Terry Labonte

Born: November 16, 1956, Corpus Christi, Texas
Wife: Kim
Children: Justin and Kristen
Height: 5' 10" Weight: 165lbs

Terry Labonte was born, Terrence Lee Labonte, on November 16,1956 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Bob and Martha Labonte. Labonte got his start at age 7 in Quarter-Midgets. (Quarter-Midgets have fiberglass bodies, roll cages and are really midget-like cars.) With the support and encouragement of his father, Labonte got a racers' education from age 7 to age 16.

His first stockcar ride was in a home-built 1957 Chevy and he proved himself a winning ticket at CC Speedway in Corpus Christi. It was a paved quarter-mile track and in a couple of years he has won his class at the speedway, and according to rules had to move up to Late Models. By 1976, at age 19, he was running both dirt and pavement tracks, using the same car. He would change out the tires , springs, shocks and gears to get ready to go to the asphalt from the dirt.

After mastering all the tracks in his hometown, he began traveling to other cities in search of competition. There was a new track in San Antonio, and so he began racing at San Antonio and Houston, both of which were 150 to 200 miles from Corpus Christi. Finally Ed Hamlin, a promoter in Houston, boosted Terry's career by introducing him to Billy Hagen, an oil driller who was also involved in stock car racing. He backed Labonte's efforts in 1976 and 1977, and at the end of 1977, asked Labonte to move to North Carolina and go to all the races with Hagen's regular driver. Driving a 1974 Chevrolet pick up with a U-haul, he moved to North Carolina. "I didn't have much," Labonte said "My mother made me take all my trophies, clothes, tv and stereo. I had $1500 in cash. That was all."

At the age of 21,(1978)Terry made his first start, at Darlington and finished fourth. Other drivers starting out were young drivers like Dale Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd. In 1979 Labonte ran the full 31 race schedule and finished 10th in points. Starting his run of consecutive races, he battled Dale Earnhardt, Harry Gant and Joe Millikan for rookie honors. Earnhardt won that year.

Terry's first big race was the Winston Western 500 at Riverside California. He started 25th and finished 35th driving the number 44 Stratagraph Chevrolet. He only completed 7 of the 119 laps due to engine failure, He was the first car out and won $1000 dollars. Terry's first victory was September 1,1980 in the Southern 500 in Darlington, where he beat out David Pearson, Harry Gant, Benny Parsons and the late Neil Bonnett for the win. Labonte's first career pole was March 15th, 1981 in Atlanta, where at his 72nd start, he finished 19th.

In 1984, Labonte became the youngest modern era Champion at age 27, driving the 44 Piedmont Airlines Chevy, owned by Billy Hagen. He edged out Harry Gant by 65 points. Labonte won the Busch Clash in 1985, drove for Junior Johnson in 1987, and won the 1989 IROC Championship. Unfortunately 1990 to 1994 were lean years with no wins.

In 1994 he began driving for Rich Hendrick, and on September 24, 1995 Labonte became the fifth ever 10 million dollar man, joining the elite ranks of Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace. April 21, 1996 Terry tied Richard Petty's record of 513 consecutive starts - then breaking it the following week, with no end in sight. Labonte wins his second Championship in 1996, and it was unforgettable -- he and younger brother Bobby taking their laps around the track.

All contributions are welcome, and should be made payable to Chamber of Commerce Labonte Recognition Fund, or make an online contribution here. Call 361-880-3234 for information regarding corporate sponsorship packages.

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