Bobby Labonte’s curious odyssey of the past year took another turn on Thursday, when he was released from his seat as the driver of the No. 43 Petty Dodge...
Tom Jensen
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Posted December 11, 2008
Harrisburg, North Carolina
Bobby Labonte says he was aware of Internet reports that had him signed with the newly formed Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the offseason. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Bobby Labonte’s curious odyssey of the past year took another turn on Thursday, when the 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion was released from his seat as the driver of the No. 43 Petty Enterprises Dodge Charger, his home since the 2006 season began.
The Texas native will now begin looking for a new ride for 2009, and his name already has surfaced in connection with the vacant seat at the No. 41 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates entry, although no deal has been signed yet.
It’s been a complicated past year for Labonte. In November 2007, Labonte formed his own marketing company called Breaking Limits. One of the first clients Breaking Limits signed was General Mills, who had sponsored the Petty Enterprises No. 43 since 2000. But on April 1, 2008, it was announced that General Mills would be moving to Richard Childress Racing in 2009 as a sponsor of that team’s start-up fourth car. It was expected at the time that Labonte would become the driver of the new RCR No. 33, but that seat eventually went to Clint Bowyer, with Casey Mears joining RCR to replace Bowyer in the No. 07.
Despite losing General Mills, Petty Enterprises didn’t think finding a replacement sponsor would be an issue. “While there is substantial sponsorship interest in Bobby and Petty Enterprises, we will carefully consider our options to ensure the continuation of our rich tradition and to build on current momentum,” said Brian Moffitt, vice president, marketing for PE, in a statement released April 1. “Prospective partners are well aware of the special power of the Petty brand, as numerous surveys and marketing groups have identified Richard Petty as one of the most iconic brands in all of sports.”
Then, in June, team owner Richard Petty sold majority interest in PE to the investment firm Boston Ventures. As part of the deal, Labonte signed a four-year contract extension to remain behind the wheel of the No. 43. “I have known all along this is where I want to finish my racing career,” said Labonte then. “The future is very bright for Petty Enterprises. As we continue to develop and learn from this new car we will increase our testing and engineering support. The investment from Boston Ventures will allow us to compete on the same level as the bigger Sprint Cup teams.”
But the bright future went to black with the collapse of Wall Street in the fall, which resulted in the team being unable to find sponsorship for 2009. “Bobby’s out working, I’m working,” Petty said last month prior to the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “If I wasn’t talking to y’all, I’d be out working on trying to get sponsorship. So we’re still working on it.”
