Press Snoop: Labonte eases into retirement.

the latest news from around the world, courtesy of press snoop Lynne Huntting

TERRY LABONTE made his expected announcement on Tuesday, that 2004 is his last full-season of NASCAR Nextel Cup racing. The gentlemanly Texan is winding down on his own terms, racing races of his choice for the next two years.

Labonte asked, and received, permission from KYLE PETTY of Petty Enterprises to have the #44, the number he ran and with which he won the 1984 Winston Cup championship. He will run with his Kellogg's sponsorship for the selected races he plans to run the next two years. Labonte still sticks with his earlier declaration that he would not go for an ownership role .... in Nextel Cup.

However, he will continue with his son, JUSTIN, who is currently racing in the Busch Series and has won a race already this summer. Dad thinks the team needs help and he's there. Terry also plans to continue on his golf game, but admits he's not as fanatical or competitive in that arena as he is with racing.

Young KYLE BUSCH will move up from the Busch Series to race Labonte's #5 Chevrolet next season. Busch is currently second in the Busch standings, behind MARTIN TRUEX Jr.

There is much talk these days about the 'veterans versus the young guns' in NASCAR. With the phasing out of BILL ELLIOTT, the announced 2006 retirement of RUSTY WALLACE, and MARK MARTIN making an announcement this week, it looks as though the drivers who helped make NASCAR what it is today are moving over for the new breed. Stay tuned....