Labonte goes part-time

Double NASCAR champion Terry Labonte has added his name to the list of veterans who are about to call time on illustrious careers by announcing he will run a limited schedule in 2005 and 2006

Oct 12, 2004, 3:39 PM

Rusty Wallace announced he would quit after a farewell tour in 2005 and Bill Elliot is in the middle of a two-year wind-down from frontline competition. Title chaser Mark Martin is also rumoured to be on the verge of an announcement and has called a press conference for this Thursday.

The 47-year-old Labonte will hand over his fulltime Hendrick Motorsport Chevrolet Monte Carlo driver to Busch Series sensation Kyle Busch, brother of Nextel Cup leader Kurt, but will compete in ten races next year and another ten in 2006, his final season.

"I thought a while about just walking away and I couldn't do it, but I didn't want to do a traditional farewell tour," said Labonte.

Labonte, who won titles in 1984 and 1996, began his NASCAR career in 1978 with Billy Hagan. His first full season of competition was in 1979, and he went on to set a record 655 consecutive starts.