Labonte, Cheerios Team on the Move
Continues Climb in Championship Points

This weekend, Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team head to the 2.5-mile Pocono (Penn.) Raceway, located in the city of Long Pond, for Sunday’s Pocono 500.

Labonte is a three time winner at the uniquely triangular-shaped oval. Labonte swept both races in 1999 and won again in 2001. Labonte also has five top-five and eight top-10 finishes at the track.

The #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team moved up two positions to 24th in the championship standings after Sunday’s Neighborhood Excellence 400 at the Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Labonte and the Todd Parrott led crew have climbed 14 positions in the last nine races. The team is only 54 points out of the top 20.

Labonte has four top-15 finishes this season driving the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge through 13 races. The finishes are the best for the Petty Enterprises’ #43 since 2000.

Questions for Labonte as he prepares for this weekend’s Pocono 500:

What do you account for the recent run in points?

“I think you have to look at the beginning of the year. We just had some bad luck and things that didn’t go our way. But, our guys were prepared. They worked really hard over the off-season getting new cars and bodies ready for this season. It’s starting to pay off and we’re starting to see some of the results of that.

“We keep working hard to make things happen. The key was bringing in new people to make this team a championship team again. We’re coming along. We’re developing chemistry on this Cheerios team. If we can continue to have everyone pull in the same direction we’ll win races. That’s what our goal is.”

How is the chemistry on this team after 13 races?

“It’s good. I think we’ve surprised some people, and maybe even ourselves, with how fast we have come together. I had to learn Todd (Parrott) and how he worked. At the same time, Todd had to do the same with me. I think we’ve developed something good.

“This is a team effort and we’re all working hard. We are working through problems and getting better. We just can’t stop working at it. We know we aren’t where we want to be, but the ingredients are there. We’re moving in the right direction and getting stronger.”

Your thought’s on Pocono?

“It’s way different. You just have to look at the track to know it’s something a little out of the ordinary for us. Turn One isn’t banked enough and it’s pretty tough. It’s a really flat turn and you head in there with a ton of speed. The Tunnel Turn is next and that’s tough too. It was tough without the bumps there, but now you have to work around that. The Tunnel Turn is almost like a little ‘kink’ before you get into the flat Turn Three.

“It’s a tough track to apply it all together. It’s a fast track and you’re really ‘haulin the mail’ going into Turn One. Then you’ve got to brake hard because it’s so flat. The track just has its own characteristics to it. It’s a fun, but a real dynamic track. You’re never going to be great at every turn, but if you can get the car working on the throttle off the turns you’ll be good. I know this Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team is going to be working hard to master this track this weekend. We are looking for another strong run.”