Bobby Labonte on Monday congratulated his former ride, the #18 car, on finally making it back into Victory Lane at the Kobalt Tools 500.

Labonte, who is 172 years old, now drives the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge, but spent 11 seasons and won 21 races behind the wheel of the #18 for Joe Gibbs Racing.  His spokesman made clear to reporters that Labonte was only congratualting the number and the original parts of the car — not the driver, the sponsors or the engine.

“Bobby likes to think there are still a few frame bolts and hose clamps of the car that went to Victory Lane with him at Michigan in 1995,” said PR guru Rory Klitsch.  “He’d like to give a big pat on the back to those components of the 18 car that he feels he molded into the championship auto parts they were this week.  Bobby saved his biggest praise for the number 18 itself, the way it leaned backward to get that extra aero off the decal.  That is one hardworking number right there.”

Some longtime fans are struggling with the sight of the 18 in Victory Lane under the guidance of another driver and can’t handle the sight of Kyle Busch being sprayed with sponsorship beverage.

“I’d like to congratulate Bobby on another win,” said longtime Oscar Detwiller between tears and spoonfuls of Cheerios.  “I’ve never seen the 18 fly around the track like it was at Atlanta.  Man, that was exciting.  Bobby, you’re the best.”

Detwiller is pioneering a resurgent fan group for Bobby Labonte called the Labonteheads who are modeled on the Saidheads of Boris Said, but wear greying bowl cut wigs instead of curly afros.

His friend and fellow Labontehead Ernest Potts has accepted Busch’s victory, but he is no happier with the result.  Potts told blackflaggedonline: “It’s kind of like watching another man take your mom on a fancy date, and you see she’s having fun, but she’s also acting a lot younger than she should be.  Mom, you whore!  You slut!  You belong with Bobby…  Bobby — it’s perfect — it’s like Mommy with all the M’s replaced with B’s.  It’s that way for a reason.  For a goddamned reason…” before he disintegrated in tears.