Labonte Racing Cascadian Farms Dodge at Atlanta
One of Hottest Driver on Circuit Heading Into Best Track

This weekend, Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cascadian Farms Dodge team head to the 1.5-mile Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Bass Pro Shops 500. Labonte will be racing the Cascadian Farms Dodge for the first time this season.

Labonte and the team head to Atlanta with a lot of optimism. They have finished in the top-10 in four of their last five races and finished a season best third last weekend at the Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Labonte has climbed to 20th in the championship point standings.

Labonte is a master of the fast Atlanta oval. He has six wins at the track and was leading the March race before an engine failure ended his day short. Labonte has earned 13 top 10 and 12 top five finishes at Atlanta in his career. His average finish is 15th at the track.

Questions for Labonte as he prepares for this weekend’s Bass Pro Shops 500:

Has this streak of finishes been fun for you? “It’s easier to sleep at night when you finish in the top 10 rather than in the back. I’ve been sleeping pretty well the last few weeks. I have a lot of confidence in the Cheerios guys right now. We are getting great cars and making the best out of our races.

“It seems like Paul (Andrews) and I have had a good connection and chemistry. He’s a great guy and he has a lot of talent. The guys on the crew just keep working hard and it’s paying off. I’m really happy for the whole team right now. We just have to keep working and do the same things we are doing now.”

What’s the next step for this team? “We have had a lot of changes this season. I think you have to walk before you run. This isn’t a process that happens overnight. It takes a while and it’s going to take a team effort. It’s not just the driver or the crew chief. It’s everyone back at the shop, all the fabricators, the engineering department and everyone else too that makes a winning team.

“We have put some great people in place this season. We are going to continue to lean on the great guys that we have. This sport is all about chemistry and getting everyone working together. The last few weeks have been great for this team. We are heading in the right direction.”

What are your thoughts going to Atlanta? “We are a different team heading into this weekend than what we were in March. But, that’s a good thing. I think we have come a long way with our cars and our mile-and-a-half program. This car is the same we raced in Charlotte (finished fifth) and we know what we have with it.

“The guys are doing a great job. Atlanta is a good track for me. A win before the end of the season isn’t out of the question. We have the capabilities and are confident in our abilities. It’s been exciting to be a part of this Cheerios Dodge team the past few weeks.”