Labonte Poised To Break Petty’s Record

Terry Labonte has known for months that, barring disaster, he will set a record Sunday in the Goody’s Headache Powders 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Although starting his 514th consecutive race will move him out of a tie with longtime stock car king Richard Petty, Labonte is less concerned with the record than with his fast ‘96 start.

Labonte, who tied Petty last Sunday while winning at North Wilkesboro, N.C., is well aware that the 500-lap race on the .526-mile track could be a turning point in his bid for a second Winston Cup title.

Seven races into the 31-race season, Labonte, the 1984 Winston Cup champion, is third in the standings, trailing leader Dale Jarrett by 59 points and runner-up Dale Earnhardt by 57.

But he is just as wary of the pitfalls that could be waiting on Martinsville’s egg-shaped oval.

A year ago, he became involved in an accident on the fourth lap of this race and wound up last, seriously damaging his title hopes on the way to a sixth-place season finish.

“When we came here a year ago, we were in the thick of the early part of the championship race, but we dropped from fifth to ninth in the points and then had more problems the next week at Talladega,” Labonte said. “By the time the month of April was over, we were scrambling.

“Hopefully, the problems we had early this season are behind us and we can run well and enjoy everything that’s going to happen at Martinsville.”

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