Bobby Labonte racked up numerous accolades during his NASCAR racing career, securing both a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship along with 32 total wins across the top three divisions of the sport.
With all of that success in his career, he was able to positively impact almost every race team that he drove for, but there is one that stands head and shoulders above the rest: Joe Gibbs Racing.
In the most recent edition of RaceLine, the 2000 Cup champion, among other topics, talked about being able to see his success with the team helping it turn into the powerhouse it’s become today.
Labonte’s tenure with the organization lasted 10 years from 1995 to 2005. in that span, he scored all 21 of his Cup victories and his lone series championship. All of those accomplishments played a big part in the growth of the organization from a one-car team to a multicar operation by the time he left, even if at the time he didn’t realize it.
“You look back and you see the whole thing from 10,000 ft. of how it all kind of evolved,” Labonte said. “I mean, for us to grow from one car, and then when I left there was three cars, and then Denny [Hamlin] came in right at the same year that I left.”
He watched the team grow all the way from its humble beginnings. After all, the team had three years of operation under its belt by the time he had joined.
“I think I was employee No. 18,” Labonte said. “The first Christmas party there was 36 people there, everybody and spouses. Heck, when I left in ‘05, they’re pushing 500-plus.”
After Labonte left, Hamlin stepped into the No. 11 for JGR. He has gotten to watch Hamlin from inside the walls at JGR in recent years, as he has worked as a brand ambassador and consultant for the team since 2024.
“Every young driver out there needs to watch this, because he’s rewriting this the way he is doing it,” Labonte said. “His goals, his wisdom, tenacity, everything about him is special. He is a machine.”
Catch the full episode above.
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