Labonte to make 500th start

This weekend, Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge Avenger team head to the .075-mile Richmond (Va.) International Raceway for Saturday night’s Richmond 400. Saturday’s race will be Labonte’s 500th career start.

Labonte joins active drivers Bill Elliott, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Kyle Petty, Ricky Rudd and Michael Waltrip to have eclipsed 500 career starts (not counting Sterling Marlin or Ken Schrader). Labonte and Rudd are the only two drivers to have over 500 starts and have started every race this season. Labonte, 43, is also the youngest active driver to have 500 starts. This weekend’s start will be Labonte’s 498th consecutive Nextel Cup start. He is second on that list, only behind Jeff Gordon by one start.