Labonte to RCR in 2009

[TAZZ]

Richard Childress acknowledged that his organization is close to fielding a fourth team in the Sprint Cup Series.

Yahoo! Sports has learned that the driver of that car beginning in 2009 likely will be Bobby Labonte [currently #43 Petty Enterprises].
Sources close to the deal point to General Mills, Labonte's current sponsor with Petty Enterprises, coming along with him to RCR.
According to Childress, he will field a fourth car sometime this season, though he wouldn't set an exact time frame. He did say things were progressing well and that he was pleased with how plans were coming together. "We're looking at entering a few races before the end of the season," Childress said. Childress entered a fourth car (#33) in selected races in 2007 with Scott Wimmer as the driver. Wimmer likely is the choice to be behind the wheel when the car makes it back onto the track this season. However, Labonte likely will be the full-time driver in 2009. Hiring Labonte would be an ace up the sleeve for RCR. Labonte is a past champion, which means he would get a champion's provisional that would guarantee him a spot in the field at the start of the '09 season. Labonte already has a relationship with Childress, having signed with RCR this year to drive the #21 Nationwide car on a part-time basis this season.(Yahoo Sports)(2-23-2008) Comment here.


Petty Enterprices
Too Little Too Late

1-They kept Kyle in the car too long
2-They stayed in Level Cross too long and got way behind on technology and employees
3- Had Kyle running the business and driving and running Victory Junction
Kyle should have stepped out of a few roles
4- 3-5 years before Petty Enterprices can get up to a contender
a- need development drivers
b- need top employees in MOORESVILLE $$$$ talks
c- need to switch to TOYOTAS and work with GIBBS , Dodge is way behind
d- Kyle needs to concentrate on Victory Junction , get a young driver for #45 and hire Steve Hmeil to run the shop's day in day out business

[ProwlingPanther]

This has been in the works for a while now. Bobby is very chummy with RCR and Harvick, so it's only natural he joins as the 4th man. Welcome (tentatively) to the team Bobby

[Rakeman]

I listened to an interview Bobby did recently and a few of his comments made me think he wasn't all that enchanted at Petty Enterprises, so this is not all that surprising.

It's a good move for Bobby.......maybe not so good for the Petty's.

[Sprint]

I would basically agree with all those points Tazz.....While I am and always will be a Petty fan at heart,I got fed up with the lack of performance years ago. All I can say is they better do everything they can to produce results this year so they can attract a good quality driver for next year and sponsers

[GA Cat Fan]

But, they don't need to switch to Toyota. There's already more of them than I care to see. Mopar is synonymus with Petty. I was really disappointed to see Gibbs switch being as successful as he was with Chevy. Toyota must have offered him a shipload of money.

JMO.

[Sprint]

I would say they need to go with who ever would make them sucessful....if thats Toyota so be it. One thing you have to remember is that more Tundras are american made than F150's

[TAZZ]

Times are a changing

If Petty wants to stay in NASCAR , its padt time to do whatever it taked to catch up
If thats leaving Dodge [so be it ]

Dodge has their money Penske and then Everham and then Petty
Chevy had its money in Hendrickd then R C R and then Gibbs
Ford has its money in Roush then a dying RYR
Toyota was MWR now GIBBS is Toyotas top dawg

Unless your supported #1 or at least #2 by your manufactor then you are just out for a Sunday drive


Petty is in danger of going the way the Wood Bro's ,Morgan McClure ,Jr Dunleavy , Junior Johnson,and other small teams have gone .
And D E I with Teresa calling the shots