Not so long ago NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte didn't have a job and that is why his improbable fifth-place finish in Sunday's Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is all the more astonishing.
Moreover, Labonte's team Hall of Fame Racing didn't have a team and Yates Racing didn't have a sponsor but in mid-January, HoF inked Ask.com as a sponsor and commissioned Yates Racing to operate its team.
The 2000 Sprint Cup champion was positively ebullient after climbing out of his car "It's pretty freaking awesome," said Labonte, who is a surprising 10th in points three races into the season. "I can't wait to get back in it and go. We're taking it one race at a time, so I'm excited."
For all those elements to come together in a year where testing is banned was hard enough to do. But for Labonte to score his first top five in 78 races dating all the way back to Martinsville in 2006 was nothing short of amazing.
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images
Moreover, Labonte's team Hall of Fame Racing didn't have a team and Yates Racing didn't have a sponsor but in mid-January, HoF inked Ask.com as a sponsor and commissioned Yates Racing to operate its team.
The 2000 Sprint Cup champion was positively ebullient after climbing out of his car "It's pretty freaking awesome," said Labonte, who is a surprising 10th in points three races into the season. "I can't wait to get back in it and go. We're taking it one race at a time, so I'm excited."
For all those elements to come together in a year where testing is banned was hard enough to do. But for Labonte to score his first top five in 78 races dating all the way back to Martinsville in 2006 was nothing short of amazing.
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images