To meet Labonte, one would hardly guess that this native of Corpus Christi, TX, rates among the best and the most experienced drivers on the NASCAR Winston Cup Circuit. Labonte can be described as one of the more quiet, reserved, yet highly articulate drivers in the sport, but put him behind the wheel of a race car and he really lets his driving abilities do the talking. Now in his 20th year on the Winston Cup circuit, the 41-year-old two-time Winston Cup Champion holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive starts among active drivers on the Winston Cup circuit. He established the record in the Goody's 500 at Martinsville in April of 1996, surpassing Richard Petty's former record of 513 starts. He hasn't missed starting a race since 1979.

Labonte began racing as a youngster in his native South Texas area in quarter-midget cars, then graduated to stock cars on a family-operated team at a track near his Corpus Christi home. He raced regularly there each week, until the money ran out. The local promoter asked him to return the next week anyway, saying he thought he had a potential sponsor for Labonte. Labonte finished second in that race, then was awarded the winner's trophy when the car that came in first was disqualified. The potential sponsor turned out to be a highly successful Texas oil man who agreed to finance the young Labonte the rest of that 1976 season and through the following year. They went Winston Cup racing in 1978.

Labonte's first Winston cup event was the 1978 Southern 500 in Darlington and he placed a very strong fourth after starting 19th. And it was at Darlington in the Southern 500 of 1980 - in his 59th career start - that he captured his first series victory. Since then, Labonte has accumulated 19 Winston Cup wins. He posted one win in the 1997 campaign, taking the checkered flag in the Diehard 500 at Talladega in October. He captured two victories in 1996 (The First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro, and the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte) and three wins in 1995 (The Pontiac Excitement 400 in Richmond, the UAW-GM Teamwork 500 at Pocono, and the Goody's 500 at Bristol). He also posted three victories in 1994; the First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro in just his seventh start for Hendrick Motorsports, the Miller Genuine Draft 400 at Richmond, and the Slick 50 500 at Phoenix. Labonte also has captured 25 pole positions, and 22 outside poles. He also has won the Busch Clash (1985), The Winston all-star race (1988), and claimed the International Race of Champions (IROC) series title in 1989.

Labonte also has triumphed in the new NASCAR SuperTruck Series, winning the Fas Mart Supertruck Shootout at Richmond in September of 1995 in a Rick Hendrick-prepared Chevy truck. He also won the pole position for that race.

When Labonte captured the 1984 Winston Cup Championship, he was the youngest driver(in the modern era) to win that title. He was 27 years, 11 months old. In that title year, he posted two victories (Bristol and Riverside), six seconds, six thirds, two fourths and a fifth-place finish. He was in the top-10 24 times and had the lead in 26 of the 30 races that season. Four of Labonte's 19 Winston Cup victories came when he drove for the legendary Junior Johnson from 1987 to 1989.

Labonte's versatility as a driver and a winner can be seen in his record. He has scored Winston Cup racing triumphs on each of the circuit's track configurations (short-tracks, intermediates, superspeedways and road courses). He also has posted wins in the 12 hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona endurance races. Labonte has earned the distinction of being one of the top road-course drivers on the circuit, winning at Riverside in both 1984 and 1985 and having been in the top-5 numerous times in over 30 starts at Sears Point, Watkins Glen and Riverside.