Justin Labonte is preparing for his first full Busch Series season. Credit: Autostock

J. Labonte emerges as darkhorse in opener

2005 Busch Series season opens up Saturday at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Terry Labonte isn't driving at Daytona International Speedway this year as he heads into retirement with a limited schedule.

But the next generation is doing quite well, thank you very much.

Labonte's Busch teams uses chassis and engines from Hendrick Motorsports.

Terry's son Justin has been at or near the top of the speed charts in three of the four Busch Series practices this week, making him one of the favorites in Saturday's Hershey's Take 5 300 season-opener.

Instead of focusing his attention on his own driving career, Terry Labonte has turned his thoughts toward Justin. Last year, Justin returned to the Busch Series on a part-time in a family-owned car.

Even though the 24-year-old won at Chicagoland Speedway last year, Terry knew Justin's future would be better off with, well, a better team.

Hershey's 300 1st Practice Speeds 2nd Practice Speeds Qualifying Order Entry List

So Terry merged his team with Haas CNC Racing, which gets support from Hendrick Motorsports. It was a natural fit, for Hendrick powered Terry to the 1996 NASCAR championship during his tenure there.

"When I announced that I was cutting back on my racing I said that much of the free time it would create for me would be devoted to helping Justin with his driving career," Terry Labonte said.

"This partnership with Gene Haas, with the continued outstanding support from the Coast Guard, is just the beginning of that effort."

Justin Labonte Driver Page Bio

So far, it's looking pretty good. Justin was fastest in the first Busch Series practice, seventh-fastest in the second and fastest again in Thursday's final pre-qualifying session.

Chicago stunnerJustin Labonte celebrates his upset win at Chicagoland Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"My car for Daytona is the fastest racecar I have ever had," Justin said. "I'll be focusing on getting it driving good, comfortable in the draft and handling good for the end of the race. It is same car Jason Leffler almost won the race with last July."

Leffler, you'll remember, battled with Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the final lap of the Winn-Dixie 250 but ended up in the wall with Earnhardt Jr.

Still, the strength of that car has Labonte confident heading into Saturday's race.

Credit: Autostock

"All it takes to have friends to work with you at a restrictor-plate track is to have a fast racecar," Labonte said. "As fast as our No. 44 Coast Guard Chevrolet was in testing, I expect to be very popular this week."

Labonte isn't a Busch Series rookie in 2005, but he has limited experience at Daytona. Last July's race, in fact, was his first start here, and he finished 33rd after getting caught up in a multi-car wreck.

Still, his team is prepared for Justin to take the car to Victory Lane. Crew chief Bryant Frazier likens him to a Super Bowl champion quarterback.

"Behind the wheel Justin reminds me of the way Tom Brady runs the New England Patriots," Frazier said. "He is cool, calm and collected. He thinks ahead, and like his dad and uncle works to protect his equipment to be able to be in the hunt when it counts."

His dad will be on hand to watch Justin work Saturday. And maybe Justin will be able to take some of the lessons Terry taught him and make them work.