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Bobby Labonte-NASCAR Driver
Bobby Labonte joined TRG Motorsports at the close of the 2009 NASCAR season and was quickly chosen to be the team�s full-time driver for 2010 in the No. 71 TRG Motorsports/TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet Impala SS. Labonte brings 17 full seasons of Sprint Cup experience to TRG Motorsports in a time of tremendous growth for the organization.
At the age of five, Labonte strapped himself into his first competitive machine, a quarter-midget, and began his path to success. Bobby, the younger brother of two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Terry Labonte, is a native of Corpus Christi, TX. He grew up not only watching his older brother compete, but deciding for himself that he wanted to be a winner too.
The early start to his racing career was met with good fortune. He won his first national quarter-midget race at the age of only seven. His pre-teen days were spent winning numerous quarter-midget races throughout the United States. Like champions, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, who made their starts in quarter-midget racing, it was Labonte who dominated the scene years before.
The stepping stones complete, Labonte's racing career took more of a concrete shape during his teen years. His brother worked up the ranks of Sprint Cup, and Labonte moved with his family to North Carolina in 1979. It was soon after when he was first introduced to NASCAR and Sprint Cup. Labonte worked for Hagan Enterprises in 1982 as a mechanic and fabricator on the cars that his brother raced to a third-place finish for the national championship. The introduction into Sprint Cup racing convinced Labonte that he wanted to be a champion. A goal reached later in his career.
First, however, Labonte had to prove that he was a championship-caliber driver and had the commitment to the sport it commands. Labonte didn't take this challenge lightly. While continuing to work at Hagan Enterprises, he raced late models throughout North Carolina and in his spare time began building his own NASCAR Nationwide Series car. Labonte wanted to show others his skills of building his own car, taking care of his own equipment, and being a winning driver was better than none. This approach is almost unheard of in today's young gun' era where drivers rarely work on their own cars or have ever owned the machines they have driven.
The hours of work were countless, but the time was well spent. Labonte made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in 1982 at the age of 18 at Martinsville Speedway. The youngster finished 30th and took home just $220. The humble beginnings were the start of Bobby Labonte Racing, and the platform used to propel him into the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Throughout the 80's Labonte continued making Nationwide Series starts for his own team, but really honed his driving skill racing late model stock cars at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C., and Concord Motorsports Park in Concord, N.C. Labonte won the late model championship at Caraway Speedway in 1987 and won six times at Concord Motorsports Park in 1988. His best Nationwide Series finish was fourth at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C.
With proper funding finally in place, Labonte was able to take his own team and compete in his first full season on the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 1990. His first full season was successful, and he scored six top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. Labonte finished fourth overall in the series and also was named the Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver. Labonte proved that he could master the sport's most difficult tasks of being a driver/owner. He solidified that fact by winning the 1991 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship, and also won his first Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway in April and won again at Indianapolis Raceway Park in August. The highly rewarding 1991 season marked another first for Labonte when he made his Sprint Cup debut driving for his own team at Dover International Speedway. He finished 34th after running into engine problems.
Labonte continued his success in the Nationwide Series in 1992. He won three times and finished second in the championship by just three points - the closest in any of NASCAR's major touring series. Bobby Labonte was a household name, and like older brother Terry, proved that he was a champion. Labonte's biggest break came at the start of the 1993 season when a call from winning car owner Bill Davis came. Davis offered Labonte a full-time ride in the Sprint Cup series. His dream was now being fulfilled.
Labonte's first full season in Sprint Cup earned him his first career Sprint Cup pole at Richmond International Raceway, and he finished runner-up in the rookie-of-the-year standings to Jeff Gordon, while scoring a top-five finish and two top-10 finishes. Labonte returned to race for Davis in 1994 and finished 19th in points. The 1995 season was when Labonte finally made a move that would be very long-term, especially in terms of motorsports - he began his first of 11 seasons at Joe Gibbs Racing. That first season Labonte won his first career Sprint Cup race at the Coca-Cola 600 at what is now Charlotte Motor Speedway. Labonte also won both of the races at Michigan to help him finish 10th in the point standings.
Labonte made starts for Joe Gibbs Racing and the No. 18 Interstate Batteries machine for 10 more seasons and won 18 more times. The 2000 season, however, was the season that fulfilled all of Labonte's dreams. He won the Sprint Cup championship after posting four wins, and along with brother Terry (1984 and 1996), became the first brothers to win the Sprint Cup championship. The championship put Labonte in the field of the elite and made him a part of Sprint Cup lore forever. He finished his career at Joe Gibbs Racing with 21 wins including a win in the prestigious Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and finished in the top 10 in championship points seven out of his 11 seasons.
Labonte made the decision late in 2005 to drive for Petty Enterprises and take the reins of the famed No. 43 Dodge. In 2006 Labonte had everyone on their feet at tracks nationwide as he posted three top-5 and eight top-10 finishes. The 2007 season saw Labonte give Petty Enterprises its best points finish since 1999. After three seasons in the No. 43, Labonte made the decision to leave the organization and join Hall of Fame Racing for 2009 and finished the 2009 season with TRG Motorsports.
Labonte looks to the 2010 season as a fresh start and a chance to grow in a winning relationship. Crew Chief Doug Randolph, who worked with Labonte at Petty Enterprises, will take the director's seat and, with team owner Kevin Buckler, the No. 71 is focused on finding Victory Lane in 2010.
Since 1880, Commander's Palace has been a New Orleans landmark known for the award winning quality of its food and many commodious dining rooms. The history of this famous restaurant offers a glimpse into New Orleans' ante-bellum past. In the early 1880's, when Louisiana officially joined the nation, eager young Anglo-Saxons flocked to this promising territory to make their fortunes. Since the Vieux Carré was the stronghold of the proud Creoles, these "Americans" (as they were defined by the Creoles) sought a residential section of their own. Thus was born the Garden District, with its stately Greek Revival homes and quiet, tree lined streets.
Here in the Garden District George W. Cable entertained Mark Twain; here Jefferson Davis spent his last days. And here, in 1880, Emile Commander established the only restaurant patronized by the distinguished neighborhood families. He chose the corner of Washington Avenue and Coliseum Street, a site that had been in turn, part of the J.F.E. Livaudais Plantation and the faubourg of Lafayette. In 1854 it was engulfed by the city of New Orleans and by 1900 Commander's Palace was attracting gourmets from all over the world.
Under different management in the twenties its reputation was somewhat spicier, however. Riverboat captains frequented it and sporting gentlemen met with beautiful women for a rendezvous in the private dining room upstairs. Downstairs however, the main dining room (with its separate entrance) was maintained in impeccable respectability for family meals after church and family gatherings of all sorts.
In 1944, Frank and Elinor Moran bought Commander's Palace, refurbished it and carried on its tradition of excellence with an expanded menu including many recipes still used.
When Ella, Dottie, Dick and John Brennan took over personal supervision of the restaurant in 1974, they began to give the splendid old landmark a new look. It was decided to design rooms and settings indoors which complemented and enhanced the lovely outdoor setting, so the decor was planned for a bright, casual airiness. Walls were torn out and replaced with walls of glass, trellises were handmade for the Garden Room and paintings were commissioned for each room to complement and accent its particular color and design.
Particular attention was paid to the heart and soul of the restaurant; the kitchen and the dishes created there. Commander's cuisine reflects the best of the city, both Creole and American heritages as well as dishes of Commander's own creating. Seafood, meats, fruits and vegetables; everything is as fresh as it possibly can be.
That's the Commander's atmosphere; like a well run party given by old friends. Flowers, conviviality and most important, splendid food and wines!!! What could be more fun?
Ian is a sex and relationships counselor and New York Times best-selling author of numerous books including She Comes First and Love in the Time of Colic. Click here to learn more about Ian's books.
Ian's journey to counseling grew out of his own personal battle with sexual dysfunction and his desire to help others. He often addresses issues that are common to the "American bedroom" but nonetheless lead to lives of quiet desperation. To learn more about these issues please visit theCounseling page.
Ian appears frequently on NBC TODAY and writes a bi-weekly health column for their website. He contributes regularly to a range of magazines, blogs and other media outlets. To view video-clips or read a selection of articles in which Ian has been featured, click here.
Ian lectures nationally on a variety of subjects and recent appearances have included: The Organization of Women Leaders at Princeton University, human sexuality classes at Indiana University, the 92nd Street Y in New York City, Sex Week at Yale University and the Psychology Honors Society at New York University.
Ian is certified to counsel by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is a Diplomate in Sex Therapy of the American Board of Sexology. Ian is also a professional member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health and The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSIS). To ask Ian a sex and relationships question, visit the Ask Ian page.
Ian is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brandeis University, and also holds degrees from New York University and the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists. Ian is a former Thomas J. Watson Fellow and recipient of the Erwin J. Haberle Award in Clinical Sexology. Ian was born and raised in New York City where he resides with his wife and two young sons.