Homestead, Nov 22: A shredded tire made Bobby Labonte's determination pay off. Bill Elliott was the leader for most of Sunday's Ford 400 at reconfigured Homstead-Miami Speedway, but lost his chance to win the final Winston Cup race when his right rear tire exploded on the final lap allowed Labonte to take the checkered flag and put a happy ending on his disappointing season.
``I honestly thought 'I can't win unless something happens,' ... and lo and behold something happens,'' Labonte said. ``You just don't ever give up.''
The race was also the last for series sponsor R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. after 33 years. Beginning in 2004, NASCAR's top series will be sponsored by Nextel Communications and will be known as the Nextel Cup.
Elliott's misfortune was good news for Labonte, who had nearly fallen out of contention early before rebounding to move into second behind Elliott late in the race.
After winning a week earlier in Rockingham, N.C., Elliott dominated Sunday, leading 189 of 267 laps on a faster Homestead track, whose banks were changed this year from a nearly flat 6 degrees of banking to 20 degrees. Bureau Report