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Terry Labonte holds a prestigious claim in the auto racing world. He is one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history and also in IROC (International Race of Champions) competition. His father tuned and repaired race cars as a hobby for his friends. As a result, both Terry and younger brother Bobby became successful mechanics and race car builders. Terry developed as one of the most knowledgeable drivers in NASCAR history and is highly acclaimed as one of the greatest drivers to step into a stock car. He raced in NASCAR's Golden Age and competed against names like Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison and David Pearson. Some of the most memorable "fights" in racing history have been between Labonte and NASCAR's "Intimidator", Dale Earnhardt.

Terry Labonte was born on November 16, 1956 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He first started racing quarter-midgets at the age of seven years old and won the national championship at nine. He moved onto local short tracks and raced stock cars as a teenager. He continued to win championships there on both dirt and asphalt raceways. He won championships in Houston, and San Antonio from 1975 until 1977. He moved onto the NASCAR circuit with his first Winston Cup race on September 4, 1978 at Darlington Raceway. He drove his #92 Duck Industries Chevrolet to a 4th place finish from a 19th place starting position. He finished five races in 1978 with an average finish position of 11.3 and moved into the 1979 season with great expectations. He finished the 1979 season with the #44 Stratograph Chevrolet in the 10th position in points. He won his first race in 1980 in the same race as his debut. He won his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship in 1984 in the #44 Piedmont Airlines Chevrolet. During that 1984 season he collected two wins at Bristol Motor Speedway and Riverside International Raceway. Out of 30 starts, he collected 24 top-10s and 17 top-5s completing the season with an average finish of 8.3. 1985 saw Terry win his first ever NASCAR Busch Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a #17 Pontiac owned by Darrell Waltrip. In 1994 Terry joined forces with Hendrick Motorsports to drive the #5 Kellogg's Corn Flakes Chevrolet. He was fast right out of the box and gained three wins in each of his first two years in the #5. In 1996 he gained his second Winston Cup championship with a slightly better record. He once again, like in his first championship season, had two wins and 24 top-10s but improved to 21

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