From the Marbles - NASCAR

From the Marbles

Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:35 am EST

Bobby Labonte is out of the 43 -- and Petty Enterprises, too

By Jay Busbee

Man, I wish I didn't bring crappy news from the world of NASCAR every damn day, but that'd be like going to a [insert chain restaurant here who might actually be an advertiser so I don't want to offend them] and trying to find food that isn't an artery-clogging, stomach-busting horror.

Anyway. Back to the story. Petty Enterprises, in the midst of a serious reassessment, has released Bobby Labonte from his contract. Labonte had signed on back in June to stick with Petty; the move now leaves him without a ride for 2009.

"In over 15 years of racing in the Sprint Cup Series, I can't remember a time when the sport's landscape looks as it does today," Labonte said. "Saying that, Petty Enterprises and I had serious and very sincere discussions about what was best for myself and everyone involved at Petty Enterprises moving forward. These discussions culminated with us agreeing that moving in a separate direction will be the greatest way to reach our end goals. It was by no means an easy decision."

Labonte should be able to find a seat for the 2009 season, but finding a sponsor? Ah, there's the problem, ain't it? The good news is ... hell, there is no good news. Sorry, folks.

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98 Comments

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  1. Bob S
    1. Posted by Bob S Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:02 pm EDT

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    Eh, Bobby drove the #43....kinda blows your credibility
  2. Moon
    2. Posted by Moon Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:14 pm EDT

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    NO. This cannot be. That makes me wonder if Petty Enterprises will be back at all next year.
    This is just to sad. I love Bobby, and even thou I know his run lately has not been the greatest, I think he is a excellent driver.
    TONY, oh Tony, you need Bobby, get with it and get him into a Car.
    I think that would be an AWESOME team. Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and Bobby Labonte.
  3. Spiderbandit88 - Read the Blogs, Not the Comments
    3. Posted by Spiderbandit88 - Read the Blogs, Not the Comments Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    I'm gonna have to agree with you Jay when you said "If, that is, there are any freakin' races in 2009.".........
  4. Jay Busbee
    4. Posted by Jay Busbee Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

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    Bob, I never had credibility. Thanks for the catch, tho.
  5. Doug C
    5. Posted by Doug C Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:16 pm EDT

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    No, Jay, potentially great news! Rumors for the last few days have had Labonte going to the fully sponsored and available #41 car with Chip'N'Dale's, the only roadblock being he was still under contract with Petty. Hopefully somebody at that other team will sign asap.
  6. Jay Busbee
    6. Posted by Jay Busbee Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

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    That would indeed be good to see, Doug. Would like to see what Bobby Labobby could do with a stronger organization (relatively speaking) behind him.
  7. Kiki
    7. Posted by Kiki Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

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    That's pretty scary. You gotta wonder who's next.
  8. FarmerJ
    8. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    that is bull crap. they shouldn't have resigned him. At the time there was talk about him driving the 4th RCR car and i was excited. but for some reason he resigned with petty. I was sympathetic to what was going on at Petty, but not now. you boot the only driver from TX? Boom.....Outta Here. Disgraceful
  9. KrazyKen
    9. Posted by KrazyKen Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    It's sad for Bobby & Petty. They finally found someone w/ as much integrity as Richard. But, being a diehard Bobby Labonte fan & a lifelong David Pearson fan; I have to say that him in the # 43 never sat quite right w/ me. Maybe Bobby can get a ride that will return him to the championship level that he is capable of driving at !!! All things happen for a reason; even when it seems that they suck. Maybe, this is what it will take to humble Brian France & help him find the true Nascar core fans again. WE don't need all the glitz & glamor, just give us honest racing ! REAL STOCK CAR RACING, ONCE AGAIN !!!! NOT SPEED RACER WANNA- BE'S.....
  10. SportsFan
    10. Posted by SportsFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    This is not good news for the sport. It's looking like there could be races with less than 43 cars next year.
  11. miss priss
    11. Posted by miss priss Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    OH man wait until my son hears about this. Not that he is a Petty fan, but LaBonte is his driver. Yep another reason for him to give me grief on race day.
  12. pumped_cobra
    12. Posted by pumped_cobra Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

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    Just ASSCAR grinding the people that made them into dust.
    Saw that Brian France was calling on Congress to bail out the Big 3. F' him. Who is he to say or judge or request anything. He needs to tend to his own affairs.
    ASSCAR is in deep doodoo. I bet Daytona will be a attendance disaster for ASSCAR this coming February. The time is ripe for someone else to start a real stock car series. The charter should say no Hendrick, no Childress, no Bruton, no Humpy, no Frances............and no cheating.
  13. D E
    13. Posted by D E Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    I am a life long petty racing fan, I was so happy when Bobby came to Petty. Ireally thought something might change but this looks like the final nail in the coffin for th most reconized family in racing. Brian France needs to take a step back and look at what he has done to once a great sport now it is all about the glamour and glitz not about the car and the driver. May Nascar rest in peace
  14. CrackerJack
    14. Posted by CrackerJack Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:51 pm EDT

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    My daughter and I have now become a fan of Mario Kart and are beginning to form a neighborhood league of drivers under 7 years of age. No sponsorship dollars needed, only milk and cookies....which reminds me, gotta get some Hamburger Helper for dinner.
  15. Dustin
    15. Posted by Dustin Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    I am a huge Bobby fan. The rumor mill has him in the 41 car with Target as a sponsor. The number will probably change. Hopefully he signs a one year deal and Hendrick will sign him to the 5 car for 2010 once Martin is done. That's wishful thinking though haha.
  16. art_tidesco
    16. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    I am not sure that Labonte going from the Petty's #43 to Chip'n'Dales #41 is any better than jumping out of the frying pan and in to the fire. Chip'n'Dale being an organisation that requires an annual merger just to stay afloat. But at least the #41 is fully sponsored :-)
    Any news on Chip'n'Dales manufacturer next year ? I am guessing Chevy :-)
  17. art_tidesco
    17. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Does this mean Bobby Labonte is no longer a milk and cereal man ?
  18. Livin' the Vegas Life
    18. Posted by Livin' the Vegas Life Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    It was rumored that Bobby Labonte was offered the Childress 33 ride next year with Cheerios/Betty Crocker sponsorship at more money. Out of loyality to the Petty family, and believing Boston Venture would give Petty a fresh start, he decided to remain behind the wheel of the 43. NOW THIS!!!!
    Just shows that loyality doesn't pay the bills. I guess everyone has to go where the money leads and that my frineds absoutely sucks!!!!
  19. art_tidesco
    19. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    i agree but it is better than standing on the bread line :-)
  20. J W
    20. Posted by J W Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    Hey Jay, did BL really have a shot to switch over to RCR when General Mills made the move? And if he did, what does that say about Labonte, extremely loyal or extremely, well you know....
  21. EMTnoodle
    21. Posted by EMTnoodle Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:54 pm EDT

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    damn, damn, and double damn. I like ole Bobby. I just hope he gets a ride for next year.
    I have a feeling we might not be seeing Petty Enterprises in the series next year...
    And excuse me for a moment, but I have to vent. I really wish pumped_gartersnake would quit showing up in here. I could laugh him off the first hundred times he showed up in here, but anymore I just wish he would go away.
    Sorry. Had a long night writing a TEN PAGE paper for my education class and don't feel like seeing his BS today. But that's what you get for freedom of speech, eh?
  22. SportsFan
    22. Posted by SportsFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    With Chip and Dale dropping 2 cars and Roush having to drop one (or sell it to Yates or Woods or whatever) in 2010, and the economy and sponsorships what it is, Labonte might be lucky to have a ride if he doesn't land at Chip and Dale's. Any 2 or 3 car team would be hard pressed to expand anytime soon.
  23. clyde h
    23. Posted by clyde h Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    For Bobby Labonte to leave Petty Enterprises is a sad state of affairs.Just how many more drivers are going to be released,and race shops closing due to the economy?I realize the economy isn't very stable,but don't you think
    Nascar should shoulder some of the blame?How many cars do Hendrick,Roush-Fenway ,Childress and the other multi-car teams put out?Nascar should have put a limit on multiple entries long ago.Maybe Petty Entreprises could have had some of their sponsors.Seems to me that too much of a good thing is reality,not fantacy.
  24. Robert
    24. Posted by Robert Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    I have been a Petty fan since the 1960s, so I hate to see the current state of affairs. However, sometimes a step backwards is necessary for greater progress in the future. Maybe the current recession will ultimately be beneficial for all of racing. Frankly, NASCAR was boring for me last year, and I turned to Indycar for more exciting racing, albeit unbelievably mediocre announcing.
  25. art_tidesco
    25. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    When it comes to racing quality I think trucks has it in spades over any other series on earth, which is strange since a CTS truck is probably only marginally more aerodynamically efficient than a breeze block :-)
    The lesson seems to me to be don't let technology and aerodynamics interfere with racing quality.

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