R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Bobby Labonte, a native of Corpus Christi, has
 1-2     achieved phenomenal success as a driver in NASCAR competition, and
 1-3     his efforts recently culminated in the 2000 Winston Cup Series
 1-4     crown; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Mr. Labonte drove his No. 18 Interstate Batteries
 1-6     Pontiac in the Pennzoil 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November
 1-7     12, 2000, to claim the coveted Winston Cup title with one race
 1-8     remaining in the season, creating a milestone by joining his older
 1-9     brother, Terry, a two-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion (1984
1-10     and 1996) as the only brothers to win the championship in the
1-11     52-year history of the sport; and
1-12           WHEREAS, His triumph in the Winston Cup Series, along with
1-13     his 1991 NASCAR Busch Series Championship, gives Mr. Labonte the
1-14     singular distinction of being the only driver to win titles in
1-15     NASCAR's two top divisions; and
1-16           WHEREAS, This outstanding Texan began his driving career
1-17     behind the wheel of quarter-midgets in 1969 and graduated to karts
1-18     in 1978; his NASCAR career began in 1984 as a crew member for Hagan
1-19     Racing; he drove the full Busch Series schedule for the first time
1-20     in 1990 and captured the Busch Series Championship in 1991; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Mr. Labonte drove to his first NASCAR Winston Cup
1-22     Series win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28, 1995, at the
1-23     Coca-Cola 600; since that time he has been one of the Winston Cup
1-24     Series's most effective and consistent drivers, placing in the top
 2-1     10 in final point standings five times, including runner-up in
 2-2     1999, and driving the No. 18 to at least one victory each year
 2-3     since 1995; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, In his championship 2000 Winston Cup season,
 2-5     Mr. Labonte scored four wins, including the prestigious Brickyard
 2-6     400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, posted 19 top-five finishes
 2-7     and 24 top 10s, earned more than $7 million, and recorded the third
 2-8     highest final point total of 5,130 in NASCAR's modern era; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Mr. Labonte's success is a source of tremendous
2-10     pride to the State of Texas, to his wife, Donna, to his children,
2-11     Tyler and Madison, to his parents, Bob and Martha, and to his
2-12     brother, Terry; and
2-13           WHEREAS, Throughout his remarkable career as a driver,
2-14     Mr. Labonte has consistently pushed the envelope of personal
2-15     excellence while maximizing the potential of both man and machine,
2-16     and it is indeed appropriate that he be honored for his
2-17     accomplishments at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-18           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-19     Legislature hereby congratulate Bobby Labonte on his remarkable
2-20     achievements as a NASCAR Champion and extend to him sincere best
2-21     wishes for continued good fortune; and, be it further
2-22           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-23     prepared for Mr. Labonte as an expression of high regard by the
2-24     Texas House of Representatives.
                                                                     Merritt
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 627 was adopted by the House on March
         28, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House