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From the Marbles - NASCAR

From the Marbles

Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:06 pm EST

Hall of Fame gets Yates, Labonte in one happy day

By Jay Busbee

Hall of Fame Racing put itself in the news twice over on Tuesday, announcing a lifesaving partnership with Yates Racing and signing up a familiar face in the driver's seat.

The new arrangement will mean -- hang on, get your pencils and pads out -- Hall of Fame's No. 96 car will switch over to Ford and run out of Yates' facility. The 96 rotated drivers through the seat in 2008 after sending J.J. Yeley packing. The car will still be owned by Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel, the ex- and current Arizona Diamondbacks execs who bought the team in late 2007 from Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach.

And who's going to be running for Hall of Fame / Yates but Bobby Labonte, the driver who was treated like last week's pizza when he split with the dysfunctional Petty Enterprises team last year. Labonte will be running in the No. 96; he'd been mentioned as the frontrunner to take over the No. 8 for Earnhardt Ganassi, but abruptly pulled out of those discussions. He'll be sponsored in 18 of the first 21 races of the season by Ask.com, but there's no word on what will happen afterward.

The 96 will most likely take its owner's points from Yates' existing No. 38 squad; David Gilliland drove that car in 2008. According to ThatsRacin, Yates' No. 28 team, driven last year by Travis Kvapil, doesn't currently have enough sponsor coin to run the entire 2009 season. (Expect to be hearing that awkward refrain a lot over this season.) Paul Menard will also be running for Yates, but sponsorship isn't an issue for him with Menard's Hardware in his pocket.

So, thumbs up to Hall of Fame for landing Labonte. Here's hoping he can make some noise with their ride.

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48 Comments

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  1. Cody
    1. Posted by Cody Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:57 pm EDT

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    And the least exciting story of the day goes to..
  2. Moon
    2. Posted by Moon Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:14 pm EDT

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    I am excited about Bobby. But I like Travis Kvapil, and I do think there is some talent in that guy. I am hoping to see him on the track next year.
    Busbee you are all sorts of AWESOMENESS
  3. kinggeorge
    3. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    I'm really happy for Bobby for at least getting a ride for 2009 for 18 races, and hopefully with some good finishes, be able to run the whole season. Having him back out of a possible #8 car ride must say something for the state of affairs at CGDEIWithFS (damn that's a mouth full). I HOPE the merger of HOF/Yates can get those cars performing to the level of the glory days of Yates Racing.
    I had read in another article that the #38 points would go to Menard in the #98 because he does have full time sponsorship and LaBonte has the pass champions provisional to fall back on. But with Smoke also in that same position, and with a more recent Cup title, Bobby may be left out of some races. So, will they choose Bobby or Paul to have guaranteed to race at Daytona?
  4. SportsFan
    4. Posted by SportsFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    From the looks of things, owner points might not be an issue if they can't get 43 cars to qualifying. I suspect a lot of part timers would try to qualify at Daytona, but after that I wouldn't be so sure.
  5. miss priss
    5. Posted by miss priss Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    Well this info will make my son happy. He is a Bobby fan.
  6. Russell
    6. Posted by Russell Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:43 pm EDT

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    I agree totally with No.4 post. I believe we're gonna see a downward spiral after Daytona. France and Co. will have to offer some incentives to get 48-50 cars to qualify....they can't afford it....and if Bobby LaBonte can only get sponsorship for 18 races (half the season) can you imagine what some of those "also rans" are going through ??As this economy continues its slide we might not ever again worry about the top 35 anymore.
  7. FarmerJ
    7. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    It's good to know NASCAR will have a TX native at the track. That's a benefit for everyone
  8. kinggeorge
    8. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    I think there will be 43 cars showing up to qualify. Why wouldn't a part time guy show up if there are only 41 cars racing? He is guaranteed a starting spot and a piece of the purse. I don't think more than 43 will show at some races and 48-50 is most likely not going to happen, depending on who the racers are. If you know faster guys are going to be there why spend the money to go to Calif., Vegas or Phoenix, that's a long haul for a cash strapped team.
  9. farmkid
    9. Posted by farmkid Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    ive been a bobby fan from the beginning. i think this is the dumbest move that bobby has ever made. his time is running out to try to help a less than average team. i wish he would have gone to dei. atleast they have some funding
  10. Tammy
    10. Posted by Tammy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:55 pm EDT

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    Good to see Bobby got a ride. I'd hate to see him reduced to pimping out his past champion's provisional for a different team each week (until it's used up) like some other past champions have been reduced to lately.
  11. Lisa
    11. Posted by Lisa Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    I've been a Bobby Labonte fan ever since I was born. The move he made was one of the dumbest. HOF and Yates are very bad teams. DEI has alot of talent and has alot better equipment. Bobby doesn't have alot of time and he had a great offer that he passed up.
  12. Johnny Appleseed
    12. Posted by Johnny Appleseed Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    Ask.com? I bent in buying a Cherios hat, but... seriously? Ask.com? Damn.
    Bobby would've been great in the 8 car, but, like it was a $10 hooker, he probably didn't like what he saw, and backed out.
    Ask.com? Well, at least it opens up a slew of commercial opportunities.
    Please don't become Michael Waltrip.
  13. Texas Mom
    13. Posted by Texas Mom Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:18 pm EDT

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    Glad to see Bobby got a ride. I hope the team is able to work well together and be competitive.
  14. kinggeorge
    14. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    For all you DEI supporters, does the #8 car even have one sponsor for this year? They lost the Army backing and I don't believe anyone has come on board yet. So I don't know how that would be considered better support/funding. At least Bobby has 18 races to show what he can do. That's better than nothing.
  15. SportsFan
    15. Posted by SportsFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    It looks like Chip n Dale only has two sponsors, Bass Pro for Truex and Target for Montoya. Almirola will drive at Daytona and selected races depending on sponsorship. The 8 has no sponsors. This info is from Bleecher Reports 1/12/09
  16. art_tidesco
    16. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Is BL supplying a past champions provisional per chance ?
  17. kinggeorge
    17. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    Thanks SF---Looks like Bobby made the smart decision.
    Art--He does but Tony won the championship more recently than Bobby did, so Smoke would get the nod if they both failed to qualify. I don't see Tony not qualifying so Bobby would be the next inline.
  18. Ryan Wolf
    18. Posted by Ryan Wolf Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    Woo! Now I gotta find a #96 shirt.
  19. JULIA
    19. Posted by JULIA Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:44 pm EDT

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    I'm glad Bobby has a ride and I hope he does well. I thought for sure he's be in the #8 though. I'm sure he knows what he's doing. Yates has been known to do well at Daytona. Now go use Ask.com!
  20. Zach
    20. Posted by Zach Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:58 pm EDT

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    I think I have to agree with the "dumbest move Labonte's ever made" crowd. I'm a big fan, but man this one takes the wind out my sails of future promise for Labonte. Hopefully, he only signed a one year deal, does very well and gets on with a real team. I think the fact that Yates had almost zilch for sponsorship in 2008 speaks to the quality
  21. Zach
    21. Posted by Zach Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:58 pm EDT

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    or perception of that organizaiton.
  22. Zach
    22. Posted by Zach Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:58 pm EDT

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    However, the biggest travesty in all this is that nobodies like Sorensam, Mears, etc are taking up good equipment with little ability to win, when there are veteran (ie older and for some inexplicable reason supposedly not marketable) drivers like Labonte that can actually win given a good organization and good equipment. Hopefully, for NASCAR and the fan's sake, the economic melt down will force Corporate nim-whits to quit demanding young, unproven pretty boys over veteran, quality and popular drivers. Ward or Boris anyone... I need not say more.
  23. terryfan
    23. Posted by terryfan Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    I realize he might not have had a lot of options but a FORD???? That's worse than Ask.com advertising.
  24. kinggeorge
    24. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    terryfan--I wish I could get into some smack talk about Ford vs.Chevy but my heart wouldn't be in it. They really aren't either, which is a shame. And Yates power has always been top notch, they just need some better people.
  25. terryfan
    25. Posted by terryfan Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    Yes - gone are the days where your favorite driver was in the same make car with the same sponsor for many years. I guess I should just be happy that Bobby has a ride!

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