Labonte Finishes 12th at Homestead; 12th in Nextel Cup Points

Greg Biffle won the race, while his Roush Racing teammate, Kurt Busch, won the NEXTEL Cup Championship by eight points over Jimmie Johnson.

Labonte started sixth in the race and remained in the top-10 throughout much of the event. Several cars were on different pit sequences and that enabled Labonte to lead 10 laps from Lap 174-183.

When Labonte had to pit under caution on Lap 192, he remained in the top-10 and managed to work his way back up to fifth by Lap 212. Unfortunately for Labonte and the Interstate Batteries Racing Team, the pit-stop cycle did not work in their favor and when Labonte had to pit on Lap 226, he exited in 22nd position as several leaders did not have to pit. Labotne managed to work his way back up to 12th at the end of the event, which ended under the green/white/checkered format.

“We had a pretty good car today,” Labonte said. “We just didn’t have some luck there at the end. We managed to lead some laps and run up front, which was good, but we just didn’t have it at the end.”

Labonte went winless in the 2004 season, the first time since 1994 that Labonte has failed to win a NEXTEL Cup race. It also marked the first time since 1992 that the No. 18 Interstate Batteries team has failed to win a race.

“It’s disappointing,” Labonte said. “We need to come back next year, go testing, figure out the areo-package and the tires, and have a good year in 2005.”

Labonte finished the season with 4,277 points and in 12th-place. He was 320 points behind 11th-place Jamie McMurray and three points ahead of 13th-place Kasey Kahne.

The next NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event with be the Daytona 500 Feb. 20, 2005 at Daytona International Speedway. One week prior, Labonte will compete in the Bud Shootout Feb. 12. Both races will be broadcast live on FOX and MRN.