There's still one big step left, but Bobby Labonte may have made the toughest jump of all in 1999. He's no longer just a proven winner, he's a serious championship threat.

Labonte won a career-best five races in '99, but that wasn't his most impressive accomplishment. Rather, what was most notable about this season was his steadiness. The 18 car finished 33 of the season's 34 races, and Labonte was lower than fourth in points only twice all year - once after the Daytona 500. Some things still went wrong for evidenced by a third-place at Bristol, a second-place at Richmond, and a top-5 Sears Point that was cut by a wreck. evidenced by a third-place at Bristol, a second-place at Richmond, and a top-5 Sears Point that was cut by a wreck. Labonte still improves his results at his "spot" tracks.