Bobby Labonte to run Daytona 500, make select starts in 2015

By Jared Turner
Published

GoFAS Racing announced Wednesday that 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte will drive the No. 32 Ford Fusion on a part-time basis in 2015, beginning with the Daytona 500.

The Corpus Christi, Texas, native will run the four superspeedway races -- two at Daytona, two at Talladega -- with sponsorship from Texas-based C&J Energy Services. The team, formed by a merger of co-owners Frank Stoddard and Archie St. Hilaire before the 2014 season, will continue to compete with horsepower from Roush Yates Engines.

Additional races for Labonte could be announced at a later date.

Labonte, 50, finished second to Dale Earnhardt in the 1998 Daytona 500 and is still seeking his first win in The Great American Race. Labonte takes over a ride occupied on a part-time basis last season by older brother and two-time Sprint Cup champion Terry Labonte, who officially retired following the October race at Talladega.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to go racing next season with GoFAS Racing and C&J," said Labonte, who competed in three races last year for three different owners "The people at C&J are good friends of our family, and like me, have a passion for the sport. I want to thank them, along with Frank and Archie, for allowing me the opportunity to take over where my brother left off."

"I am so proud to have C&J Energy Services back with us for a fifth season," said Stoddard, a former Sprint Cup crew chief. "With the addition of Bobby to our partnership with C&J Energy Services, I am confident we can continue to build our team. We had an outstanding finish in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona last July with Terry, and we look forward to continuing those strong results with Bobby. We have a busy off-season to get ready for 2015, but everyone is excited about what the season holds for us."

With Terry Labonte hanging up his helmet late last season, younger brother Bobby seemed like a natural fit for the GoFAS Racing Ford.

"It's great to have a champion like Bobby Labonte on board for 2015," St. Hilaire said. "Our guys are really busy at the shop preparing two fast superspeedway cars, and we can't wait for Daytona."