Crew chief Todd Parrott looking forward to reunion with Bobby Labonte
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Hall of Fame Racing's Todd Parrott will be Bobby Labonte's crew chief for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.
Rusty Jarrett
Getty Images for NASCAR
Todd Parrott didn’t have time to lobby to be reunited with driver Bobby Labonte once he heard that Labonte could drive a Yates Racing car in 2009.
That’s because when he heard that Labonte would be driving a Yates Racing car through an alliance with Hall of Fame Racing, it was when Yates Racing general manager Max Jones told him Jan. 13 that he was going to be Labonte’s crew chief.
“I didn’t know anything about it until the day they signed the deal,” Parrott said in a phone interview with NASCAR Scene Friday. “It was a total surprise. Max Jones called me in the office one night and said we’ve got some changes and this was taking place.
“I said, ‘You’re kidding me.’ And he said, ‘Nope, I’m not kidding.’ And I said, ‘Well, that’s awesome.’ ”
Parrott worked with Labonte for the first part of the 2006 season, when both were with Petty Enterprises, before returning to the Yates organization where he won the 1999 Cup title as crew chief for Dale Jarrett and also had worked with Ernie Irvan and Elliott Sadler.
“We’ve talked every weekend,” Parrott said about his relationship with Labonte since leaving Petty. “When I left Pettys, I left on a good note. … It was a hard decision for me to make. It was all about my family and my kids, spending more time with them and being closer to home.
“We’ve communicated and talked and sent text messages ever since then.”
The 2000 Cup champion Labonte is looking forward to working again with Parrott and said there were no hard feelings from the last split.
“As much as he made us better and made me better, Yates was kind of his family,” Labonte said. “It was kind of hard that he left, but at the same time you understand. He wanted to be back home.
“It was a long drive for him every day and it was tough. So we’ve got some unfinished business to do. I thought we did really good while he was there and we’ve got a lot more resources and between me and him, I hope we’re a lot smarter and ready for this go-around just as we were last time.”
Crew chief for Travis Kvapil last year, Parrott and his entire team will work with Labonte this season. Parrott said he doesn’t have to change the cars for Labonte.
“His seats and pedals and all that stuff are basically the only changes we’ll make,” he said. “Our chassis and setups will be no different than when Travis was in the car.”
The Yates organization is scrambling a little bit with the addition of the No. 96 car. While Hall of Fame still owns the entry, it will be run out of the Yates’ shop and that organization will make the calls on the day-to-day operation of the car. Yates, with that addition, will field at least three cars in the first five races of 2009 and hopes to run all three for a full season. Paul Menard is driving the No. 98 full-time car and Kvapil is driving the No. 28 car, which doesn’t yet have sponsorship.
Yates Racing is entering its second year under the ownership of Jones and Doug Yates. Last season, Yates Racing put drivers Kvapil and David Gilliland in the top 30 in points despite not having full sponsorship.
“[Labonte’s] feel within a race car will be one thing [that will help]," Parrott said. "His background and mentality, how to finish races, how to win championships and those sort of things for Travis and Paul will be a big help. It’s going to add a lot of depth.”
Not only should the addition of Labonte help, but the team has primary sponsorship from Ask.com for 29 races. That, along with Menard bringing his family sponsorship, should add to the comfort level for a team that didn’t have primary sponsorship for many races last year.
“We did a great job last year with Travis,” Parrott said. “We had a bunch of different sponsors. When you go to the race track with a white car, there are a lot of uncertainties and questions that guys within the team ask [about] whether they are going to have jobs."
At the end of last season, Parrott wasn’t even sure what he would be doing in 2009. The team spent a couple of weeks evaluating its programs and it wasn’t clear where Parrott stood.
“My offseason has been like a roller coaster,” Parrott said. “Not really knowing after Homestead what exactly I would be doing. Now that they made this announcement three weeks before we go to Daytona of Bobby Labonte is pretty crazy.”
The 44-year-old Parrott considers the Labonte team a Chase contender.
“Bobby is a great race car driver,” Parrott said. “We want to win some races. With the success we had with Travis finishing 23rd in points, we could have very easily been in the top 20 had it not been for a couple of mistakes we made as a first-year team.
“The top 12, I don’t think you can say it’s out of reach.”
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16 responses to "Crew chief Todd Parrott looking forward to reunion with Bobby Labonte". Post a Comment.
Pat Draper said:
Jan 25, 2009 at 11:25 AMBobby hasn't really done much in the last few year. Maybe him being back with Todd will turn things around for him. He is a past champion and a good driver and well respected by everyone. I really hope this change will do the trick and i wish him lots of luck for this season.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBetty Stoneman said:
Jan 25, 2009 at 12:37 PMPat, I totally agree. Bobby is a good driver and a good person and I wish him all the luck in the world this year.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportHerb Phares said:
Jan 25, 2009 at 1:14 PMThis is good news for Yates Racing. With the second year of running Roush equipment this makes this team a Chase contender. Todd Parrot is one of the best Crew Chiefs in the garage area.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBernadette Motherway said:
Jan 25, 2009 at 1:26 PMAm glad they are paired up again. Should see some significant improvements.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportChuck Kalvaitis said:
Jan 25, 2009 at 1:31 PMEven more good new for Bobby Labonte!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPatrick Lloyd said:
Jan 25, 2009 at 1:34 PMI am so excited about the upcoming season. Welcome,Todd,and go, Bobby!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRoger Cox said:
Jan 25, 2009 at 3:48 PMI have never been a Ford fan, but being from Corpus Christi I have long been a Labonte fan. This is great news, I will be driving my SS Impala to the track but I will be cheering for a Labonte driven Ford.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBernadette Motherway said:
Jan 25, 2009 at 7:16 PMIf only these great comments would get back to Bobby!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjohnny cunha said:
Jan 25, 2009 at 11:27 PMBobby needed to get away from Petty Enterprises. hopefully HOF Racing can give him better equipment. Parrott is a great start.I think Bobby will be comeback driver of 2009
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBRIAN PECENCO said:
Jan 26, 2009 at 7:23 AMI am a Bobby Fan Club member and with Todd i see a GREAT Daytona coming!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBRIAN PECENCO said:
Jan 26, 2009 at 7:55 AMI am a Bobby Fan Club member and with Todd i see a GREAT Daytona coming!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBill Reschke said:
Jan 26, 2009 at 8:36 AMThis is good news for Yates Racing and NASCAR in general. Running Roush equipment makes this team a possible Chase contender. Todd Parrot is one of the best Crew Chiefs in the garage area. It looks like this year is bringing out new teams that can win! It is great to see what is being raised from the ashes of the past!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportLynne Michelle said:
Jan 26, 2009 at 5:24 PMWhen Todd Parott was working with Bobby Labonte at Petty Enterprises, Bobby did well--they were a great pair. I'm really excited about their reunion. And, while I've never been a Ford fan, I agree that Roush equipment will add to the team's possibilities. I can barely stand the excitement. And--guess what?! The Daytona 500 is on my birthday this year!!! YAY!!!!--Lynne Michelle
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» Confirm Abuse ReportDon Rakow, Jr said:
Jan 27, 2009 at 7:41 AMRousch equipment with that power coming from Yates engines (yes it is a Rousch-Yates alliance but Yates knows engines) is going to pur Bobby in a much better position moving into 2009. Chase contention? Well let me say as a Chevy Fan and a Texan - I'm mixed on it, but GO BOBBY! I hope he makes the Chase as he is a good racer and a class act.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbob byfan said:
Jan 31, 2009 at 11:55 PMI too am an avid GM fan, but a Bobby fan first. Bobby, and Todd are friends, and both excited to get going. Chase?...let's hope. I think we'll fair much better than we did in the #43, no offense to Petty.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbluey Hills said:
Feb 1, 2009 at 11:38 AMIf Labonte is still so good how come he needs David Gillilands points from last season, is he not capable of qualifiying on his own ???.
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