No. 43 Dodge Returns to All-Star Race - Labonte Ready to Make Night Memorable

This weekend, Bobby Labonte and the #43 Go-GURT Dodge team head to the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway for Saturday night’s Nextel All-Star Challenge.

Labonte’s drive will mark the return of the famed #43 Dodge to the All-Star Challenge. The #43 Dodge last ran the All-Star race in 2000 with John Andretti behind the wheel.

Labonte has over 10 starts in the All-Star Challenge. He has won two poles and has six starts inside the top-five. Labonte finished runner-up in the event in 1997 and 1998. He has six top-10 finishes in the event.

Labonte will be supporting the colors of Go-GURT Portable Yogurt. It is the first-ever yogurt in a tube, the perfect snack for on-the-go kids. Labonte will debut the #43 Go-GURT Portable Yogurt Dodge this weekend. The car will also race during the Coca-Cola 600 the following weekend.

Questions for Labonte as he prepares for this weekend’s All-Star Challenge:

How special is it to be driving the ‘43’ this weekend?

“The #43 Dodge is a championship car. I think for all the fans of Petty Enterprises, the fans of the #43, it’s special for them. I think a lot of fans want to see this car in the All-Star race. There are probably a lot of people that feel it deserves to be in this race. I just know that it’s good to bring it back. This is an All-Star event full of champions. The #43 Go-GURT Dodge should be a big part of this race.”

Are you looking forward to the race?

“It has potential to be memorable. I’ve had good runs in the past in this race, I’ve run well at Lowe’s, but anything can happen. This is a race where a lot of things happen. You just have to be at the right place at the right time.

“We’re going to try everything to win. I think it would be a big celebration if we made it happen. Everyone wants to win at Charlotte, but to bring this #43 Go-GURT Dodge into victory lane at Charlotte would be pretty cool. Hopefully we can do that.”

What do you think of having an All-Star race?

“It’s cool for the fans. It gives them something different. I think some drivers get excited and others think of it as another race. Either way, it’s always exciting. It’s good to give something like this back to the fans. We need to do it just for them. They get pretty pumped up about it. We’re ready to be a part of that excitement again.”