Labonte Overcomes Late-Race Spin to Score Second Straight Top-15 Finish

Justin Labonte

MEMPHIS, TENN., (October 22, 2005) – Justin Labonte and the U.S. Coast Guard Team stayed busy late in the running of the Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Labonte overcame starting 25th and two spins to finish 12th, his second consecutive Top-15 finish.

The No. 44 U.S. Coast Guard crew tested at Memphis Motorsports Park early last week where they were able to get information that helped their performance during the Sam’s Town 250. During practice Friday they were up front running fast lap times under race and qualifying trim. Labonte went out early for qualifying Saturday morning and did not get the starting position that he was looking for, but the team knew they had a Top-Five car and never gave up.

The NASCAR Busch Series event started off uneventful for Labonte. He was a little loose coming off the turns during his first green flag run. Crew chief Harold Holly called for a slight air pressure and trackbar adjustment. Trying to avoid an accident in Turn three, Labonte spun out on Lap 204 after the caution flag had been shown allowing him to return to where he was running before the spin. Labonte was scored as high as tenth on Lap 206 working towards the Top-Five. On Lap 212 the caution was shown again when Labonte was spun out again in Turn four, this time restarting in 20th. After two spins within six laps of each other, Labonte was able to battle back and get a 12th-place finish.

“Man we had a good car this weekend,” said Labonte. “We were strong right off the truck. I think that the test we had here really helped us. The car ran well during practice yesterday and we were sure we had a Top-Five car. Unfortunately we drew an early number for qualifying so the track was still a little free when we went out. We ended up started further back than we had hoped. I was determined to get all out of this car that I could These guys have worked so hard to give me such an awesome car, we deserve our first Top-Five of the season. We got lucky on the first spin and were able to restart where we were before we spun out, the second time though we had to restart back in the field. We ended the race where we would have been had we not spun out the second time. We had a Top-Five car easy, but we finished the race and got our second Top-15 in two races.”

“Well, we should’ve had a Top-Five finish, but at least we finished the race,” said Holly. “Our qualifying run was not what he had hoped, the track was just too free when we went out, but the car came around under race conditions. This team worked so hard this weekend to get this car the best it could be. I think this was one of the best we have had all season. We didn’t get the finish out of it that we wanted, but we got a Top-15 finish. This team has shown what it can do; sooner or later we’ll get that Top-Five finish and maybe even a win.”

Labonte and the U.S. Coast Guard Team will enjoy next weekend off before heading to Texas, November 5th. Most of the crew plans on enjoying their weekend at home in North Carolina, including Holly, who plans on fishing in a tournament.