by: Joshua Walker
Bobby Labonte is a great NASCAR driver. His fans know that he is good enough to win the bulk of a season. I grew up as a major Bobby fan. Back about five years ago I noticed a good example of how good he really was. I saw that he really was one of the best by his performance on the track. He was able to easily finish in the top ten every week. His track performance may now show the same results today as it did then but we all know that he is as good as or better than Jeff Gordon. He does not belong to a team that is as good as Hendricks or Roush and his car is not as fast as theirs. If Bobby was driving Jeff Gordon’s car he would have double the wins. He is that good of a driver in my opinion.
Right now he could have won more races if he had a good car. Bobby has been in all of our hearts for many years. Bobby has more wins in less time than Dale Earnhardt did. If you really like a supportive and kind driver you don’t have to look any further than the driver of the No. 18 Chevy. Bobby is proud to be a Coke racing family driver. He deserves to have much more than that after all the wonderful things he has done. If you see Bobby in a race and really study him you will see the wonderful things about him.
Bobby Labonte is a good contributor to organizations like The Victory Junction Gang Camp. He is a caring person that had to fight for what was his as a kid in a small sibling rivalry with his older and stronger brother Terry. Bobby always prevails in what he does no matter what it is. If you study all of his stats you will see that he is a strong competitor. Bobby is the kind of driver that hangs back in a race till late in the going to make a move. That style is similar to great racing legend David Pearson.
If you enjoy a driver with class you would enjoy rooting for Bobby or Terry Labonte. Both drivers have extreme class in every thing that they do in or around NASCAR. Kelloggs Cereal always said that Terry Labonte was a great and classy spokesman for their sponsorship. Bobby is too a great spokesman for his sponsor Interstate Batteries. Know matter what Bobby does it seems to be the best of the best. His beautiful green car may be why some people start to like him but it is his great performance and attitude towards the sport that keeps them interested.
When I watch racing I must concur that it is not a race without Bobby Labonte. I hope that everyone else will agree that he deserves even more than he has.
Posted by CAW at June 14, 2005 06:42 PMWhat a fine tribute to a classy driver thank you Josh you are a true Bobby Labonte fan!
Posted by: Holly at June 14, 2005 09:40 PMNice article Josh! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Posted by: Beth at June 15, 2005 12:19 AMThanks for your comments about my article!
Posted by: JAW at June 15, 2005 01:47 AMBobby & Terry both are great examples of true class. I'm proud to say that they came from my home town of Corpus Christi, Texas. Your comments are right on the money. Although I'm a die hard fan of the BLUE OVAL, I still pull for Terry & Bobby.
Posted by: Guy at June 15, 2005 06:33 AMFrom one Bobby Labonte fan to anther thank you for the great article! Bobby is my guy thru good AND bad times.
Posted by: Mary at June 15, 2005 06:35 AMThere are so many parallels between Terry's and Bobby's situations with their well-funded teams. Both cars (I refer to Terry in the #5) were the flagship cars of their teams until multi-team expansion took place. Both teams they drive/drove for fell into disarray after winning a championship and seemed to become less of a priority while other teams in their multi-car organizations seemed to only get stronger. Both are humorous, well-spoken and non-controversial but seem to be an afterthought (particularly in Terry's case....he wasn't even recognized for winning a championship in that ridiculous Quaker State commercial but, instead, we are shown Jimmie Johnson?) when the P.R. drones and the media attempt to personnify NASCAR. While infatuation with 'youth' with all its inherent behavioral volatility is dominating the psyche of the 'powers that be' surrounding NASCAR two of it's best representatives seem to be at a continual disadvantage. Do you hear them whining about it? Not Likely!
Posted by: Rick Bruckenhauer at June 15, 2005 10:07 AMI agreed with you Bobby Labonte is a great driver and class act. However there is no need to bring in Jeff Gordon into your tribute. Jeff and Bobby began thier full time careers at the same time in 1993. The 24 car was nothing absolutely nothing before Jeff took it over it had neve won. Jeff and a Rookie Crew Chief Ray Everham made the 24 what it is today. JGR has the same resources as Hendricks. The issue with Bobby has been since he/JGR fire fatback. People need to understand that each era brings its greatest driver - POST 1993 is Gordon period. With other great driver which Bobby is included.
Posted by: cristian at June 15, 2005 11:38 AMIt's kind of hard to win in the new Hendrick/Roush racing league if you don't drive one of their cars, period. Bobby is definitely one of the greatest drivers ever - you don't win a championship otherwise, but he's an even better person off the track.
Posted by: wally at June 15, 2005 12:09 PMBobby as good as Jeff. Don't make me laugh. Jeff won Rookie of the year in 1993 as well as his first 125 daytona race that year, the same year Bobby was a rookie. Jeff has 70 some wins to Bobby's 30 some wins. Jeff has 4 championships to Bobby's 1 championship. LaBonte is a great driver but Gordon is the best of this era like Petty was the best of his era and Earnhardt Sr was the best of his.
Posted by: Danny Young at June 15, 2005 12:09 PMThanks for the article, we don't often see too many about Bobby. He's my driver thru thick and thin.
Posted by: jane at June 15, 2005 01:05 PMBobby is a good guy, but your arguments are not persuasive at all. For example, you say nothing about actual results, instead you make excuses for having inferior equipment. Evidentally, he's good because you like him.
He is a former champ and a great racer. Your writing, on the other hand, isn't so great.
Respectfully,
Me
Posted by: me at June 15, 2005 02:32 PMGreat article on Bobby, Josh keep up with that writing you never know where it might lead you :)
Posted by: Wayne at June 15, 2005 05:07 PMQuote: "If you enjoy a driver with class you would enjoy rooting for Bobby or Terry Labonte."
So true, Joshua! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article and look forward to reading more from you. Keep up the great work.
Posted by: NASCAROkie at June 15, 2005 08:23 PMBobby is a great driver and I hate to see this bad luck he is having. The problem is that his equipment up to last year has not been inferior. He did beat the greatest driver ever in 2000 for the championship. There are alot of incorrect comments though. First of all to correct Danny Young, Bobby has 21 or 22 wins in the same amount of years it took J Gordon to win 70+ races. Bobby and Jeff Burton are the ones who should be compared. They won races one for one through the late 90's. One of the most interesting things to remember is that Bobby was slated for the ride the Jeff Gordon is in. Jeff was under contract by Bill Davis. When Hendrick stole him Bobby got the maxwell house 22 ride that Jeff Gordon was supposed to get. The part to talk about now is, would Bobby have got the 70+ wins and 4 cups in the 24 and would Jeff have got them in the Davis ride? I think it would have been neutralized. Both in the caliber of performance of say Dale Jarret or Mark Martin or even Rusty wallace. Face the fact too the without Hendrick Johnson and Gordon are still great but not over the top like they are now. Go Bobby.
Posted by: Phil at June 16, 2005 02:05 AMGreat article, Josh!!! You are insightful, and share your opinions well...keep them coming!!
Posted by: BB6 at June 16, 2005 02:35 AM