Bobby Labonte in 2009: Questionable Future Looms for 2000 NASCAR Champion

Following the 2000 season, Bobby Labonte looked like the sure fire man who had put an end to the dominance of Jeff Gordon.  The 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champ, Labonte was the driver who NASCAR fans surely felt would reel in multiple championships and wins at the prime of his career.

Then came 2001 and an assortment of trouble befell the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac Joe Gibbs Racing team. While he would collect a pair of wins in the July Pocono event and his usual Atlanta fall race, he slipped from champion in '00 to sixth place overall.

2002 would prove to be a total nightmare, with a lone win in the Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Ten spots lower in the points, and all of a sudden Labonte went from nearly bulletproof to mediocrity.

The last three years at Gibbs Racing were tumultuous. While he rebounded in 2003 with two victories and an eighth place finish in that year's championship, 2004 would not be so kind with no wins and a drop to 12th in points.

His ultimate year with the No. 18 team would prove to be a total nightmare. Instead of consistently finishing near the front with top-10 finishes—as he did from '97-2000—he collected torn sheet metal for the fabrication shop.

When all was said and done, Labonte would struggle to a 24th place result in the points standings in 2005, firing blanks in the win column.

Seeking greener pastures (no pun intended), the 2000 champ said adieu to JGR and went blue with Petty Enterprises and piloted the No. 43 Cheerios Dodge. The Corpus Christi, Texas native's move to the No. 43 team left a lot of fans confused and bewildered as to why a driver who once was on top of the NASCAR world would go drive for a team that had underachieved ever since The King returned to his home spun operation in 1986.

Under the radar and not as highly regarded as the title contender like in years past, Labonte performed fairly well for a team that was behind the curve of the multi-car operations, finishing 21st in points in 2006.

2007 looked even better for Labonte. Despite the addition of the Car of Tomorrow and the total evolution of coil spring setups, his points standings position improved three spots.

A ray of hope and optimism from such unexpected results, it looked like Petty as well as Bobby Labonte fans had many reasons to believe that a resurgence was in store.

Last season saw a slip up in performance and a Petty Enterprises team whose future was in doubt, even when the once family owned team brought in Boston Ventures to the fold. Distractions, poor finishes and even more lackluster setups saw the Texan finish in 21st place once again with a future that looked as doubtful as Brett Favre confusing football fans with his retirement or not game.

When all was said at the end of his Petty era from 2006 to 2008, Labonte collected only three top-fives (all in 2006), 13 top-10's and no victories. It has almost become conceivable that Labonte was nothing more than your top-25 driver with little or no exposure at the front of the field.

So you may have to "Ask" yourself, fans...is Labonte washed up? Have the good days of wins and title challenges simply vanished away, leaving a once winning driver into a field filler?

This season looks to be an ultimate judgment year for the 44-year-old, now driving the No. 96 Ask.com Ford Fusion for Hall of Fame Racing aka the true primary Yates Racing team and car in 2009.

Turning down the chance to drive for Dale Earnhardt Inc. (now Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates) and overlooked by Richard Childress to drive his fourth car, Labonte has inherited a ride that has stellar horsepower, a prestigious history, and equipment that may compliment the grizzled veteran.

While not the powerhouse team and fearful threat to NASCAR multi-car teams like in the late 90's, Yates Racing may be just the answer and elixir for the struggling driver. Has he put himself in position to return back to Victory Lane?

Perhaps it's not too much to "Ask" the Lonestar legend that very question, especially at the plate tracks and at Labonte's "house" aka the Texas Motor Speedway. Top-10 in points? Probably out of the question. A spot in the Chase? Nope.

But a trip back to glory? That is definitely not out of the question.