From Victory Lane to Culver's Showcase: Bobby Labonte’s Race Car Finds a New Home

RANDLEMAN, N.C. (April 23, 2025) Chad Culver’s love of racing began on the stiff boards of Delaware's small tracks.

“It goes back to my childhood. I grew up at the local dirt track, falling asleep on the stands,” he recalled.

That lifelong passion eventually led him to open the Culver Auto Racing Museum, a tribute to Carolina’s rich motorsports history filled with rare artifacts and timeless stories.

With help from Notable Live, Culver recently added a showstopper to his collection — Bobby Labonte’s #43 2006 Dodge Charger Cheerios Car. The NASCAR Hall of Famer himself was on hand for the exchange, turning a dream purchase into a memorable encounter.

“It’s always a little nerve-racking when you meet someone new, like a NASCAR champ,” Culver admitted. “He’s warm and friendly, and his wife, just as friendly. The nerves were put to bed pretty quickly.”

The feeling was mutual. “We met today and after talking for 10 minutes, it’s like we’ve known each other forever,” said Labonte.

Before seeing the car, the two couples bonded over a Cook Out meal, swapping stories about racing, life, and their shared admiration for Richard Petty. Both men grew up idolizing “The King” — Culver remembering Petty’s 199th win at Dover Downs, and Labonte recalling meeting him after moving from Texas to North Carolina when he was 16.

By the time they reached the garage where the car waited, anticipation was sky-high. The Charger — the last vehicle prepared at Petty’s Level Cross shop — was steeped in history and fit Culver’s museum perfectly.

“Every beginning has an end,” Culver said. “It checks all the boxes for me as a collector. It’s unique, it’s history, and there’s only one.”

Where most would see scuffs and dents, Culver sees character. “We’ll preserve it as close to the original as possible — all the nicks and scratches it acquired through racing,” he said.

Labonte couldn’t agree more. “For it to be kind of restored back to its original, that means a lot to me,” he said. “When he said it was a centerpiece, you feel even better — and today it’s happening.”

Parting with the car wasn’t easy for the 2000 Cup Series Champion. “It’s always hard to give up something that’s part of your career,” Labonte shared. “There will be a tear shed, but also happiness knowing exactly who it’s going to.”

For Culver, the day was better than the childhood dreams he had while sleeping on those Delaware racing bleachers. It was a full-circle memory. “To have the car is one thing,” he said with a smile. “To meet Bobby is just the cherry on top.”

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