WATCH: Terry Labonte Wins in Dramatic Fashion After Crashing in the NASCAR Cup Race at Bristol
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Back in 1995, Terry Labonte won the NASCAR Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race in a spectacular fashion. While in a tussle for the lead with Dale Earnhardt, Labonte got turned around but managed to cross the finish line first in his out-of-control car.
“I thought I had it timed perfect,” Labonte said. “Gave it gas and let the clutch out and the car moved about a half-inch and tore reverse gear out of it. I was kind of like ‘Really! OK.’ I wasn’t as mad then after that.”
Dale Sr maintained that spinning him was completely accidental. Instead, he intended to “Rattle his cage”. This would truly live up to Dale Sr’s moniker of the “Intimidator”. Many were divided over the incident, but team owner Richard Childress backed the legendary driver.
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The Terry Labonte-Dale Earnhardt NASCAR incident got a mixed reaction
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Regardless of whose fault it was, or whether it was accidental, the fans got their money’s worth. The air was filled with a cacophony of cheers and boos. Childress and Terry Labonte got to experience it in its entirety, as they were at the center of the action.
“(Earnhardt) had so many fans and he didn’t hardly ever get booed too much,” Labonte said. “You could tell there were a lot of people there that were not his fans, that were drowning out his fans. I don’t think I have ever been to a race and heard it get … as loud as that.”
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Now, Terry Labonte turns 64-years-old, and to this day, he is still known for that incident. That 1995 triumph is just one of 22 Cup Series wins, along with two titles. The first one came in 1984, while the other came in 1996. Labonte’s final race was at the 2014 GEICO 500 at Talladega before he retired from the sport.