Race 2 Win: Domino's Pizza 250 - Bobby Labonte Notes

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Domino's Pizza 250 - Bobby Labonte Notes

BOBBY LABONTE DOMINO’S PIZZA 250 NOTES

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005 – The following are Domino’s Pizza 250 pre-race notes and quotes for Bobby Labonte, driver of the No. 19 Eckrich Chevrolet (Busch Series) for Joe Gibbs Racing.

DOMINO’S PIZZA 250 PRE-RACE NOTES:

The Domino’s Pizza 250 is the third of eight Busch Series races the Labonte will compete in for Joe Gibbs Racing and ConAgra Foods. Labonte started 12th and finished sixth on the Hunt’s Chevrolet in May at Charlotte and started 14th and finished 16th in the Banquet Chevy July 9 at Chicagoland. In addition to Charlotte, Chicago and Michigan, Labonte will compete at: Bristol, Aug. 26 (Hunt’s), Richmond, Sept. 9 (Banquet); Kansas, Oct. 10 (Banquet), Texas, Nov. 6 (Slim Jim), and Phoenix, Nov. 12 (Slim Jim).

Labonte will compete in his first Busch Series event at MIS since he finished second there in 1998. In five Busch Series races at MIS, Labonte has one win (1994), and finished lower than sixth only once (23rd, 1992).

Labonte has 166 starts in Busch Series competition and has scored nine wins, 48 top-fives and 90 top-10 finishes. He has finished in the top-10 in 54 percent of his Busch Series starts.

Labonte won the 1991 Busch Series championship on the strength of two wins and 21 top-five finishes. He lost the 1992 title by just three points to Joe Nemechek. The three-point margin is the closest points finish in the history of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch Series or Craftsman Truck Series competition.

Labonte made his Busch Series debut in 1982 at Martinsville Speedway. He finished 30th and won $220. He then competed in the two races in 1985, six in 1988 and seven in 1989 before competing full-time for the first time in 1990.

On April 13, 1991, Labonte scored his first career Busch Series win in the Budweiser 250 at Bristol International Speedway, driving the No. 44 Penrose Firecracker Oldsmobile. Labonte’s good friend, David Green, finished second, while the late Dale Earnhardt finished third.

Labonte’s last Busch Series victory came in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 March 21, 1998 at Darlington Raceway in the No. 44 Shell Pontiac.

The primary car for the Domino’s Pizza 250 is Chassis No. 1959, which Labonte drove in both of his Busch races earlier in the year. He finished sixth at Charlotte and 16th at Chicagoland.

The back-up car is chassis No. 1961, a new car.

DOMINO’S PIZZA 250PRE-RACE QUOTE:
BOBBY LABONTE (No. 19 Eckrich Chevrolet; 1991 Busch Series Champion): “Michigan has always been my favorite track. It just has everything going for it. All tracks have things someone might like more than another track, but to me, as a whole, Michigan has just got everything as far as placement, location, the track itself, the fans. A little bit of everything just seems like it goes a long way there. It’s always a treat to go to Michigan, and when you run good there it helps. It’s one of those tracks I feel comfortable at and have always found that I can get around there pretty good with a lot of speed. I’m looking forward to doing both the Cup and Busch events this weekend. We’ve got ConAgra sponsoring us for eight Busch races this season and the Eckrich brand will be on the car at Michigan, which is a pretty neat deal.”

No. 19 Eckrich Chevrolet Crew List

Crew Chief: Doug Hewitt

Car Chief: Bill Henderson

Engineer: Dave Vanderhaar

Engine Tuner: Chris Woodward

Shocks: Dave Poronto

Tires: Brandon Baker

Mechanic: Kevin Kelly

Mechanic: Micheal Sibley

Spotter: Rick Cordell

Truck Driver: Vic Maguire

Front Tire Changer: Gus Hinton

Rear Tire Changer: Kyle Power

Front Tire Carrier: Chad Edwards

Rear Tire Carrier: Jody Forston

Gas Man: Scott Wood

Catch Can: John Eicher

Jackman: Chris Webb

Scorer: Sharon Hewitt

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