When Terry Labonte announced his retirement from racing in 2006, he intended to put that part of his life behind him.
Now, the 51-year-old Labonte is back again, four races into a six-race stint at Petty Enterprises. He’s filling in for Kyle Petty, who’s taking some time away to work as a TV analyst on TNT’s Cup broadcasts. And he gets to be teammates with younger brother Bobby.
“When I get to the racetrack it’s like old times again,” Terry Labonte said at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “Bobby and I always parked our motorhomes next to each other, and we’ve been able to do that again. We both have similar driving styles so we are able to bounce things off of each other once again. In the process, I think you’ve seen us both have decent runs, but we just need a little luck. I couldn’t be happier with the decision to come back for a few races.”
The elder Labonte certainly doesn’t regret retiring after a Cup career that began in 1978 and included 22 victories and championships in 1984 and 1996.
He insists he hasn’t missed racing all that much.
“I’d watch some races and think, ‘Man, I wish I was there. That’s one of my favourite tracks,”’ Labonte said. “Then there’s other races I’d watch and think, ‘Phew, I’m glad I’m not there.’ It kind of would go both ways.”
| 
|