Labonte Qualifies 19th for Sharpie 500

BRISTOL, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 27, 2004 – Bobby Labonte qualified 19th during Sharpie 500 Bud Pole Qualifying Aug. 27 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.

Labonte turned a lap of 15.203 seconds, 126.212 mph in the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet.

“We ran just a tenth of a second faster than we ran in practice, so that’s a little disappointing,” Labonte said. “We were 12th quick in practice and fell a couple of spots, but it’s a long race and Bristol’s always a wild race. It should be interesting to see what happens tomorrow.”

Jeff Gordon won the pole with a lap of 14.930, 128.520.

Labonte will start the Sharpie 500 on the inside of Row 10 next to rookie Brian Vickers. Labonte’s teammate, Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevorlet, will start sixth after posting a lap of 15.112, 126.972.

The Sharpie 500 will start at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 28 and be broadcast live on TNT and PRN.