The six race NASCAR honeymoon is over

Sunday, April 6th, 2008 9:05am CDT

User Avatar Latest Nascar News And Info! By Charlie Turner, Thunder Lounge
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Silly SeasonNASCAR’s annual silly season is off to an early start.

Last week the story was of Richard Childress Racing capturing the General Mills flag from the Petty #43 and planting it on the hood of a fourth RCR Cup car. Where there’s a car there must eventually be a driver and the speculation began that Petty Enterprises’ Bobby Labonte might make the move to that ride in 2009. The last few days have seen the names of Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr emerge. Earlier, others had speculated that Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman were possibilities.

Next up came the news that Kyle Petty was pulling himself or being ranked - you decide - from the Petty #45 and being replaced by young Chad McCumbee - at least for the Texas race. The #45 is well out of the top thirty five in owner’s points now and it feels like Kyle may be on the way out of the picture as a full time driver for the venerable team.

Then yesterday came rumblings from Florida, where Chip Ganassi is watching over his Indy Car investment and stewing about the performance of his three Cup teams. Chip isn’t happy with either Dario Franchitti’s or Reed Sorenson’s seasons so far. Ganassi talks as if he feels the problems are more team than driver related. But that wouldn’t make me feel all that comfortable if I were Dario or Reed.

The top thirty five qualifying rule puts more focus and pressure on the tail-enders of Sprint Cup. We’ve only had one race since the automatic qualifiers started being based on this year’s owners’ points. The sixth race of the year is now opening day for NASCAR’s silly season.

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Filed Under: Bobby Labonte, Carl Edwards, Charlie Turner, Chip Ganassi Racing #40, Dario Franchitti, Greg Biffle, Guest Authors, Kyle Petty, Petty Enterprises #45, Reed Sorenson, Ricky Rudd, Sprint Cup, Teams

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User Avatar By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday January 30, 2008
6:58pm CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.



Bobby Labonte

Bobby Labonte, 2007

  • 2007 Stats

    • Organization: Petty Enterprises
    • Car Number: 43
    • Crew Chief: Paul Andrews/Doug Randolph
    • Sponsor: Cheerios
    • Points: 18th :: 3517 :: -3206
    • Starts: 36
    • Poles: 0
    • Wins: 0
    • Top 5’s: 0
    • Top 10’s: 3
    • Winnings: $4,586,960

  • 2008 Preview

    • Organization: Petty Enterprises
    • Car Number: 43
    • Crew Chief: Jeff Meendering
    • Sponsor: Cheerios

One word sums up the 2007 season for Bobby Labonte. Improvement. In 2006, his first year with Petty Enterprises, he finished 21st in the points. In 2007, he improved three positions to 18th.

Three positions isn’t earth shattering. However, in 2006 he also had 3 Top-5’s and 8 Top-10’s. In 2007, he simply had 3 Top-10’s. Wow, you say? What this shows us is that while the numbers at the top might not quite reflect improvement, overall he was running better.

Then again, he also scored 50 less points in 2007, vice 2006, so take it how you see it.

The positive side of this 2008 equation is Jeff Meendering. Yes, thatJeff Meendering. The same guy that was the car chief for a certain Mr. Gordon. And, for the record, I don’t mean Robby. With the addition of Jeff Meendering as Bobby’s new crew chief, 2008 could prove to be a year of marked improvement. I’m sure it also hasn’t hurt that one Mr. Loomis has been able to “interpret” between a familiar Hendrick lingo, and the Petty speak as well.

The drawback to this whole equation: Dodge. The unknown factor: Full time with the new car. If the Dodge camp can get the manufacturer backing that has been missing in strength, it may be enough to pick up some momentum for the #43 team.

Note: information is accurate as of date published. Check Thunder Lounge for additional updates and information.

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Filed Under: Bobby Labonte, Drivers, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Petty Enterprises #43, Sprint Cup, Teams

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