Terry Labonte Archive


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Year unknown - #44 

 

 

Sponsor unknown 

I have no information on this picture other then my notes below.

If you have any information then please e-mail me at Titus86@gmail.com.


This photo is classic shot of Terry Labonte is likely the mid-to-late 1970s.


It provides a great look at the "Late Model" stock car and the man himself before he became a household name in NASCAR. Here are a few notable aspects of this image:

The Man and the Machine

  • The Driver: A young Labonte is seen standing next to his car in his racing suit. This was during his formative years in the Late Model Sportsman division, primarily racing in Texas and across the South.

  • The Car: This is a Chevrolet Camaro (mid-70s body style), distinct for its "long-nose" and fastback roofline, which was the preferred aero-setup for short-track racing at the time.

  • The Number 44: He is once again with the #44, a number he carried from his short-track days into his early career with Billy Hagan.

Historical Context

  • The Look: The two-tone paint job and the wide, deep-dish white racing wheels are quintessential 70s racing aesthetics.

  • The Pit Area: In the background, you can see the modest setup of the time—spare tires on a simple rack and what looks like a vintage van or transport vehicle. It highlights the "grassroots" nature of his early career.

 



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Sponsor is Bar-Bob 

If you have any information then please e-mail me at Titus86@gmail.com.

Here is the information that I could find on this car below:

The Car and Era

  • The Vehicle: The car is a second-generation Chevrolet Camaro (specifically the 1970–1981 body style), set up for late-model or sportsman-level stock car racing.

  • The Sponsorship: You can see "BAR-BOB Motor Homes" on the side. This was a significant early sponsor for Labonte during his time racing in the Southwest (specifically Texas) before he made it to the Winston Cup Series full-time.

  • The Number: While he is famously associated with the #5 (which he signed at the bottom), this car is sporting #44. Labonte drove the #44 for much of his early career, including his 1984 championship season with Hagan Racing.

The Signature

  • The photo is autographed by Labonte in blue ink.

  • Interestingly, he signed it with "#5", which suggests the photo was signed later in his career—likely during or after his iconic championship run with Hendrick Motorsports in the 1990s, where the #5 Kellogg's car became his trademark.

The "Texas Terry" Connection

The building in the background and the general aesthetic point toward his roots in Corpus Christi, Texas. Labonte, known as "The Ice Man" for his cool demeanor under pressure, is a two-time Cup Series Champion (1984, 1996) and a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

 

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Sponsor unknown 

If you have any other information then please e-mail me at Titus86@gmail.com.

My notes on this photo:

This image captures a classic piece of American stock car racing history. It features a late-1970s Chevrolet Camaro (likely a second-generation model, specifically the 1974–1977 body style) modified for short-track or "Late Model" asphalt racing.  From my understanding this was taken at CC Speedway in Corpus Christi, Texas, and this was considered Terry's home track.

Here are some specific details visible in the photo:

  • The Driver: The car is signed by Terry Labonte, a legendary NASCAR driver and two-time Cup Series champion (1984 and 1996). Known as "Texas Terry" and "The Iceman," this photo likely dates back to his early career in the mid-to-late 1970s when he was dominant in the Southern late-model circuit before moving up to NASCAR's top division.

  • The Car: The number 44 is the iconic number most associated with Labonte throughout his career, particularly during his championship run with Hagan Racing.

  • The Setting: He is shown holding a checkered flag, indicating a race win. The high-banked fencing and stadium lighting suggest a local short track, which is where many NASCAR legends "cut their teeth."

  • Technical Details: You can see the heavy modifications for racing, including the wide racing slicks, a roll cage visible through the window, and sponsor decals (like STP and Champion) on the front fender.

 

 

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