By Merritt H.R. No. 627 77R11294 WMS-D 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.