Raines handed full-time driving duties for '07

CORNELIUS, N.C. -- After sharing the No. 96 Chevrolet with Terry Labonte in 2006, Tony Raines will return to Hall of Fame Racing as a full-time driver for 2007, team officials announced Wednesday.

Raines' best finish has been an 11th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Raines has competed in 16 races and will drive the remaining 14 events on the 2006 schedule.

"I'm happy to be coming back," Raines said. "I think we've made progress and we're learning, but we are a long way from being as good as I know we will be. I'm looking forward to finishing 2006 in a strong way and having a great season in 2007."

"Two-and-a-half months before the Daytona 500, we didn't even own a lug nut," said Bill Saunders, managing partner of Hall of Fame Racing. "Without the heart, desire and talent of Tony Raines and Philippe Lopez, we couldn't have come this far.

"And without the help and leadership of Terry Labonte, we don't even get started. We've come a long way this year, but we are not putting consistently good racecars on the track yet. So it's hard to evaluate just how good our driver is or can be. We are going to get better and give Tony something to showcase his talent."