Labonte finishes 28th in rain shortened 3M Performance 400

FINAL RESULTS:

1. Kasey Kahne, Dodge
2. Carl Edwards, Ford
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet
4. Greg Biffle, Ford
5. Reed Sorenson, Dodge
28. Bobby Labonte, #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
35. Kyle Petty #45 Wells Fargo Dodge

OVERVIEW:

Kasey Kahne won a rain-shortened 3M Performance 400 at the two-mile Michigan International Speedway, located in the city of Brooklyn, on Sunday. Kahne, driving the #9 Evernham Dodge, found himself in the right place at the right time. Kahne powered around Carl Edwards after a lap 116 restart. It was soon after when rain started to fall over the wide, banked oval. Previous rain showers had already plagued the event with minor delays, but a wide ban of showers spread over the track on lap 129 and completely washed out the event. NASCAR Officials were forced to declare the race over since competitors had already completed half the race. Kahne earned his fourth win of the season.

Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team started Sunday’s race in the fifth position. Labonte and the Todd Parrott led crew, like many others, were looking at the weather conditions. Labonte was spent the beginning stages of the race running in top-10. The Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge became loose with ever-changing weather and track conditions. Labonte stayed competitive and Parrott made adjustments. Labonte was running in the top-15 when the field came down for what eventually was one of the races last pit stops. Labonte was given four fresh tires and was still in the top-15. Unfortunately a tire was loosing air and only Labonte’s skill made it possible for the team to hold onto a 28th place finish.

“We weren’t bad and hopefully heading for another good finish,” said Labonte. “We got the car back to natural and the rain came. We just needed that rain shower to pass through. We just didn’t have a chance to get back up to the front.”

Petty and the #45 Wells Fargo Dodge team were getting better during Sunday’s race before rain showers stopped their chance for a run to the front. Petty, who started 35th, overcame some handling issues early in the race. Crew Chief Paul Andrews made quick and decisive calls on pit road to give Petty a good car. Petty was working his way forward when a tire went down on his Wells Fargo Dodge after being hit by another racer. A caution came out and Petty was able to circle the track on the inner-liner of the tire to stay on the lead lap. An incredible job not to lose a lap, Petty pitted for four new tires. He returned to the track, but the rain showers hit. Petty finished 35th.

“I guess we got hit by the rain today,” said Petty. “The guys were working on the car and we were getting closer. We needed more laps to run. We were moving forward, but we got hit and it cut the tire. We had to pit for tires and then it started to rain.”