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Champion All The Way |
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Bobby Labonte's incredible season leads him to the big prize
Each February NASCAR teams struggle to figure out what it takes to win the Winston Cup title. Bobby Labonte
and the Joe Gibbs' Interstate Batteries Team have given a clinic this season for all to try to follow in
the future.
The NASCAR Point System is heavily weighted in
favor of consistency over wins. Labonte and his team took maximum advantage of that by being
one of only two teams to race the entire schedule without a DNF this season. (Dale Earnhardt
is the other) Bobby also has Twenty-three top ten finishes out of the thirty-three races run so far
and he leads all drivers with eighteen top five finishes so far this season. Consistency is indeed
what the Championship chase is all about and no one posted more consistent numbers than
Labonte.
The bonus points available within the NASCAR system can also play a big role. Drivers are
awarded five bonus points for leading a lap during each race and another five bonus points
are awarded to the driver who leads the most laps during each race. Bobby held his own here
as well. Third in overall bonus points accumulated, Bobby is tied for the lead in most races
lead at twenty-two. (Jeff Burton is the other)
Beyond the statistics, and they are impressive, Bobby Labonte is by all accounts a Champion
across the board. A genuinely nice guy on and off the racetrack you will have to look long
and hard to find a fan, official, media or competitor who can find anything negative to say
about Bobby. He is a class act from start to finish.
A heartfelt congratulations to Bobby Labonte and the entire Joe Gibbs Racing team for a textbook
Championship battle. I am confident that Bobby will serve the sport well as it's reigning titleholder
for 2001.
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