In the year 2000, Labonte ended a NASCAR Winston Cup record of 655 consecutive starts when post concussion syndrome forced him to sit out a race. He established the record in the Goody`s 500 at Martinsville in April of 1996, surpassing Richard Petty`s former record of 513 starts. Even though Labonte ended his record of 655 consecutive starts, he still managed to record a consistent 2000 season by recording three top-five finishes and six top 10s, and he started on the pole once.

By the end of the 1999 season, Labonte had recorded a streak of winning at least one event in each of the seven years he has been with Hendrick Motorsports. That year, he also won The Winston All-Star race in May at Charlotte for the second time in his career. The man they call "The Iceman" finished 12th in the Winston Cup point standings that year. In 1998, he finished ninth in the points standings marking the 16th time in his 20-year career he had placed in the top 10 in the standings.

To meet Labonte, one might not immediately guess that this Corpus Christi, Texas, native rates among the best and most experienced drivers on the NASCAR Winston Cup Circuit. He is quiet and reserved, congenial and articulate. But once behind the wheel of a racecar, it's down to business.

Now in his 23rd year on the Winston Cup circuit, the 44-year-old, two-time Winston Cup Champion began racing in quarter-midget cars before graduating to stockcars on a family-operated team. He raced regularly each week in the mid-1970s until the team's money ran out. The local promoter asked Labonte to return the next week to meet a potential sponsor. Labonte finished second in that race and was awarded the winner`s trophy when the first-place car was disqualified. The potential sponsor turned out to be a highly successful Texas oilman who agreed to finance the young Labonte the rest of that 1976 season and through the following year. In 1978 they had their sights set on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit.

Labonte placed fourth in his first Winston Cup start -- the Southern 500 in Darlington, SC. It was at that same site that he captured his first series victory in 1980.

Since then, Labonte has accumulated 21 Winston Cup wins. Other notable achievements include a win at the Busch Clash (1985), The Winston All-Star race (twice – 1988 and 1999), and the International Race of Champions (IROC) series title in 1989.

Labonte also has triumphed in the NASCAR SuperTruck Series, winning the Fast 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.

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, intermediate tracks, super speedways 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-five many times in over 30 starts at Sears Point, Watkins Glen and Riverside.