Race 2 Win: Busch Series Race Notes

NASCAR Busch Series

Zippo 200 - Bobby Labonte Notes

Bobby Labonte
No. 77 Dollar General Stores Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Team Report
NASCAR Busch Series Race 24 of 35 – Watkins Glen International

CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE RACE RECAP:

The NASCAR Busch Series teams visited Montreal for the inaugural event at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Ron Hornaday was behind the wheel of the No. 77 Dollar General stores Chevrolet, starting sixth and finishing 13th on the 2.71-mile road-course, while Kevin Harvick Inc. co-owner, Kevin Harvick went on to win the event.

WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL FACTS & STATS:

ROAD COURSE STATS: Bobby Labonte will make his sixth NASCAR Busch Series (NBS) start at Watkins Glen International.

12TH KHI START IN 2007: Bobby Labonte will make his 12th NASCAR Busch Series start of the 2007 season for Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) this weekend at Watkins Glen International. With the 2007 season quickly drawing to a close, Labonte is slated to run six more Busch Series races for KHI in the No. 77 Dollar General stores Chevrolet.

CREW CHIEF CORNER WITH WALLY ROGERS:

Thoughts on road-course racing: “Road-course racing to me is sort of like superspeedway racing. It’s a whole different monster than the standard intermediate and short tracks that we visit the majority of the time. Honestly I feel that I’ve had a pretty good record on road courses and really look forward to going to them each season. There is a balance between crew chief and driver when it comes to setting up and handling the car. Everyone thinks you have to have a “road-course ace” in the car to finish good, which it helps, but isn’t always the key to winning.”

What “balance” is a good combination?: “It’s important to have a good handling race car. I’ve found the package that works and I really don’t stray from it very far, just fine tune to the driver and what he’s feeling at the particular track. Once we’ve gotten the car to where it needs to be, then it’s in the drivers hands to ride. I kept stressing that to [Ron] Hornaday in Montreal, just ride and keep the car in contention for the end. I believe that no matter what driver, “road-course ace” or not, they can race and finish well at a road-course event. Once it’s in the driver’s hands, it’s a matter of staying on course and saving the car. If a driver can stay on course the whole race, no doubt they’ll have a good finish.”

Brakes always seem to be an issue on road-course events, how important are they at Watkins Glen International?: “That is one thing that I stressed to [Ron] Hornaday in Montreal, conserve the brakes…conserve the brakes and save me fuel. I don’t think that brakes are going to be quiet as important at Watkins Glen as they were in Montreal. Both tracks are very fast, but I just don’t think that it will be an issue. Ron kept asking me over and over throughout the race in Montreal if the brakes were glowing yet, because he had lost some brake pressure. I thought he did a great job at conserving the brakes the entire race.”

You mentioned saving fuel, how will pit strategy come into play?: “Pit strategy always comes into play, especially at road-course events. Again it goes back to what the driver can do for you as far as fuel mileage on the track. If you can get the driver to conserve enough and pit early, most of the time you can make it until the end on that pit strategy. Each race is different and obviously presents different circumstances.”

QUICK NOTES
Race Info
Date: August 11, 2007
Track: Watkins Glen International
Event Name: Zippo 200

Race length: 82 laps / 200.9 miles
Banking/Turns: various degrees
Track layout: 2.54-mile
Shape: Road-course
Turns: 11

Pre-Race Schedule:
Friday:
Practice: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., ET
Final Practice: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., ET
Saturday:
Qualifying: 11:35 a.m., ET

Broadcast Times:
TV: NASCAR Countdown pre-race coverage can be seen live on ESPN2 at 3:00 p.m., ET, followed by the Zippo 200 on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m., ET.
Radio: The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will broadcast pre-race coverage at 3:00 p.m., ET.

No. 77 Dollar General stores Monte Carlo SS Specs
Chassis: 012 Car History: Previously raced at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in 2006 and most recently at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City in 2007.
Car History: Engine: RCR