Announced that Bobby Labonte is leaving Petty to drive for Jack Rousch....He is taking general mills with him.

I really hope he gets a win for Petty this year before he leaves. They have definitely shown great improvement since he has been with that team.

Hes going to RCR

Rousch didn't make sense. Rousch still has 5 teams and has to eliminate 1 yet to get down to 4 in the next year or so. I forget when the deadline is but I know it is coming up.

RCR makes more sense, since they only have 3 teams now, still room for 1 more.

I have not read about this yet but I am sure I will later this week if I get a chance to catch up on my Nascar stuff before the weekend.

I am curious if Tony will Re-Up with Gibbs, there was rumor Tony was going to go with RCR after this year.

General Mills going to RCR... Labonte has not made anything known at this point....my opinion...it's a done deal. That's where he's going.

Didn't Labonte drive a KHI car at a Nationwide race. I guessed then it was precursor to him going to RCR. He'll be a good fit there.

It'll be

Hendricks
Team Super Star

Gibbs
Team Extreme

RCR
Team March to the Front

Bobby and Jeff on the same side of things, that could get good. Not to mention look at who Boyer could really learn from. Burton, Harvick, Labonte. That's got the makings of a really great driver.

Im sorry, you are right....my bad I misread the article....geeze I feel dumb

From Jayski on 4/1/08

Petty Enterprises looking for a sponsor of #43: Since 1949 Petty Enterprises has forged a legacy as the most successful organization in American motorsports history by forming lasting partnerships with trusted sponsors based on the Petty family principles of hard work, integrity, dedication and charity. These core values have produced some of the most enduring and successful partnerships in all of sports. In 2009 primary sponsorship of the famed #43 Dodge will become available for only the second time since .The King., Richard Petty partnered with STP in 1972—a relationship that continues to this day. Petty Enterprises‘ current partner, General Mills, has been the primary sponsor of the #43 for the past nine seasons and will continue through the end of the year. .We value our relationships with all of our sponsors,. said Robbie Loomis, Executive Vice President, Operations. .We appreciate everything that General Mills has helped us accomplish over the past nine seasons both on and off of the track, and we wish them well in their future plans. The #43. driven by .King. Richard and his record 200 wins is synonymous with success not just at the highest levels of motorsports, but across all sports. 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte, continues that tradition today. .Bobby is one of the most marketable and popular drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,. said Brian Moffitt, Vice President, Marketing. .He and his family share the ideals and values of the Petty organization and he remains a key component to the long-term future of Petty Enterprises. While there is substantial sponsorship interest in Bobby and Petty Enterprises we will carefully consider our options to ensure the continuation of our rich tradition and to build on current momentum. Prospective partners are well aware of the special power of the .Petty. brand, as numerous surveys and marketing groups have identified Richard Petty as one of the most iconic brands in all of sports.. .I am proud of our organization‘s rich tradition.. said Richard Petty "We look at bringing in fresh resources and new partners as a real opportunity to further grow and improve the Petty organization. Especially those who share in the same core values of integrity, dedication and winning that have come to define Petty Enterprises.(Petty Enterprises/MCG Sports PR)(4-1-2008)

Labonte/General Mills to RCR in 2009? UPDATE General Mills to RCR imn 2009: Richard Childress acknowledged that his organization is close to fielding a fourth team in the Sprint Cup Series, and Yahoo! Sports has learned that the driver of that car beginning in 2009 likely will be Bobby Labonte [currently #43 Petty Enterprises]. Sources close to the deal point to General Mills, Labonte's current sponsor with Petty Enterprises, coming along with him to RCR. According to Childress, he will field a fourth car sometime this season, though he wouldn't set an exact time frame. He did say things were progressing well and that he was pleased with how plans were coming together. "We're looking at entering a few races before the end of the season," Childress said. Childress entered a fourth car (#33) in selected races in 2007 with Scott Wimmer as the driver. Wimmer likely is the choice to be behind the wheel when the car makes it back onto the track this season. However, Labonte likely will be the full-time driver in 2009. Hiring Labonte would be an ace up the sleeve for RCR. Labonte is a past champion, which means he would get a champion's provisional that would guarantee him a spot in the field at the start of the '09 season. Labonte already has a relationship with Childress, having signed with RCR this year to drive the #21 Nationwide car on a part-time basis this season.(Yahoo Sports)(2-23-2008)
UPDATE - RCR to Field Fourth Cup Team in '09 with General Mills Sponsorship: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and General Mills have agreed to terms on a multi-year partnership for the world's sixth-largest food company to sponsor the #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevy beginning with the 2009 Cup Series season. The driver for the #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevy will be announced at a later date. "RCR is honored to represent General Mills and its Cheerios, Hamburger Helper and many other brands in the NASCAR Cup Series," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "The partnership is another step in RCR's continued association with blue-chip global brands and companies. General Mills has a great history of activating its NASCAR programs so our focus now turns to the short list of drivers we feel will help continue that tradition as well as be at the same competitive level on the track as our current drivers and teams."
The 2009 season will mark General Mills' 13th year of sponsorship involvement in NASCAR as well as Richard Childress' 40th anniversary in the sport. RCR has earned 11 NASCAR championships, including six in the Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt, four in the Nationwide Series, and one in the Truck Series. Next year will be the first time RCR will run a fourth fulltime NASCAR Cup Series team.(RCR PR and updated at Yahoo! Sports)(4-1-2008)


From Jayski on 4/2/08

Bobby Labonte Comments on Remainder of 2008 Season: Bobby Labonte continues to be totally focused on returning Petty Enterprises back to victory lane. He will concentrate on those efforts for the remainder of the 2008 season. Contrary to reports, he has made no contractual agreements with any team beyond 2008. “I’m very humbled by the level of interest in my future, but at this time I’m concentrating all my efforts in getting Petty Enterprises back to victory lane. I feel good about all the positive steps that Petty Enterprises has made and continues to make. General Mills has been a huge part of making the 43 team what it is today. I worked diligently with Petty Enterprises to continue General Mills involvement with the team. Today, we all learned they have made a decision. I truly appreciate all they have done to contribute to our success at Petty Enterprises. Moving forward, I’m going to work hard each week to win races. I want to do the best I can for Petty Enterprises and everyone who puts great cars under me each week. That’s our focus, and that’s what I feel is the right thing to do for all our partners. At this time, I have no intention to talk about my plans after 2008 because of the immediate tasks at hand. I respectively ask for everyone’s patience in this matter and, again, am humbled by everyone’s interest.”(Breaking Limits PR)
AND: Petty Enterprises lost the sponsor of its famed #43 car to Richard Childress Racing on Tuesday, but officials don't expect the driver to follow. Robbie Loomis, the vice president for racing operations at Petty Enterprises, said the organization is in the final stages of negotiating a deal that would keep 2000 Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte there for the remainder of his career. He said losing General Mills, the current sponsor of Labonte's car, will have no bearing on that. "I'm not worried about that at all," Loomis said of losing Labonte to RCR. "I feel as good about it as anything I've felt about in a long time." Meanwhile, Childress is left with finding a fourth driver. Scott Wimmer is a potential candidate. He already has a Nationwide Series win for RCR this season and is scheduled to drive a handful of Cup races in a fourth RCR car.

I really Hate to see Petty's Having sponsor trouble, But IMHO Kyle did it to himself, By trying to drive the 45 car for so many years and running so bad, and not at all sometimes, its tough to keep a sponsor, Hopfully Kyle will step aside and put a GOOD driver in that car, Chad has some talent but I dont think he is ready for the big league yet

I'd love to see that happen and put him back behind the wheel of a Chevy! But with this Labonte deal it doesn't look like that will happen. I like Tony but I can't stand him driving that brand. I hope the Petty team can find a good sponsor.

I would have loved to see Tony stay in or go back to a Chevy also. His heart is still with Chevy but I have a feeling that is not going to happen and that is why RCR has moved forward with their plans for their 4th team.

I think if there had been any chance of RCR getting Tony, Zippy, and the Big Orange to be his 4th team he would still be holding out but Tony is very loyal and honors his commitments. Unfortunately I think he will re-sign with Gibbs and as long as Toyota holds up their end and the equipment stays competitive he will stick with Gibbs.

He is still my favorite driver......no matter what! Even in a *gulp* toyota.

I guess I will never understand why people dislike Tony because he drives a Toyota in Cup. Good lord he had a contract with Gibbs. You should like the driver for the driver, not for what he drives. You going to dislike him because he drives a Lamborghini on the street? I just don't get it...

Anyway,
Both Terry and Bobby Labonte are probably 2 of the classiest drivers to ever get behind the wheel in NASCAR. It's a shame Bobby hasn't had the equipment to showcase his talent over the last few years, but now that all 3 RCR cars are running well Childress should be able to devote serious resources to Bobby's new team.

Of course noone has officially said Bobby is heading to RCR... Maybe Tony is leaving Gibbs and going to RCR and Bobby is going to reunite at Gibbs? Sponsorship separation isn't unherd of.... look at Dale Jr. Course this is just a pipe dream lol.