LABONTE FINISHES FIFTH IN SEAT-GRIPPING SHELBY 427

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (March 2, 2009) – Bobby Labonte and the No. 96 Ask.com team secured a season-best fifth-place finish in Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Shelby 427 in an exciting race for the checkered flag yesterday. Jeff Moorad’s No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing entry is now 10th in owner points in the Sprint Cup series.

Labonte began the 285-lap race 15th at the 1.5 mile, newly-paved oval. The first of 14 cautions took place in the earliest laps of the race and Labonte struggled to gain positions. Crew chief, Todd Parrott summoned the No. 96 to pit road for an air-pressure adjustment, four tires and fuel under the green flag at lap 52. The Ask.com pit crew had Labonte out of the team’s pit box in 14 seconds flat and he rejoined the field 18th.

A series of yellow- and green- flag segments lasted for more than 100 laps. Labonte’s track position ranged from 10-23 in the 43-car field. Parrott brought Labonte to pit road for two right-side tires and a top-off on fuel, a strategy that would place the No. 96 near the front of the field. The Ask.com team had Labonte out of the pit stall in six seconds and the No. 96 took the green flag in second position behind Jeff Burton with 118 laps to go.

The final 100 laps of the race kept the Ask.com team and all 140,000 fans on the edges of their seats. Several late-race cautions gave Parrott a chance to continue to pit for two tires and a fuel top-off. Labonte remained in the top-10, running in second for 51 laps.

Labonte battled for positions in the last laps of the race and a late-race caution led to a green-white-checkered finish. Labonte, eighth at the restart, climbed his way through the field and finished the race fifth in the final laps, securing 10th position in the Sprint Cup point standings.

Labonte and the No. 96 Ask.com team will take the green flag again at Atlanta Motor Speedway next Sunday for the Kobalt Tools 500 in Hampton, Ga.. The race will air live on FOX and PRN, with coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. EST.