Bobby Labonte Appears Headed to RCR

So after some tom-foolery here on FanHouse this morning, here's today's real news:

Bobby Labonte, the 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, looks to be more convincingly headed to Richard Childress Racing for the 2009 season with sponsor General Mills.

Yahoo! first reported some possibilities between Labonte and RCR, and with today's announcement from General Mills about moving to RCR for 2009, the Labonte rumor only heats up.

Here's some text from the General Mills announcement by way of the Charlotte Observer's David Poole:

General Mills will sponsor a fourth team at RCR, the No. 33 Chevrolets. No driver was named for that car, but there has already been at least one published report that Bobby Labonte will move along with the sponsor to RCR.

"RCR is honored to represent General Mills and its Cheerios, Hamburger Helper and many other brands in the NASCAR Cup Series," team owner Richard Childress said.

Labonte seems like an ideal fit for that ride, as he already is driving for Childress in the Nationwide Series. The move to Petty Enterprises for the champion hasn't panned out like he thought it would with a resurgence of success at PE.

You've got to think that Petty Enterprises has to be feeling a little bit of heat in losing a primary sponsor when Kyle Petty is having a tough time even making races and Labonte isn't able to perform at his level due to equipment.

Silly season each year in NASCAR just can't start soon enough anymore, can it?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

4-01-2008 @ 4:14PM

theshark317 said...

that would be sooo amazing. he is a great driver. he just needs a great team

4-01-2008 @ 11:19PM

anzajoe said...

BOBBY LABONTE, should never left GIBBS racing, exspecially for a low tier racket like PETTY ENTERPRICE. He left gold for for thin cans.From the very beginning, i believed it was a bad move and the last few years proved me right.
Finally he decided to make a little smarter move lately with RCR and even tough RCR is in no way at the height of the gibbs, at the least BOBBY will have a chance to win some races.Works for me.

4-01-2008 @ 11:33PM

Lou said...

It would be nice for Labonte but the real news is that Tony Stewart wants back into a chevy and thats why he hasn't signed on with Gibbs yet. He already has a good friendship with Harvick who has been lobying for RCR to go after Tony behind closed doors.

4-02-2008 @ 12:36AM

SO LOU,are you saying that RCR is going is going to display a 5 car teams or TONY will go to RCR instead of labonte?
Honestly, i find it hard to believe tony leaving the GIBBS.I think he is just negotiating a higher paycheck, that's why he has'nt signed yet.It's called negotiating leverage.I may be wrong.

4-02-2008 @ 12:42AM

Don Emerson said...

I agree, Bobby crapped in his hat when he left to go to Petty Enterprises. But as the public, we don't really know all the factors involved in making the move. Bobby is a great driver and I'd like to see him in a top ride as he winds down his career. Here's hoping there is some truth to the rumor. As for Tony wanting to bail on Gibbs, more power to him. I just hope he can find anyone else to put up with his temper tantrums. Poor Tony, he's a legend in his own mind. Works for me.....

4-02-2008 @ 8:57AM

Kim said...

I like Bobby Labonte! I think he is a good quality driver and the talent is definitely there. With a better ride, he should definitely be more of a contender again. As far as moving to PE, I believe he may have done that to try to "stand out." At Gibbs, look who else he had to be teammates with. It's hard to shine when Tony Stewart is your teammate.

As far as Tony moving. I called that one last year when Gibbs announced they were switching to Toyota. Tony is a Chevy man through & through. Always has been! I believe that rumor to be very true. I also think it would be a good move for Stewart. Perhaps not to RCR but Hendrick (as I suggested last year). Could you imagine that powerhouse (JG, JJ, JR. & TS)? Wow, that would be the most successful team in NASCAR history.

Kim

4-02-2008 @ 2:19PM

drgrcr601 said...

I agree Kim, Bobby is a class act and always has been during his career. I don't too excited when I hear Nascar rumors. I bet at least 50% never materialize but ya never know.

Your dream team looks good on paper but ego clashing would be at a all time high. Tony isn't as easy to get along with as Jr is. Remember he threw Denny "under the bus". I guess we will have to wait and see how these rumors play out.

Ron

4-02-2008 @ 7:28PM

tooslick said...

Hey, Miller, Geoff Miller? Hey, are you the one that is the anti-Nascar but write for them some how? I heard you're the cat that started that nelly saying of "Silly season." Was it really you and that 4-F, fake announcer ductor punschhh? Because, all you're doing is sabotaging an otherwise good product strugglin to be greaaaaat. So, think about it before you start weanie writing your articles/assignments.

4-02-2008 @ 8:18PM

Geoffrey Miller said...

tooslick,

You are most definitely right. I am very much anti-NASCAR. I really do hate the sport. So much, in fact, that I write about in attempt to influence the rest of the world to hate it.

And yes, I did create term Silly Season, not that guy who runs that Jayski.com.

Hating NASCAR,

-GM

(so someone will enjoy that satire, right?)

4-02-2008 @ 9:49PM

Hey Geoff, I for one would like to see you get more involved with the posters. No satire here.

Ron

4-02-2008 @ 11:31PM

Mike said...

Tooslick? Is that anything like KY? Am I really the only one that knows who that is? I feel like I am on a game show here.
MBL

4-02-2008 @ 11:53PM

NOW, THIS ONE DON.T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH B.LABONTE.

It's either,i'm a little thick to understand or the editors are smoking something when every week they take out of the spotlight (headlines latest post)the files that collect dozines of comments and leave on the headlines of files that are not worth crap and have collected zero comments or very few.
FOR EXAMPLE: the file; hamlin scores home state win at martinsville has been on this pages for only 3 days and has collected 37 posts.It's now gone because it had to make room for a nonsense ROBBY LOOMIS FILE related to B.LABONTE,WHEN B LABONTE,ALREADY HAS A FILE GOING. Meanwhile to top that,worthless files which have collected 0 comments
like: give martinsville fans 2 thumbs up- MATT KENSETH won't wreck you disreetly- FORMULA 1 boss enjoyed a nazi style orgy,(10 comments but none for last couple days)etc. etc. still in the spotlight as
latest posts even tough they are only an eye sore to
the bloggers.

The same happened last week when the TONY STEWART
FILE about back waxing disappeared after few days
and had collected a few dozines of posts and other wortheless files were left on.
and that's not all;it's the same story every week
and to me it only reflects poor judgement from the editors.I'M sorry, but that's my opinion. That's the way i see it.
Many of you bloggers used to bitch about TGOWISKEY
because she used to bomb us often with files about
her belowed GOD DALE EARNHARDT JR.(well,he was and still is one of my nascar gods also). For other motives, i didn't care for the carature from IOWA either and never apologized to her when must of you
at fought (ACCORDING TO HER, DID) Anyway,the point is; junior or non junior at times, she gave us something other than 1 or 2 files to write posts about and i never remember the good files collecting plenty of blogs,disappearing so quickly.
She also intentional or not kept the fierstly rivalvry going among the fans of J GORDON and DALE JR.Nevertheless, glad she is gone. Works for me.
JUST TOUGHT WAS NECESSARY TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

4-03-2008 @ 10:22AM

I am more than a little confused, Joe. Do you actually miss TGOM or is it just the fact that many of her posts sparked controversy? Or, is this just a way to needle Geoffrey? As I wrote earlier, I do not miss having article after article written about ONE driver. Even if they were all about "The God of Thunder Row" I would get bored. There are at least 15 or more really good drivers out there to write about.
I agree that last year we did get into some really good give and take over many articles that were relating to Little E. However, last year as there was much ado about his leaving DEI, the engine fiasco, and the absolutely stupid number thing, we HAD things to comment on. So far this year there has been nothing to comment on with the guy. Jr has very quietly positioned himself at the top of the points race and as I said earlier, may be the points leader in a couple weeks. Once that happens, I am sure it will wake up the "green horde" and they will start thumping their chests and crowing about their fave. However, as one the people that does love taking jabs at the Jr fans, it is not fair to just throw up a post about him for no good reason. This weekends race is in TX where it will be hotter than it has been. Hotter track, hotter engines, high RPM racetrack. If Jr blows his first Hendricks engine this weekend you will get your wish of some fired up commentary.
MBL

4-03-2008 @ 11:10AM

Brad said...

Mike..........'THE GOD OF THUNDER ROW' ? ? ? Man after that Happy Holiday fiasco I thought you of all people would not worship a 'PAGAN IDOL' LOL.
And your right there was alot of comment last year but most of it was spurred on by people 'TAKING JABS' or outright bashing Jr because of there jealousy of 'THE NATION' and when JG catches up to Jr. in the standings (which he will) the 'DUPONT DUMMIES' will also have something to crow about, now they would probably thump there chest too but that would probably hurt to much so let's just say they'll crow at a HIGH PITCH OF COURSE. And your right again it's not fair to just throw up a post, like this guys wife being hotter than that guy and then next week hotter that this other guy or just look how cute the new baby girl is that does get BORING. And if Jr. WINS this week you won't get as much banter but there will be those that look for any possible morsel of dirt to throw out there about Jr., like HIS CREW CHIEF IS A FOOL, OOPS THAT'S BEEN USED SO MAYBE THEY WILL GO AFTER HIS SISTER, OR MAYBE HIS DOG,,,,,,WHO KNOWS....LMAO

Aloha, Brad

P.S. Just taking Jabs no harm intended.......
Tool-stick take it easy, Geoff is doing a damn fine job! ! !

4-03-2008 @ 2:32PM

NO MIKE,
I do not miss TGIF at all. I never even liked her stupid web TGOM name.
Let's get real, at the list JEFFERY MILLER signes his real name to his work.
Yes TGOW files did spark controversy among the 2 faction of the GODS OF NASCAR.
And NO, the above post was not a way to shoot needles or darts at mr millertime.
I do not even know if it's him or any of his decision to abort the files that are collecting posts after few days and leaving the "wash files" in to the spotlight.MY above post it's just my way
to get the attention of the editors who are making such decision and let them realize that it may be controproductive and senseless to let the productive files disappear and keep the eye sore files up for ever. That's all.
In his own way,TONY STEWART,got the attention of GOODYEAR and something will be done about those crappy tires.
AND yes,it will become eventually BOREING to talk about the same driver every few days ,no matter if such driver is ALLAH JEFF GORDON,DALE JESUS JR, SAINT JIMMY JOHNSON OR LUCIFER TONY STEWART.
P.S.
Just out of curiosity, does any poster know why is
TGOWiskey gone ? please post about.

4-03-2008 @ 4:16PM

Dupont Dummies? I am one of them and I loved it!!!
ROFL
Michael LeVan

4-03-2008 @ 9:29PM

Is anyone else here confused? How did this blog entry about Bobby Labonte become a negative posting site for the writer, editors, etc.?

Tooslick,

I usually think your comments are pretty funny & creative but in regards to the one up above, you are way off! Geoffrey is an excellent writer, passionate, yet professional, and usually imparcial to favortism. I don't think he or anyone else would be writing about a subject on a daily basis if they didn't love what they did.

And to Anna, WHAT the HELL are you talking about? The articles do not "disappear" or "go away" mysteriously into the midnight sky. If you simply scroll down the page you will find an arrow to the right of your screen. Push on it and it will take you to another page where the articles were simply pushed down due to new articles being posted & updated.

Mike, what does ROFL mean?

Kim

4-03-2008 @ 11:02PM

RIGHT ,THE ARTICLES WERE SIMPLY PUSHED DOWN TO MAKE
ROOM FOR NEW ARTICLES.
MEANWHILE , ALL THE CRAPPY POSTS THAT DO NOT GET ANY COMMENTS,STAY UP in the latest posts, forever.
It does not make sense.
OH and what arrow are you talking about? I scroll my page every day and there is no arrow and even if there was, that's not the point. THE POINT IS ; THE "wash file" stay in the spotlight,in the main stage,the more productive files disappear or get pushed down and hidden.
Since when mr miller or any of the editors need an
attorney to present their case? You must have a LAW DEGREE also which i did not know about.THANK'S FOR THE NEW INFO.

4-03-2008 @ 11:17PM

OH and NO SLICK 50, I MEAN TOOLSLICK.
In all fareness i too must say:your above comments are baseless and does not reflect MR MILLER POLICYES AT ALL.

4-03-2008 @ 11:30PM

KIM, the only arrow i see, is on the top area of the page on the left, no the right. Next to the arrow says VIEW ALL and that's the only place where i can find the files that got pushed out of the way.
EXAMPLE: The hamlin file of few days ago. That reflects my point once again. HANLIN file and other at other times we have to digg them out.
KENSETH WORTHLESS FILE still there in the spotlight and so others until this morning.Does not work for me,but than, i my get: who cares?