THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411040918
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
NASCAR Winston Cup car owner Bill Davis released Bobby Labonte as the driver of the No. 22 Ford Thunderbird Thursday afternoon in a move expected to have a domino effect on two other teams today.
``Bobby has been released from here,'' Davis said from his Thomasville, N.C., shop Thursday. Concerning reports that Labonte will be joining Joe Gibbs' Chevy team, Davis said, ``I'm sure that's where he's going.''
Labonte is expected to replace Dale Jarrett as driver of Gibbs' No. 18 Chevrolet Lumina. Jarrett is moving to Robert Yates' No. 28 Ford Thunderbird to replace Ernie Irvan, who is still recovering from near-fatal injuries suffered at Michigan in August.
Gibbs confirmed the plan in a statement late Thursday. He said he had offered Labonte a contract to drive, and Jarrett would be released from the final two years of his contract as early as this morning.
``We are scheduled to meet with Dale tomorrow morning,'' Gibbs said in the Thursday statement. ``If everything goes as we have discussed with him, then we will honor his request to be released. Bobby understands that our contract offering is contingent on final agreement of terms of separation with Dale.''
Jarrett was in Las Vegas Wednesday and Thursday appearing for his sponsor, Interstate Batteries, at a large auto-parts manufacturers show. He was expected to return to Charlotte on a red-eye flight Thursday night so he could make this morning's scheduled meeting with Gibbs.
Labonte was then expected to sign with Gibbs this afternoon, while Jarrett goes to the Yates shop to sign his new contract, despite the open house there today and Saturday.
Both Jarrett and Labonte will remain with their respective teams for the season-ending race at Atlanta on Nov. 13.
Those moves will leave everybody covered except Davis, who plans to look for a driver immediately. Davis still hasn't announced his new sponsor, but it is expected to be a major financial institution.
Meanwhile, Ricky Craven, who finished second in points in the past two seasons on the Busch Grand National Series, will drive for Winston Cup team owner Larry Hedrick in 1995.
Craven, 28, will drive a Chevrolet Monte Carlo under the sponsorship of Kodiak smokeless tobacco, officials of Larry Hedrick Motorsports said Thursday.
The Newburgh, Maine, native began racing in 1984. by CNB