labonte started racing when he was 7 years old, and won a national championship at age 9, before moving on to the short tracks as a teenager. he won short track championships as a child, driving on both dirt and asphalt, in houston and san antonio from 1975-1977. during this time, he also met louisiana businessman billy hagan. hagan offered labonte a job on his winston cup team along with the promise to drive five races that year.