Qualifying Results - Nextel All-Star Challenge

CONCORD, NC (May 18, 2006) - Qualifying for the annual Nextel All-Star Challenge was the focus for Bobby Labonte and the No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge Friday night at the 1.5-mile Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, North Carolina.

By way of his 2000 NASCAR Championship Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team are in the Nextel All-Star Challenge. Labonte will start 15th in the field on Saturday. Labonte and the #43 “Helping Hands” pit crew worked hard in their qualifying effort and are ready for Saturday.

“That wasn’t a bad lap,” said Labonte. “We’re OK. I know they’ve got the new 20-20-20-20 format. They’ve tried a little bit of everything, but I don’t think that will really make any difference. You’ve got to go for it every lap anyway. That’s just the nature of this race.”

Kyle Petty and the #45 Coke Zero Dodge team will participate in the Nextel Open with a chance to race into the all-star race. Petty qualified 27th fastest on Friday. Petty will have 40 laps, run in two 20-lap segments, to race for the win. Petty’s lap was smooth and consistent after three cars wrecked before Petty qualified.

“Lowe’s is a pretty slick track,” said Petty. “We just wanted a good lap with the Coke Zero Dodge. We just laid down a lap and we’ll go racing tomorrow. It’s an exciting event and a lot of things happen.”

Matt Kenseth’s team helped him win the pole for the Nextel All-Star Challenge, Saturday’s main event that pays one million to win. A qualifying format that includes running two laps plus a pit stop, Kenseth’s crew turned in an outstanding stop during the qualifying run. The pit stop allowed Kenseth to pick up the pole for Saturday’s race that is run in four 20-lap segments.

The Nextel Open, a qualifying race for those not already in the All-Star Challenge, will race as the preliminary event with the top-two finishers advancing. Carl Edwards won the pole for that event Friday evening.

Friday’s qualifying session was televised live nationally by SPEED Channel and broadcast on MRN Radio. Saturday’s race will be televised live on SPEED and broadcast live on MRN Radio.