Fortunes finally starting to turn for Labonte
Top-five run at Bristol just what doctor ordered for hard-luck team
By Jarrod Breeze, NASCAR.COM
March 27, 2006
09:56 AM EST (14:56 GMT)
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- The half-glass at Petty Enterprises finally looks more full than empty.
Since preseason testing the team has been brimming with optimism. The additions of championship driver Bobby Labonte and crew chief Todd Parrott to the No. 43 team and former crew chief Robbie Loomis to executive vice president of operations provided a glimmer of hope to restoring the Petty mystique.
But four races into the 2006 season, Petty's two-car race team was at no closer to the front than it had been since the days of King Richard himself. Kyle Petty was an improved 24th in points, but Labonte was 38th, seven spots and 77 points behind the man he replaced in the 43, Jeff Green.
But all that changed on Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Labonte finished fifth in the Food City 500, the first top-five for the No. 43 since John Andretti finished second almost five years ago to the day.
"We had a good racecar," said Labonte, who started 30th. "Of course, that's what we needed. Everyone on the team did a great job."
http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/head...bonte_bristol/