Dale Jarrett had won a race each year during his tenure with Robert Yates Racing -- until 2004. Credit: Autostock

Jarrett, Labonte see win streaks snapped

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Dale Jarrett and Bobby Labonte made valiant last gasp efforts Sunday to extend personal winning streaks, but fell short despite running better than they had in quite some time.

Bobby Labonte

Jarrett battled back from two laps down to secure the third position with three laps remaining in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

But he was tight on fuel, and ran out of gas after race leader Ryan Newman hit the wall on Lap 264. That extended the race past the advertised distance.

He ultimately finished 24th, ending the 2004 season without a victory. Not since 1992 has he ventured into an off-season following a winless campaign.

Labonte experienced a similar disappointment. He'd gone to Victory Lane at least once nine consecutive seasons.

Ford 400 Videos The Champ Kurt Busch receives the 2004 Nextel Cup trophy Victory Lane Greg Biffle celebrates after winning the season-ending Ford 400 Final laps Two late wrecks set up a mad dash for the Nextel Cup Runner up Jimmie Johnson reflects on an emotional season Holding at four Jeff Gordon finishes third in the NNC standings Coming up short Dale Earnhardt Jr. assesses his championship run Down and out Mayfield cuts a tire and slams into the wall Close call Busch loses a front wheel but stays on the lead lap Avoiding disaster Johnson avoids two early wrecks after starting in the back

Twice during that time, in 1996 and 1997, he went into the season finale winless only to pull out a victory to extend the streak.

Not this time. Labonte had a good car for most of the race and even led 10 laps before getting caught up in traffic late and fading to a 12th place finish.

"It's disappointing," Labonte said. "I think we finished 12th in points, which is better than we were two weeks ago, 15th. We had good and bad, and guys worked real hard.

"It wasn't from a lack of effort, just came up short. Had good cars a few times and didn't capitalize on it. Didn't get it earlier in the year either, so it wasn't meant to be, I guess."

Halfway through the year Labonte was sixth in points, consistently trudging towards qualification for the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

Eight races later, when the final regular season event concluded, he was 13th and on the outside looking in.

"We've got to get back to that consistency (in 2005)," Labonte said. "We've got to get our tests in, get the new aero package figured out, get the new tires figured out as fast as we can.

"We'll have new procedures with qualifying, a lot of different stuff. Whatever the changes are, we have to be on top of it before the start of the year. We can't be behind. We're not on top of it, so we have to get there.

"And it'll take a lot of hard work over the winter to do that, and that'll lead into the consistency and good finishes."