Race 2 Win: Busch Series Race Notes

NASCAR Busch Series

Nicorette 300 - Bobby Labonte Notes

Bobby Labonte
No. 77 Dollar General Stores Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Team Report
NASCAR Busch Series Race 5 of 35—Atlanta Motor Speedway

LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY RACE RECAP: Bobby Labonte returned to the No. 77 Dollar General stores Chevrolet for the fourth NASCAR Busch Series event of the 2007 season. After practicing in the mid-20s Friday afternoon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Labonte qualified the Chevrolet Monte Carlos SS 30th on the starting grid. For the start of the Sam’s Town 300, Labonte quickly moved through the field moving into the top-15. At the end of the 200-lap event, Labonte had steered clear of trouble and earned an eighth-place finish for the Dollar General stores team.

ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY FACTS & STATS:

Bobby Labonte will make his fifth NASCAR Busch Series (NBS) start at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway (AMS). Labonte started fourth in the inaugural Busch Series event in 1992 at AMS. Labonte has earned two top-10 finishes in four starts at the 1.54-mile track.

Labonte has visited victory lane at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway six times in his NASCAR career, all victories coming in a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series car. Labonte also holds the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race record set in November 1997 with a speed of 159.904 mph.

Labonte has made two Truck Series starts at AMS, earning two top-five finishes. Ron Hornaday, driving the No. 6 Kevin Harvick Inc. owned Silverado, edged past Bobby Labonte at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway (AMS) in the 2005 NASCAR Truck Series race. Hornaday crossed the stripe 0.008 seconds ahead of Labonte for the victory.

CREW CHIEF CORNER WITH WALLY ROGERS:
ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY: “I like racing at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway,” said Wally Rogers. “It’s a track that drivers can race everywhere. It’s so seasoned with so many grooves. It’s really fast for 10-15 laps then the cars start sliding around.”

COMPETITION: “Competition is tough week in and week out in the Busch Series,” said Wally Rogers. “But with our team at KHI and our equipment it’s an achievable goal for top-10 finishes every weekend.”

TIRES: “Tires play such a big role at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway,” said Wally Rogers. “As a crew chief, I have to call Labonte down pit road to get tires when we can, but I also have to save tires for the end. Usually Goodyear will bring the same tires to Atlanta (Ga.) that are used at Texas Motor Speedway, but we’ll have to see what tires we get when we get there.”

MOVING UP THE RANKS: DeLana Harvick, co-owner of the No. 77 Dollar General stores Chevrolet, was 31st in the NASCAR Busch Series (NBS) Owner Points Standings heading into the fourth race of the 35-race season. After an eighth-place run at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by Bobby Labonte in the No. 77, DeLana sits 17th in the NBS Owner Points Standings. Currently, DeLana Harvick also holds the sixth-position in the NBS Owner Points Standings with the No. 33 Chevrolet.

HARVICK’S CUP DEBUT IN ATLANTA A LASTING MEMORY: Kevin Harvick made his first start in a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series car at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in 2001. After losing Dale Earnhardt in a wreck on the final lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001, car owner Richard Childress asked Kevin to assume driving duties for the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Monte Carlo on the Cup circuit. Making the third NASCAR Nextel Cup Series start of his career, Harvick started fifth that day with no idea of what was to come. Harvick went on to lead 18 laps and earn his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victory.