Labonte interested in buying Phoenix Racing

There's been a "For Sale" sign outside of Phoenix Racing for some time now and there seems to be several interested buyers.

Apparently, two-time NASCAR champion Terry Labonte is one of the parties interested in acquiring James Finch's race team.

"James been trying to sell that thing for a long time and Terry told me about it, I hope Terry can do it," younger brother Bobby Labonte said Friday at Daytona International Speedway.

"I think Terry would like to do it, but you've got to get money to feed the cow."

Labonte would join Harry Scott, co-owner of Nationwide Series team Turner Scott Motorsports, and an unidentified potential buyer as those interested in the No. 51 Chevrolet.

The 56-year-old Labonte has raced three times this year and has yet to walk away despite giving up full-time racing at the end of the 2004 season. But his brother believes team ownership would suit the elder Labonte.

"I think he has a good feeling about things, about people," Bobby Labonte said. "He enjoys it. He enjoys racing. You may not look at him and think that, but he likes being a part of successful things and helping people out, whether it's having 20 employees or having a successful business. That's just how he is."

If Labonte could pull it off, the team could be a fit for Bobby Labonte, who saw his consecutive starts streak end at 704 last week when JTG Daugherty Racing used AJ Allmendinger at Kentucky instead of the regular driver. Bobby Labonte didn't offer many details Friday about his future plans, but he said he's not given much serious thought to retirement.

Could the 49-year-old drive for his older brother?

"That might be a little tough because we are different in a lot of ways," Bobby Labonte said. "He would do anything he could to help me, just like I'd do anything to help him. But there's more to it than that." Thatsracin.com