Samsung/Radio Shack 500 - Bobby Labonte Notes

LABONTE SAYS TEXAS IS A HOMECOMING OF SORTS

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (March 25, 2003) - Though Bobby Labonte hasn't lived in the state of Texas since the late 70's, he's still proud to tell people that he was born there and spent a majority of his early years there. With the NASCAR Winston Cup Series headed to the Texas Motor Speedway for this weekend's Samsung/Radio Shack 500, Labonte knows the home state fans never let him forget where he's from and he says it's a great feeling hearing all those fans offering their support.

"It's been so long since we have lived there," said Labonte. "The fans there are just incredible though. I feel like I have been adopted in a way since we moved from Corpus when I was about 15 or so. We have lived in North Carolina since that time. When we first went there back in 1997 to race at Texas, it was just incredible the people that came up to Terry and I telling us they were so proud of us and what we had accomplished. It has been like that every year and that is kind of cool."

It didn't hurt Labonte's fan support either, that in three of the first four races at the mile and a half quad oval he finished in the third position. However, in the last two years Labonte has not had equaled results. With finishes of 42nd in 2001 due to a blown motor and 30th last season following some damage to the front end, Labonte is looking for some redemption.

"We didn't go test out there this year, but we feel pretty confident about the car and overall package we will have for that track," admitted Labonte. "We ought to I guess. We're taking the same car we won Atlanta with so that makes me feel good already. I really like the track. We've had some success there, but the last couple of years we have been off our game. I am looking forward to seeing where we're at when we go back."

"It's similar to Atlanta in a lot of ways, but there are enough differences to where the set-ups are not exactly the same," added Labonte. "I love the sensation of speed you get there. Some tracks are fast like Daytona and Talladega, but since you are moving around in such big packs you often don't realize what speed you're going. At Texas and Atlanta, you know you're pushing the envelope a little bit. I like that."

In addition to the homecoming Labonte will receive from the fans, he is looking forward to being near the corporate offices of his sponsor Interstate Batteries. Based in Dallas, Interstate has been the sponsor of the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet since the team's first season in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1992. In addition, they have been proudly associated with Labonte since he joined the team in 1995.

"It will definitely be busy out there for me, but it will be a lot of fun," noted Labonte. "Interstate Batteries is based out there in Dallas so they have me doing a lot right when I hit the ground on Thursday. It's our only time out in that area and we do a lot of appearances and such for them while we're there. It's always good to see everyone at their corporate offices and kind of walk around and shake hands with all the people you're representing. They're more like family than a sponsor. We've been together longer than almost all the other team, driver, sponsor arrangements and I am proud of that. It's one big family."

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