rpm.espn.com: Only tires can stop Bobby?

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Friday, January 11
Only tires can stop Bobby?
ESPN.com

We asked our users whether Bobby Labonte could be consistent enough in 2002 to compete for his second Cup championship. Here are some of the responses:

I feel Bobby will make a determined run at the championship in 2002, along with his Joe Gibbs Racing partner Tony Stewart. Since Gibbs expanded to two teams, his drivers have averaged third (Labonte) and fourth (Stewart) in the standings. Gibbs is the best owner in NASCAR, and with just a little bit of "racin' luck," Bobby and Tony could finish 1-2 in 2002.

Jim Wilkins
Reston, Va.

Definitely. What a class act and a tough driver. With the team intact, the reputation, and experience, he's a top-5 gimme and a contender.

Ed Rowe
Fayetteville, N.C.

Yes, I believe Bobby can make a strong comeback in 2002, especially if Goodyear comes in with a set of tires that are more amenable to his driving style.

Bob Gehman
Dallas

The chemistry is there for the Joe Gibbs Racing team. They are all dedicated to the task ahead and know what it takes to be the best. They have a future Hall of Fame driver, as well as a proven leader/owner to continue to bring the No. 18 car to the Winner's Circle.

Scott Moore
Dallas

I think Bobby will be a contender in 2002. My only concern is that he will be able to stay on top of the car setups, a problem he had with the new tires introduced by Goodyear in the 2001 season.

Billy Stephenson
Fort Worth, Texas

Yes, I think Bobby Labonte can contend and win the championship this year. He is as smooth as any driver on the circuit, and stays cooler than any.

Brian Garrett
Albany, Ky.

Both Gibbs drivers have proven the Pontiac does not have as big of disadvantageas as some of the drivers would have you believe. This team is as strong as there is in Winston Cup, thanks to Joe Gibbs and his ability to surround himself with quality people who expect success on and off the track. Bobby will have another strong year and probably end up in the top-3.

Rob Behling
Wind Lake, Wis.

Labonte will certainly be more consistent this year and I predict he will be the 2002 Winston Cup champion. Hopefully Tony Stewart will learn a lesson from his mild mannered, sportsmanlike partner at Joe Gibbs Racing and the two drivers will battle for the title.

James Cole
Woodstock, N.Y.

I've been a Bobby Labonte fan for years and have seen his growth as a driver. He's a smart, quick and clean driver who will make very few stupid or reckless moves. The Gibbs team knows how to win championships and I think they will rebound from the travails of last season and make a challenge to Jeff Gordon (and don't forget, Gordon didn't exactly have a stellar season in 2000, by his standards, either). I think there will a be another Labonte winning his second championship in the near future ... got to keep those Winston Cup trophies in the Labonte family for a while!

Martha Meacham
Cincinnati

Bobby Labonte is one of the most consistent drivers. While 2001 may have not been consistent to his normal standards, if you look at the stats and the circumstances, he was still pretty consistent. He closed the year with five straight top-12 finishes, including a win at Atlanta. Bobby's biggest problem of 2001 was he got caught up in other people's wrecks (Daytona, Talladega, Dover). I think the new tire compounds and the bump stop rule really threw a monkeywrench into Bobby's style, like it did for many other drivers. But with the caliber of Joe Gibbs Racing, Labonte will once again be a contender for the Winston Cup in 2001.

Matt Demey
Harrisburg, Pa.

Labonte definitely has the car, the talent and a great owner, but if Bobby is to claim championship No. 2, the mechanical devils that plagued him this year must be exorcized. Labonte can, and I think will, be consistent enough to claim the 2002 Winston Cup if Lady Luck is on his side.

Travis Hyde
Plano, Texas

While the popular picks for the 2002 contenders continue to be Gordon, Harvick and Earnhardt Jr., it is clear to me that next year's champion will be Bobby Labonte, with his teammate, Tony Stewart, hot on his tail. After figuring out the new tire, and dealing with more than his share of bad luck, no one was more consistent than Labonte. The No. 18 team, almost completely unchanged (is there a more respected crew chief than Jimmy Makar?), will carry that momentum over to 2002 and win the championship. Bet on it.

Cory Buttle
Chicago

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