JOURNEYMAN TO CONTENDER : DEFENDING CHAMP LABONTE SEES NO NEED TO STRAY FROM GAME PLAN.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Terry Labonte Terrance Lee Labonte (born November 16, 1956, in Corpus Christi, Texas) is a former NASCAR driver. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had worked on racecars as a hobby for his friends. apparently doesn't believe that he who stands pat is lost. ``Not really,'' he said when asked if he planned to make any major changes this year in defense of his Winston Cup championship. ``We got the same people back. It'll be the same team, same paint job, same everything.'' Same result? The Ice Man, as the 40-year-old Texan is known, smiled at the suggestion, but offered no prediction for the season or the opening event, the Daytona 500 today. Considering his low-key approach to virtually everything he does and in view of the 12 years it took him to win a second championship, Labonte was being cautious. Nonetheless, he knows from experiences both good and bad that only one thing really matters. ``I feel like we've got an outstanding team and a chance to go out there every week and be a contender,'' he said. ``That wasn't always the case.'' Between his improbable title of 1984 and an equally surprising finish at the top last year, Labonte was considered little more than a journeyman. He won't argue with that assessment because the numbers - just 14 victories over that span while being no factor in the championship hunt - bear it out. Labonte makes no apologies for his lack of production over those years, but admits being a perennial also-ran was difficult to accept. ``It got frustrating at times, knowing you were with a team that really didn't have a legitimate chance to win the championship,'' he said. Because only one of about 40 full-time drivers can win the title, most of the others don't get down on themselves. But going four full seasons (1990-93) without winning a race was another matter for Labonte. ``We came close to winning a few times,'' he said. ``But you can't go out there and run good a couple of times and expect to win. You've got to run good all the time, then you're going to win some.'' Never was that more evident than in the championship seasons for owner Billy Hagan Billy Joe Hagan (born March 22, 1932 in Lillie, Louisiana) is a former NASCAR driver/owner. He made three starts in NASCAR's Grand National/Winston Cup division, finishing eighth in his first start, the inaugural Talladega 500 in a self-owned 1968 Mercury. in 1984 and Rick Hendrick Joseph Riddick Hendrick III (born July 12, 1949 in Warrenton, North Carolina), better known as Rick Hendrick is an owner of several NASCAR stock cars and teams, as well as Hendrick Automotive Group[1], one of the largest automotive chains in the United States. last year. Both times, Labonte managed just two victories. He was second six times and third as often in 1984. Last year, he had seven seconds and five thirds. After the run of futility in the early part of this decade, Labonte's career was resurrected in 1994 when he signed on as Ricky Rudd's replacement with Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports is a group of NASCAR racing teams started by Rick Hendrick in 1984 under the name "All Star Racing", racing only Chevrolets, racing in both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series circuits. . ``I knew it was a team that had won races and had a chance to win the championship,'' Labonte said. But first, he had to win a race. That happened at North Wilkesboro, N.C., in the seventh event of 1994. It broke a drought of 135 races, setting the stage for three victories that season and three more in 1995. Then came last season, when Labonte edged teammate and defending champion defending champion n (SPORT) → defensor/a m/f del tÃtulo defending champion n (Sport) → champion(ne) en titre Jeff Gordon Jeffery Michael Gordon (born August 4, 1971) is a professional American race car driver. He was born in Vallejo, California, raised in Pittsboro, Indiana, and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. by 37 points for the title. ``That was the first time in years that I'd been in the points race that late in the season,'' Labonte said. ``I'm glad we were able to seize the opportunity, because you don't get that many of them.'' AT A GLANCE When: Today, Daytona Motor Speedway. Top five: 1. Mike Skinner Mike Skinner is the name of:
Television: 9 a.m., Channel 2. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box Photo: Terry Labonte has won only one major in a career that began in 1979. Associated Press Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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