LABONTE FINISHES SIXTH IN SECOND GATORADE DUEL AT DAYTONA

No. 96 Ask.com Ford Fusion to start 12th in Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – Feb. 13, 2008 – Bobby Labonte drove the No. 96 Ask.com Ford Fusion to a sixth-place finish in the second Gatorade Duel yesterday, securing the 12th position for the start of the 51st Daytona 500 on Sunday. The 60-lap, 150-mile qualifying race helped the Ask.com team realize it has a strongly competitive car heading into its first race as the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing entry. Labonte spent much of the event vying for position among the top five.

The No. 96 Ask.com Ford Fusion started the event fifth after an impressive qualifying effort last Sunday. The first of two cautions at lap 15 allowed the Ask.com team to pit for four tires and fuel and Labonte reported the Ford Fusion to be a little tight.

Labonte took the green flag at lap 18 and held a top-five position for 11 consecutive laps. At lap 29, the Ford Fusion changed its handling performance and Labonte fell to 11th place. He reported contact with the No. 00 car and communicated that the car was fighting poor handling at that point. In an effort to gain speed and handling of the No. 96 Ask.com Ford Fusion, Labonte raced within the mid-section of the track, providing room for the veteran driver to maneuver his car.

Labonte kept the Ford Fusion out of harm's way and with 15 laps to go, found the car running in eighth-place position. The second caution of the Gatorade Duels II granted the Ask.com team time to pit for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. The green flag was flown at lap 52 and Labonte made a move, gaining four positions from 10th and posting lap times only .78 seconds behind the leader.

Labonte and the No. 96 Ask.com team will begin the famed Daytona 500 in the 12th position on Sunday. "It's a handful," Labonte said, "We've got some changes to make to make it better but we've got one fast Ford engine. That will help us on Sunday."

Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the second Gatorade Duel and will begin Sunday's race fourth. Martin Truex Jr., who was involved in an accident in the first Gatorade Duel, will still start on the pole. The 51st Annual Daytona 500 will air Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EST on FOX.