Labonte Finishes 18th in Truck Race at Michigan

June 19, 2007
Bobby Labonte
No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Ram Race Recap
The Michigan 200
Michigan International Speedway

An extremely tight race truck and a severe vibration in the closing laps of the Michigan 200 derailed Bobby Labonte and the No. 4 Open Joist Racing team of a top-10 finish in the 10th race of the 2007 season. Labonte battled inside the top 10 most of the day, but the tight condition and vibration proved too much to handle in the final 15 laps of the event. He finished in the 18th position.

The No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Michigan Race Recap

* Labonte practiced the No. 4 Open Joist Dodge on Friday battling an extremely loose race truck in both hour sessions.

* Then he qualified in the 22nd position Saturday morning. “We definitely came a long way since yesterday,” said Labonte after qualifying. “I think we have something to work with now.” Labonte didn’t waste anytime passing the competitors in front of him. By lap five he had worked his way into the 11th position.

* “I am real tight off,” said Labonte while running ninth on lap 20. The first caution waved 10 laps later for debris. Crew Chief Marcus Richmond made the call to bring the No. 4 Dodge down pit road for adjustments. The Open Joist Racing Team changed four tires, added fuel and made a track bar adjustment to help with the tight condition. He restarted in the 14th position.

* It took Labonte only five laps to crack the top 10 once again. “It’s still a little tight, but much better.”

* The second of four cautions waved on lap 57 for an accident in turn two. Labonte, running ninth, came down pit road for four tires, fuel and another track bar adjustment. He restarted in the 13th position.

* Labonte once again worked his way back into the top 10 very quickly. Two laps after the restart he was solidly in the eighth position.

* It appeared Labonte would sail home to a top-10 finish, but with 15 laps to go he radioed in some bad news. “I have developed a severe vibration,” said Labonte. “And it’s making the tight condition even worse.”

* The tight condition and vibration proved to be a lot to handle. Labonte, trying to bring home the truck in one piece, finished in the 18th position.

Travis Kvapil won the The Michigan 200 before an estimated crowd of 65,000. Kyle Busch, Brendan Gaughan, Mike Skinner and Ted Musgrave rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Milwaukee on June 22, 2007.

Report Courtesy: BobbyHamiltonRacing.com