CHARLOTTE, N.C. - It was no secret that two-time NASCAR champion Terry Labonte was thinking about scaling back to a limited racing schedule. Even so, the official announcement brought tears to most everyone present.
Everyone, that is, except "The Iceman" himself.
Labonte, 47, was as classy and stoic as ever Tuesday in announcing plans to run just 10 races a year for the next two seasons, and to make 2006 his final year of competition.
"I came here to watch a professional like Terry and see how you gracefully get out of this business," said driver Ken Schrader, a former teammate of Labonte who choked up while talking about him.
"I'm just glad he's getting to leave on his terms."
Labonte will drive the No. 44 Chevrolet for car owner Rick Hendrick beginning next season.
The No. 44 was the car Labonte drove when he won his first NASCAR title in 1984. His younger brother, Bobby, used that number when he won the Busch series title and his son, Justin, was in the No. 44 when he won his first Busch race this season.
The first of Labonte's final 20 races will be in February at California Speedway. The Corpus Christi, Texas, native will make his last start at Texas Motor Speedway in 2006.
"This is going to be an effort where we can look at race tracks we think we can win at," he said. "We are putting together a genuine effort to try to win races."
The rest of his schedule is still being ironed out, but he's leaning toward intermediate tracks and will likely avoid the superspeedways at Daytona and Talladega. By skipping Daytona, Labonte will end his career without a victory in the season-opening Daytona 500.
"I figured I've raced there 26 times and haven't won. Why would I want to do it again?" he deadpanned.
Labonte began his career in 1978, running five races for Billy Hagan. His first full season of competition was in 1979 and he went on to set a record of 655 consecutive starts that was broken in 2000.
He won two series titles along the way, in 1984 and again in 1996. He has 22 career victories, the most recent in August at Darlington Raceway.
