Race 2 Win: Emerson Radio 250 - Bobby Labonte Notes

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Emerson Radio 250 - Bobby Labonte Notes

BOBBY LABONTE RICHMOND NOTES AND QUOTES

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C., Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005 – The following are Emerson Radio 250 pre-race notes and quotes for Bobby Labonte, driver of the No. 19 Banquet Chevrolet (Busch Series) for Joe Gibbs Racing.

EMERSON RADIO 250 PRE-RACE NOTES:

The Emerson Radio 250 is the fifth 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 and 10th at Bristol. In addition to Richmond, Labonte will compete at: Kansas, Oct. 10 (Banquet), Texas, Nov. 6 (Slim Jim), and Phoenix, Nov. 12 (Slim Jim).

Labonte will attempt to start his 12th Busch Series race at RIR. He has never won a Busch race at Richmond, but has three top five and seven top 10 finishes. He won the Busch pole for the 1991 fall race and has started in the top five six times.

Labonte has 168 starts in Busch Series competition and has scored nine wins, 48 top-fives and 92 top-10 finishes. He has finished in the top-10 in 55 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.

The primary car for the Emerson Radio 250 is Chassis No. 1961, a new car that has not been used in a race.

The back-up car is chassis No. 1840, which was used in seven races in 2003 by Coy Gibbs.

RICHMOND 250 PRE-RACE QUOTE:
BOBBY LABONTE (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet; 2000 NASCAR Champion, 1991 Busch Series Champion): “I’m looking forward to heading to Richmond this week. We’ve had some good runs on the short tracks this year. Qualifying is important everywhere we go, but no where more important than at the short-tracks. The cars can get strung out so quickly and a if the leader is setting a torrid pace right from the drop of the green-flag, then it's not hard to lose a lap early. Being able to start up front is a huge plus at places like Richmond, Bristol and Martinsville. It’s going to be another busy weekend since we’re running the No. 19 Banquet Chevrolet on Friday night. We’ve done pretty well in the Busch races this year, but we’d like to get a victory, obviously.”

No. 19 Banquet 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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