Results at New Hampshire not reflective of performance for Labonte

FINAL RESULTS:
1. Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet
2. Tony Stewart, Chevrolet
3. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
4. Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet
5. Brian Vickers, Chevrolet
37. Kyle Petty, #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge
40. Bobby Labonte, #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge

OVERVIEW:

The results don’t do justice for the day Petty Enterprises was having on Sunday at the one-mile New Hampshire International Speedway in the city of Loudon. The storied organization headed into the weekend with a renewed spirit. A crew chief change on the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge (Paul Andrews moved over from the #45 Dodge) as well as the addition of veteran Bill Wilburn leading the charge for the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge had both teams running strong on Sunday. Bad luck, however, ended one of the best runs of the season for Petty Enterprises. The first race of the ‘Chase for the Nextel Cup’ went to Kevin Harvick. Harvick led a Chevrolet brigade that swept the top five finishing positions. He now takes over the points lead heading into Dover. Tony Stewart finished second while Jeff Gordon came home third.

Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team had their best run in the past few weeks ruined by a car getting into the back of the “43” sending it hard into the wall. Labonte started the afternoon 29th, but moved steadily forward in the first 100 laps. Labonte was under the guidance of Paul Andrews for the first time this season and Andrews made the adjustments necessary for Labonte to move up. By lap 135 Labonte sat 16th and still had more to show. The Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge was running 14th with only 100 laps to go when Labonte’s day was ended by another competitor. A restart bunched a group of lapped cars with the leaders. The result was a scramble for position and a tap from behind for Labonte. Labonte hit the wall hard, but was not injured. The Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge suffered enough damage to end the day.

“We were moving up,” said Labonte. “We look at the positive. We were on the right track today. Paul and I got some experience together and it was all positive. The car was moving forward the entire afternoon. I don’t know what happened at the end. I’ll have to look at a replay. We’ll just take the positive and move to Dover.”

Petty and the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge team started Sunday’s race in the 27th position. The 300-lap race was a battle for everyone on Sunday, but the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge was winning it late in the race. The Bill Wilbrun-led team developed a vibration early in the event while suffering from lack of grip. Petty eventually dropped a lap, but was still running competitive times. The team needed a caution and when they did they took full advantage. Problems fixed, changes to the car and a lightening quick pit stop put Petty in position to gain the ‘lucky dog’. The caution flew moments later on a restart and Petty was back on the lead lap. By lap 135 Petty was running 29th and the car was competitive to the leaders running on an open track. Petty continued his climb up and was 27th on lap 200. Petty’s charge ended with a blown engine just laps from the end of the race. Petty was easily headed for a top-25 finish and possibly higher.

“We had a mechanical problem that ended our day,” said Petty. “The car wasn’t bad and Billy (Wilburn) and the guys did a great job making adjustments. We were pretty good today. This type of run gives us confidence going into Dover.”

The Nextel Cup Series now heads to the one-mile Dover International Raceway.