Pop Secret 500 - Bobby Labonte Notes

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004 The following are California pre-race notes and quotes for Bobby Labonte, driver of the No. 18 Wellbutrin XL Chevrolet (NEXTEL CUP) and No. 18 Banquet Chevrolet (Busch Series) for Joe Gibbs Racing.

POP SECRET 500 PRE-RACE NOTES:

Labonte will attempt to start his ninth NEXTEL Cup race at California Speedway. He finished second at Fontana in 2000 and 2003, third in 1999 and fifth in the 2004 spring race. He won the Bud Pole for the 2001 event at California.

In the May 2004 event at California Speedway, Labonte started 27th and finished fifth. Labonte was in second place on the final lap when he ran out of fuel. He coasted to the finish line in fifth-place.

Labonte has five top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 2004.

After finishing 16th at Bristol, Labonte remained ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings for the third consecutive week. Kevin Harvick is only four points ahead of Labonte, while Ryan Newman is just one point behind Labonte.

Labonte has had success at the two tracks remaining on the schedule before the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup begins Sept. 19 at New Hampshire.

California four top-five finishes in nine races.

Richmond average finish of 3.6 in last three races at RIR

The primary car for the Pop Secret 500 is chassis No. 71, the car Labonte drove at both Bristol and Dover races in 2003. He finished third in the car at the spring events at each track. Labonte also used the car in 2004 at Rockingham, Bristol (spring) and Michigan.

The back-up car will be No. 87, the car Labonte drove to second place with March 21 at Darlington and the car he won the Bud Pole with April 2 at Texas. He finished fifth with the car May 2 at California, eighth June 20 at Michigan International Speedway, 13th May 30 at Charlotte, 15th Aug. 8 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and 18th July 11 at Chicagoland Speedway. Labonte also used the car at the fall race at Atlanta in 2003, where he started second and finished fifth.