Raines re-hired by Hall of Fame.

NASCAR veteran Tony Raines has been handed a full-time deal with Hall of Fame Racing next season that will see the 42-year old driver contest the entire Nextel Cup schedule with a fully sponsored team for the first time in his career.

Raines has shared the #96 DLP HDTV Chevrolet with former series champion Terry Labonte during HoF Racing's debut season with Labonte starting the season and taking over for the two road course events. However Raines has done the bulk of the work and has been able to keep the #96 team well inside the top 35 in owner points, thus guaranteeing the single car operation a place on the Nextel Cup grid every week.

"Two-and-a-half months before the Daytona 500, we didn't even own a lug nut," said Bill Saunders, managing partner of Hall of Fame Racing. "Without the heart, desire and talent of Tony Raines and Philippe Lopez, we couldn't have come this far. And without the help and leadership of Terry Labonte, we don't even get started.

"We've come a long way this year, but we are not putting consistently good race cars on the track yet. So it's hard to evaluate just how good our driver is or can be. We are going to get better and give Tony something to showcase his talent."

Raines has shared driving duties with Labonte this season, posting a best finish of 11th in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

"I'm happy to be coming back," Raines said. "I think we've made progress and we're learning, but we are a long way from being as good as I know we will be. I'm looking forward to finishing 2006 in a strong way and having a great season in 2007 in the DLP HDTV Chevy."

In 16 starts in 2006, Raines has scored 10 top-25 finishes and helped the team to 27th in Nextel Cup owner points.

"Consistency and team chemistry are very important, whether it's in racing, football or business," said Roger Staubach, who co-owns the team with Saunders and Troy Aikman. "Tony and the team have really gelled together well, and we're happy with the progress that's been made. I'm excited about finishing up 2006 strong and getting ready for 2007."

"Tony has done a tremendous job representing DLP Products," said Dave Duncan, Manager, Sponsorship Marketing for DLP Products, a division of Texas Instruments. "He has done an outstanding job on the track and has been great with our customers and fans off the track. We're looking forward to having Tony represent DLP again in 2007."