent and the most respected every race day drivers that I have had the pleasure to watch ain person.and I hope one day to see him in person and would love to meet him. So you all have the right to say your peace about Bobby but I pray he doesnt retire.

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