It has been a while since we have seen Bobby Labonte run as well as he has this season. After running with low budget teams, underfunded and equipment that more times than not he was not competitive.
Labonte now with JTG Daugherty Racing is sitting 14th in the standings heading into California this weekend.
For the first time in a long time Labonte feels like this team can win and win anywhere.
“I do believe that we can go out there and be competitive week in and week out. In my mind, I know that we can be. We're going to miss things just like everybody else does. We have to go out there and be consistent right now. We'll gain confidence, gain integrity in our team, we'll gain experience with our group and we'll get a little bit better as we go. I think if we keep doing that, that's what's going to count towards the end of the year” Labonte said.
Labonte has 21 career wins, 115 top fives and 200 top 10 finishes.
He has been running in NASCAR for the last 20 years and Labonte knows a lot has changed since 1991 both outside and inside the sport.
“Today things are more readily available. You can find out more information than ever before. I think guys that come in today are no different in a lot of sports than they were 20 years ago. You have a lot more technology, a lot more advancement in learning than you did then.”
With JTG Daugherty’s alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing, Labonte has access to a lot of information and data. Labonte this weekend heads to a track where he has four top fives and five top 10 finishes.
His average finish of 19.9 means he will have some work to do this weekend.
The last top 15 finish Labonte had in this race was in 2005, the first time the track held two races.
He hasn’t had a top five finish since 2004, last year he started 33rd and finished 27th. This weekend he faces a particular challenge if he wants to continue his climb in the standings.
“But, yeah, I mean, I think I'd say, if any of them, Fontana I'm going to work harder than I ever have before to go good there. It's one that's buffaloed me the past few times.”
It is a very long season and this new points system has drivers approaching the races differently than in the past.
Perennial Chasers Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer struggling early Labonte’s solid start could lead to his first Chase birth.
With Labonte behind the wheel, in solid equipment and if you want a sleeper pick for the Chase; look no farther than Labonte.
photo:nascar.com
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