Aikman thrilled with first finish.

Hall of Fame Racing co-owner Troy Aikman says it was mission accomplished for the newest Nextel Cup team on Sunday at the Daytona International Speedway as veteran Terry Labonte took a top 20 finish in the Daytona 500.

Needing a good opening five races to cement their status in the top 35 in owner points while they have Labonte's Past Champions Provisional to fall back on, Aikman sat on tenterhooks throughout the 202 lap overtime race as the double series champion narrowly avoided a catalogue of incidents to finish a solid 17th in the opening event of the Nextel Cup season.

"Needless to say, we are thrilled with our 17th place finish," said Aikman, who saw Labonte come within inches of disaster during Jeff Green's lap 79 accident and again on the final lap of the race when Greg Biffle spun in turn four.

"Philippe Lopez & the entire crew showed how hard they've been working throughout the off season to field a competitive team. Terry Labonte was terrific and we're so fortunate to have him on our team."

Although the former Dallas Cowboys NFL quarterback remains mindful that there are still 35 long races to go in Hall of Fame's rookie Nextel Cup season, the move to place Labonte in the car for the first five races in order to guarantee them a start every week seems to be paying off.

"This was a good start for Hall of Fame Racing but we recognise that it's a long season and we still have a long way to go," he concluded.