North Wilkesboro Raceway and Modified Tours are almost synonymous. However, one would be surprised to know that Saturday’s Brushy Mountain Powersports 150 was the debut of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at the famed track in North Carolina. With nearly 40 cars entering for 32 starting spots in the 2023 NWMT season, the line-up had it all.

NASCAR veterans like Ryan Newman and Matt Hirschman fought alongside each other to grab the cherished trip down the victory lane. Although Newman is no stranger to the NWMT victory lane, Hirschman was back for the first time in an NWMT event since August, after he suffered from a broken arm in a crash at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. However, the dream of victory remained unachievable for another NASCAR legend, even after three decades.

Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte’s 30-year-long nightmare refused to cease

Most of Labonte’s laps in North Wilkesboro were in a Cup car, but that was 30 years ago. In his 20-year career as a racecar driver, Bobby Labonte raced eight times, only to secure a career-best 10th place finish in 1996. Hence, this time he was going for a win.

However, Bobby Labonte had hopes turned cold as ice when he blew off the left front tire of his number 38 Pacematic car with just 31 laps to go in the race, bringing out the 6th caution flag. And with that, the hall of famer’s dream to conquer the elusive track of North Wilkesboro remains unfulfilled.

According to the official site of North Wilkesboro Raceway, Bobby Labonte felt elated about the opportunity. He said, “I am really looking forward to the Whelen Modified Tour race at North Wilkesboro, I was able to race there at the last race in the Cup Series in 1996 and then went back last year in the Modified races there. With all the improvements that have happened there, I am really looking forward to going back”

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Bobby Labonte refuses to give up despite life-threatening health conditions

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Despite having raced multiple races after having broken his shoulder blades twice, this 59-year-old man just does not know when to stop. Last year, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and a couple of years before that, he stayed confined to the bed for several days, accounting for a ruptured appendix. As of today, Bobby Labonte visits a lung specialist as he is not 100% fit.

However, that did not stop Bobby Labonte from pursuing what his heart desires the most. And that is speed. He drove in the 15-race Southern Modified Auto Racing Teams tour, besides four NASCAR Whelen Modified races. He has also been a part of Tony Stewart‘s Superstar Racing Experience series. On top of that, he also competed in a dirt track race earlier this year in Arizona.

Read more: After Major Cancer Scare, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte’s Return to Racing Cheers NASCAR Community

The nurses at the clinic might know Bobby Labonte as a regular visitor, but when it came to racing, Bobby Labonte’s words, as quoted by autoweek.com, resonated in the ears of every motorsport enthusiast: “You’ve got to hustle it, you drive it. It’s not a box and it’s not always one thing. It’s like an old shoe. I just fit in there and felt good the first time out.”