Race 2 Win: Arizona 200 - Bobby Labonte Notes

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Arizona 200 - Bobby Labonte Notes

BOBBY LABONTE PHOENIX NOTES AND QUOTES

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005 – The following are Phoenix 200 pre-race notes and quotes for Bobby Labonte, driver of the No. 19 SlimJim Chevrolet (Busch Series) for Joe Gibbs Racing.

PHOENIX 200 PRE-RACE NOTES:

The Phoenix 200 is the last of eight Busch Series races the Labonte will compete in for Joe Gibbs Racing and ConAgra Foods. Labonte finished sixth at Charlotte, 16th at Chicagoland, seventh at Michigan, 10th at Bristol, eighth at Richmond, 37th at Kansas (mechanical) and 12th at Texas.

Labonte has 171 starts in Busch Series competition and has scored nine wins, 48 top-fives and 93 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.

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.

SlimJim, a longtime sponsor of both Terry and Bobby Labonte, will be the primary sponsor on the No. 19 Chevrolet this week.

PHOENIX PRE-RACE QUOTE:
BOBBY LABONTE (No. 19 SlimJim Chevrolet; 2000 NASCAR Champion, 1991 Busch Series Champion): “We had a good run at Phoenix in the spring and we’ve always run pretty well at Homestead, so I’m looking forward to the final two races. We had a really good run at Phoenix in the spring, so hopefully we can do well there on Sunday. We’re running our final Busch race of the year for ConAgra Foods in the SlimJim cars. We’ve come close to getting a victory for them and I’d really like to get one for them since this is the last race of the year. We’ve only got to races left in the Interstate Batteries Chevy and I’d like to get another win for everybody involved in the program. That’d be a great way to go out.”

No. 19 SlimJim 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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