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When he’s not taking turns at 200 mph, NASCAR’s Bobby Labonte, driver of the #96 Ask.com Ford, can usually be found with a fishing rod 
or hunting rifle in his hands. As 
the chase for NASCAR’s Sprint Championship was revving up, Outdoor Life  got the chance to wind down with the 16-year veteran.

OL: Do you find time to hunt or fish during the long racing season ?

Labonte: I definitely try to find the time. It’s a great way to relieve stress. Heck, I managed to catch a 6-pounder in the pond behind my house the other night. I was hoping to catch a big crappie when the
largemouth hit—great fish.

OL: Have you traveled much for destination fishing?

Labonte: Yes, I’ve fished a bunch of places: Alaska for salmon and halibut; Colorado for trout; Texas for offshore fishing; and Brazil. 

OL:  Which was your favorite?

Labonte: The Rio Negro in Brazil was great.We fished for peacock bass, and I caught a piranha, too. Man, those peacocks can fight. 

OL: Do you do much hunting? 

Labonte: Quite a bit. I hunted elk in Montana last fall and got one. The plan is to get back there between races with [Kevin] Harvick and some other guys. 

OL: It seems as though a lot of drivers hunt and fish.

Labonte: Yes, that’s true—Harvick, Martin Truex, Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart, to name a few.