I'd imagine Michael Waltrip thought that by this time in the 2007 campaign, he wouldn't be making announcements like this.Michael Waltrip Racing announced Wednesday that two-time Cup champ Terry Labonte will find himself in the No. 55 Toyota for the Allstate 400 on July 29th.
Labonte drove the No. 55 for Waltrip in Sonoma, Calif., and finished 35th on the road course. He's also scheduled to drive next month at Watkins Glen.
"I felt having him in the car next weekend at Indianapolis would be a great opportunity for me to continue to evaluate my entire organization from an owner's perspective," Waltrip said Wednesday.
"The feedback related to road course racing that Terry was able to provide my team after Infineon Raceway was very valuable. "We look forward to more of the same input after Indy."
Labonte has participated 11 races at the Brickyard, but has had only one top-5 finish back in 1996.
More trivia? Indianapolis was the first race Terry missed in 655 races back in 2000 after suffering a head injury at Daytona just weeks before.
For Waltrip? MWR has indeed shown some improvement as of late, and his top-10 run at Michigan was a definite sign of things to come, I think.
Fans can fault the guy all they want, but the truth is NASCAR needs guys like Waltrip around the garage area. At least, that is, in Pocono.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-20-2007 @ 10:11AM
CJ said...
I found out recently that Justin Labonte will be in DW's truck at Indy Raceway Park next weekend and i wouldnt be suprised if that was one of the provisions Terry told Waltrip he wanted to climb in the 55 car for him. I always said that one of the things that Hendrick used to lure Terry to climb out of the 5 car to make room for Kyle Busch was that he help Justin get a ride and it was ironic that Haas hired him in 2005 and they just happen to get their engines from Hendrick, so what a coincidence! I like Terry, just as i do Bill Elliott, i just wander if Terry might consider doin what Bill is, end up stayin in the 55 car to get it in the top 35 in owner points? I know it's not workin too well, so far, for Bill and orginially Terry was just goin to do the road courses, so will he keep adding? Im curious to know that!
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7-20-2007 @ 3:52PM
nirvanact2 said...
Well now maybe the 55 car will make a race. Waltrip sure can't do it.
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7-22-2007 @ 8:53AM
jim said...
I really respected the fact that when he retired Terry said that he might race again but only in a Chevrolet. Why did he go back on his word? Sorry Terry, I won't be pulling for you anymore.
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