Why does Petty Enterprises want Terry Labonte to come out of retirement?

Question

At Texas in the fall of 2006, I thought that was Terry's final Cup race, and he said it himself that he wasn't going to run anymore races.

I think they should get John Andretti or Ricky Craven to fill for Kyle Petty during those races.

Answer 1

I love Terry but i don't think his heart would be in it.  How about Ward Burton?  That is talent going to waste as long as he has no ride.  If somebody would give him a shot in decent equipment he would do a fine job.

Answer 2

He has that Past Champions provisional to use for 6 races if he needed it, and would most likely be the 1 to get them as Bill Elliott's 1988 Championship wouldn't be honoured vs Terry's 1996 Championship.

Even though drivers have retired they have actually gotten behind the wheel since.

-Darrel Waltrip

-Bill Elliott

-Terry Labonte

etc

I guess its just hard for them to get it out of their system. It usually is hard for people to get something that they did with so much passion for years out of the system.

Answer 3

three words - past champion's provisional.

ps. sorry, superdave, didn't mean to repeat your answer - yours hadn't shown up yet when i went to respond, then i got up to grab a snack before posting... and kyle (petty) will be gone to his daughter's wedding this weekend, then off to broadcast for six or seven weeks - maybe terry can get that team back into the top-35.

Answer 4

doesnt he have past champions provisionls

Answer 5

There are several reasons:

1) Past Champion Provisionals

2) Pettys and Labontes have been close friends for a very long time

3) The sponsors on the 45 would likely not want just any driver in "their" car and certainly Terry Labonte brings a lot of star power with him

4) He's also a huge fan favorite

Answer 6

He has a past champions provisional to use to get in some races if needed.

Answer 7

What they ^^^^ said plus Kyle is going in the announcers booth for the summer.  Remember??

Go take a cold shower Lynn.

Answer 8

Terry Labonte usually can make the field and if he doesn't he has a past champion's provisional that they can fall back on.

Answer 9

Past Champion's Provisional. That is always a benefit to any struggling team.

Answer 10

They want him to come back because Terry is guranteed in the race because of his championship in 1996 and maybe get the #45 back in the top-35 for Petty comes back to drive the #45 car.

Answer 11

Terry only retired from full-time racing.  He didn't say that he would never race again.  He has the past champion's provisional, and I think that he likes the idea of being brother Bobby's teammate, if only temporarily.  

I could go on and on about why Petty Enterprises would want Terry, but I'm not going to mention that he's one of NASCAR'S 50 greatest drivers, a 2-time champion, drop dead handsome, and a heck of a great guy.  Oops.  ;  )

ADD:  No worries, Tbone, I'm quite cool.  I thought that I was showing remarkable restraint in my answer.  lol

Answer 12

as bad as kyle has done over the last few years does it really matter

Answer 13

because its one of the biggest falure of a nascar team and their reaching and hoping something good can come out of it.....hopefully it does cause i feel bad for them kyle is never runnin in contention he just has the petty name

Answer 14

Terry Labonte has raced several times since his "retirement", most notably for Michael Waltrip Racing.

And yes, the past champions provisional is important, especially with Dale Jarrett retired, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kenseth, Busch, and Jimmie Johnson all solidly in the Top 35.  If you go beyond Labonte, then Elliott will be the next driver with a champions provisional, since all the champions from 1989-1996 are either retired, dead, or named Jeff Gordon.