Passing Lane
A NASCAR BLOG BY Mike Hembree
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A great story waiting to happen
Jun
13
It’s unlikely, of course, but what a great story it would be if Terry Labonte wins a race while he’s sitting in the driver’s seat for that TV guy, Kyle Petty.
Labonte probably should have stayed “retired”. When he and similarly aged individuals, like Bill Elliott, linger in the driver’s seat they delay their inductions into Halls of Fame, and – like so many others have done in racing and other sports – they end their careers limping home.
That having been said, however, it’s good to see Labonte hanging around the track again. He has been one of the sport’s true ambassadors – a hard racer with a soft touch who knew when to chase the lead and when to wait in the bushes. He had almost perfect attendance in a two-championship career.
Could he win again in a very limited role? Again, it’s unlikely. But his fill-in situation at Petty Enterprises will include the road course at
Sonoma, Calif. Labonte is a pretty good road racer and has done well at road courses, even in mediocre equipment.
Texas Terry wrapped in the checkers one more time? Not a bad story.
Labonte probably should have stayed “retired”. When he and similarly aged individuals, like Bill Elliott, linger in the driver’s seat they delay their inductions into Halls of Fame, and – like so many others have done in racing and other sports – they end their careers limping home.
That having been said, however, it’s good to see Labonte hanging around the track again. He has been one of the sport’s true ambassadors – a hard racer with a soft touch who knew when to chase the lead and when to wait in the bushes. He had almost perfect attendance in a two-championship career.
Could he win again in a very limited role? Again, it’s unlikely. But his fill-in situation at Petty Enterprises will include the road course at
Sonoma, Calif. Labonte is a pretty good road racer and has done well at road courses, even in mediocre equipment.
Texas Terry wrapped in the checkers one more time? Not a bad story.
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Comments
1 response to " A great story waiting to happen"
randy hayes said:
Jun 17, 2008 at 3:22 AMit would be nice but i won't hold my breath.
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