Bill Text: VA SR625 | 2024 | 1st Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Bob Labonte.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-07-01 - Bill text as passed Senate (SR625ER) [SR625 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SR625-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, Bob Labonte, a distinguished former team owner and crew chief of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing who is widely recognized for his significant contributions to the sport, died in 2024; and
WHEREAS, born in 1933, Bob Labonte's passion for racing was ignited during his teenage years in Maine and continued to grow throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, in the late 1940s, following his service in the United States Navy, Bob Labonte moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he began working at the Corpus Christi Army Depot; and
WHEREAS, known for guiding the early careers of his sons, racing legends Terry and Bobby Labonte, Bob Labonte raised his family in Corpus Christi and passed on his love for racing to his children during their early years, creating a family bond deeply embedded in the sport; and
WHEREAS, in pursuit of better opportunities for his sons' racing careers, Bob Labonte moved the family to the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina in the late 1970s, allowing his sons to chase their racing dreams; and
WHEREAS, Bob Labonte's dedication to his sons' success helped Terry Labonte become a two-time National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Cup Series champion and Bobby Labonte become a NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Xfinity Series champion; both have been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Bob Labonte's career as a crew chief included a notable stint during Terry Labonte's 1981 NASCAR Cup season and extended into the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 1989 to 1997, during which time he worked with several drivers, including his sons, David Green, and Jeff Fuller; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his role as a crew chief, Bob Labonte owned and operated Labonte Motorsports, where he achieved the status of a two-time car owner champion and crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series; and
WHEREAS, Bob Labonte will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife, Martha; his sons, Terry and Bobby, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Bob Labonte, a NASCAR legend whose dedication to the sport leaves a legacy of excellence and commitment that will inspire future generations of the racing community for years to come; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Bob Labonte as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory.
