Consistency has always been Labonte's hallmark, so a 13-race stretch during 1998 in which he was out of the top 20 eight times was way out of character. He still got a win, finished ninth in points and closed the season with five straight top-10 finishes, though, and having a year in with crew chief Andy Graves can only help.
Career
Defense of 1996 championship didn't go exactly as planned.
Started season with 13 straight top-15s, but was 37th or worse five times
in the next 13. Frustration showed when crew chief Gary DeHart left job
following fight with team member at Martinsville in September. Two races
later, though, Labonte won at Talladega. Wound up sixth in points and won
$2,270,144.
Began 1997 with 537 consecutive starts. His first victory in 1996 came at N. Wilkesboro the same day he tied Richard Pety's mark of 513 consecutive starts, becomming Winston Cup's new "Ironman."
Two-time Winston Cup champion (1984, 1996). Scored two victories, 24 top-10 and 21 top-5 finishes to earn the top spot on the driver points standings.
Won $4,030,648 in 1996 to push his total earnings to $14,485,403, which moves him to fourth on the all-time list.
This is Terry Labonte's fourth year with Rick Hendrick. He won three races and had 14 top-5 finishes during the 1995 season. With wins at Richmond, Pocono and Bristol.
Career received a boost in '94 when he posted three victories, first visits to Victory Lane since 1989. Crossed $1 million mark in earnings for first time in career in '94, winning $1,125,921 and finished seventh in Winston Cup points.
First career win came in 59th start, 1980 Southern 500. First pole came in 72nd attempt, 1981 Coca-Cola 500 in Atlanta. 1984 Winston Cup champion with two wins, six second-place finishes and six third-place finishes with Billy Hagan team. Won 1985 Busch Clash. Won 1988 The Winston Select at Charlotte. Won 1989 IROC championship. Won 1990 Christmas 400K in Melbourne, Australia.
Started with quarter-midgets in Texas, '64. Corpus Christi, Tex., Sportsman of the Year 1979 and '84. Finished fourth in his first Winston Cup race, 1978 Southern 500.
Sources: NASCAR Press Guides, Star and News staff reports.
