Promising Daytona Finish Dashed

Pillsbury/Cinnabon Dodge
Daytona 400
July 1, 2006; Daytona, Florida
2.5-mile, Daytona International Raceway

FINAL RESULTS:

1. Tony Stewart, Chevrolet
2. Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
3. Kurt Busch, Dodge
4. Boris Said, Chevrolet
5. Matt Kenseth, Dodge
28. Kyle Petty, #45 Tire Kingdom Dodge
42. Bobby Labonte, #43 Pillsbury/Cinnabon Dodge

OVERVIEW:

Petty Enterprises had what easily looked to be another top-five finish taken away from them Saturday night at the 2.5-mile Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Bobby Labonte and the #43 Pillsbury/Cinnabon Dodge team were running third when another car hit Labonte sending him into the wall. It ended the teams strong run. The accident was one of only six cautions on the night. Tony Stewart won his second consecutive Daytona 400. Stewart was leading the Busch brothers when a caution came out for debris with one lap left. Stewart coasted to the line for the win.

Petty and the #45 Tire Kingdom Dodge team came away with a 28th place finish Saturday night. Petty, making his 50th start at Daytona, started the night 33rd. Crew chief Paul Andrews and the team made chassis adjustments throughout the night. The car was drafting with others, but Petty was looking for more speed. Petty was able to draft in line and moved to 28th at the end of the night.

“We just tried to stay in the draft with these guys tonight,” said Petty. “We picked up some positions at the end when some of the other guys started to wreck. Our car wasn’t’ as strong as others, but we got the best out of it.”

Labonte and the #43 Pillsbury/Cinnabon Dodge team started Saturday night’s race in the 34th position. It took only 35 laps for Labonte to sit in the 11th position. Crew Chief Todd Parrott gave Labonte everything he needed to race with the leaders Saturday night. Labonte was one of the best cars on the track. Labonte raced into the top-10 and then into the top-five. Labonte was in the perfect position to secure another top-five finish and possibly even better. The night, however, came to an end when another car got loose racing three-wide with Labonte. Labonte was racing third and in the high line when Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch made it three-wide in the turn. Johnson got loose and went into Labonte. Labonte’s strong run ended with terminal damage to the car.

“I don’t know what happened,” said Labonte. “The car was good and everything. We ran so well tonight, but had it taken away from us. It’s heartbreaking for this team. We had a top-five car for sure.”

The Nextel Cup Series now heads to the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway, located in Joliet, Illinois for Sunday’s USG Sheetrock 400.