Ta-ta, Terry (Part 1)

This Sunday Terry Labonte will conclude his career in Nextel Cup. Lets take a look back at the amazing career of this two-time champion:

1956--Terry Labonte is born. It is the last recorded time when Terry cried.

1969--A teenaged Terry is challenged to a fight by the local bully. Terry then proceeds to stare at the bully's face for seven minutes straight before walking away. The bully was later committed to a mental institution and continues to live under close supervision to this day.

1975--After being run off the road by "that Bush kid", Terry is seconds from death when a radical proceedure is done. By replacing his blood with ice water, one more life is saved--and a legend is born.

1978--Terry makes his (then) Winston Cup debut for owner Billy Hagan. Terry finishes poorly, as he is preoccupied for most of the race trying to figure out why a grown businessman would still be called "Billy".

1979--In a crowded field, Terry misses out on the Rookie of the Year award, but takes solace in the fact that he'll never have to deal with Dale Earnhardt again.

1980--Terry wins his first Winston Cup race. In a post-race interview with MRN, he extolls the virtues of winning at Darlington on Labor Day, a tradition which will never change.

1984--Terry wins the Winston Cup after putting up a shockingly consistant season. More surprising still, Darrell Waltrip is unable to come up with an insult for Terry better than, "Boy, you're hard to insult."

1987--Terry Labonte runs his first season with Junior Johnson and Associates. He'd later go on to say that he loved racing for Junior Johnson, but hated the associates with a passion.

(Part 2 Tomorrow)