Labonte qualifies 27th at New Hampshire

QUALIFYING RESULTS:
1. Ryan Newman, Dodge, 29.370 seconds, 129.683 miles per hour
2. Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 29.377 seconds, 129.651 miles per hour
3. Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 29.383 seconds, 129.626 miles per hour
4. Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 29.415 seconds, 129.485 miles per hour
5. Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 29.528 seconds, 129.024 miles per hour
27. Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 29.818 seconds, 127.735 miles per hour
41. Kyle Petty, Dodge, 30.117 seconds, 126.467 miles per hour

It was a hot and humid day in New England on Friday. The Nextel Cup Series held pole qualifying Friday afternoon at the one-mile New Hampshire International Speedway. Teams are preparing for Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300. The mercury rose above 90 degrees and thus created a very slick track. The flat, one-mile oval is extremely tricky, but the heat made it very hard to drive. Many teams struggled getting a ‘handle’ on the track and keeping their cars gripped to the track. Former New Hampshire winner Ryan Newman won the pole for Sunday’s race. It is Newman’s 37th career pole.

Labonte and the #43Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team had a solid day at New Hampshire despite the heat. Labonte was 38th fastest in the morning practice, but the crew made adjustments before qualifying. Labonte qualified late in the session and the track was extremely slick. Labonte, however, jumped up the board and qualified 27th.

“It’s a slick track today,” said Labonte. “We’ll be ready for Sunday. We’ve got some work to do, but we’ll be alright.”

Petty and the #45 Dodge team qualified 41st on Friday. The highlight of Petty’s day came early Friday morning when Tony Stewart donated a million dollars to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. It is the second time that Stewart has made such a donation. Petty will be making his 21st start at the track on Sunday.

Sunday’s race will be televised live nationally on TNT and broadcast on MRN Radio. Race coverage begins at 1:30pm (EST).