Labonte scraps for 12th at Atlanta

FINAL RESULTS:
1. Tony Stewart, Chevrolet
2. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet
4. Matt Kenseth, Ford
5. Greg Biffle, Ford
12. Bobby Labonte, #43 Cascadian Farm Dodge
17. Kyle Petty #45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge

OVERVIEW:

HAMPTON, GA (October 29, 2006) - Labonte and the #43 Cascadian Farm Dodge team had everything going there way early in Sunday’s race. The team started the afternoon 20th after rain cancelled qualifying on Friday. It only took 36 laps before Labonte was sitting in the 10th position. The Cascadian Farm Dodge team raced inside the top 10 for 125 laps until terrible luck fell upon the team. A windshield ‘tear-off’ plugged the front grill of the car forcing it to overheat. Labonte was forced to pit twice under green to cure the problem. Labonte was sent three laps down. The team was still one of the strongest cars on the track as Labonte dug back to the front of the field. The team made up one lap and was one of multiple cars two laps down. The sun set and Labonte was one of the better cars, along with teammate Kyle Petty, once the track cooled. Labonte moved to the front of his pack and a caution came out. Labonte then found himself only one lap down with the race coming to a close. A few more cars had problems at the end and Labonte finished 12th after fighting from three laps down. In fact, Labonte gained a position in points and is now 19th heading to Texas.

“We had a top 10 car tonight,” said Labonte. “We went to the front early and everything was good. We had that problem and we had to come down pit road. It was overheating and water was coming out. We just survived after that and we knew we had a good car. Guys had problems, but we were fast too. We are really optimistic for these final races. The Cheerios guys are doing a great job and Paul (Andrews) has been a great leader for us.”

Petty and the #45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge team finished 17th in Sunday’s race. Petty started the race in the 37th position and looked strong in the early stages. Petty moved forward, but the car needed more grip. Petty had to take care of his car before the crew could make changes. The race did not feature many cautions, but crew chief Billy Wilburn made the best of them to make adjustments. Petty was at his best in the final 125 laps of the race after the sun set. The car rocketed to the front as Petty picked off cars that were two laps down. Petty gained nearly all the positions possible for his lap and finished 17th.

“The car was better at night,” said crew chief Billy Wilburn. “We didn’t have the best car early, but we kept working on it. Kyle (Petty) did a great job tonight. We’re having better runs with this team. Petty Enterprises is having a strong finish to the end of this season.”

The lights were on as Tony Stewart took the win in Sunday’s Bass Pro Shops 500 at the 1.54-mile Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway. A late afternoon start featured 43 cars lined up to owner points after Friday’s qualifying session was cancelled. The green fell and it was a three-car runaway all afternoon. Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr dominated the event that ended with only 11 cars on the lead lap. A late-race caution eventually determined the outcome of the race. Stewart was leading with Matt Kenseth following in second. Earnhardt Jr. was third in line as both Stewart and Kenseth ducked down pit road at the very last moments possible. Earnhardt Jr. was the only driver not to have fresh tires on the restart. Stewart easily passed Earnhardt Jr. for the win as Johnson also got by Earnhardt. Matt Kenseth finished fourth and retained his lead in the championship points. Petty Enterprises continued their recent success Sunday placing both cars in the top 20.

The Nextel Cup Series now heads to the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday’s 500-mile race.