Labonte Earns Top-10 Finish at Rain-Delayed Michigan FINAL RESULTS: 1. Kurt Busch, Dodge 2. Martin Truex, Jr.,Chevrolet 3. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet 4. Matt Kenseth, Ford 5. Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet 9. Bobby Labonte, #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge 41. Chad McCumbee, #45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge OVERVIEW: Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team had a “see-saw” battle with handling in the rain-delayed 3M Performance 400 at the two-mile Michigan International Speedway on Tuesday afternoon. But they ended on the “up” side with the team’s second top-10 finish of the season. It was new crew chief Doug Randolph that helped lead the Cheerios Dodge through Tuesday’s 200-lap race. Randolph made air pressure and chassis adjustments on the Dodge all afternoon to help Labonte steer through traffic. The final adjustments in the last 20 laps helped Labonte come from the back of the longest line to score a ninth place finish, the second best Dodge behind winner Kurt Busch. The finish is Petty Enterprises 1,266 top-10 finish in its history. Labonte is now 18th in championship points. “We got back on the lead lap at the end with some good work on pit road,” said Labonte. “Doug made good calls on pit road all day today. We fought it, but we came back from it. It’s good to get back into the top 10. We can work from this as we approach the end of the summer.” Kurt Busch won the twice delayed event. Rain forced NASCAR officials to postpone the event for two days before weather finally cleared. Drivers and teams were anxious to complete Tuesday’s event so they could come back home after spending close to a week in the Irish Hills of Michigan. The race was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. eastern time Tuesday morning. NASCAR started the race under a green/yellow condition in an effort to try and clear the track of fog. The race was then red flagged on lap nine to allow for the fog to lift. Once it did, Jeff Gordon and Greg Biffle were able to bring the field to green under full speed. Gordon led for a shirt time, but it didn’t take long for Kurt Busch and his Penske Dodge to assume the position as the race dominator. Busch led the majority of the race and went on to win his second race of the season. The win is important to Busch as it helps secure his spot in the championship chase. He is still in the 12th and final position, but has now built a cushion to 13th place Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the standings. Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team had a “see-saw” battle with handling on Tuesday, but ended on the “up” side with the team’s second top-10 finish of the season. It was new crew chief Doug Randolph that helped lead the Cheerios Dodge through Tuesday’s 200-lap race. Randolph made air pressure and chassis adjustments on the Dodge all afternoon to help Labonte steer through traffic. The final adjustments in the last 20 laps helped Labonte come from the back of the longest line to score a ninth place finish- the second best Dodge behind only winner Busch. The finish is Petty Enterprises 1,266 top-10 finish in its history. Labonte is now 18th in championship points. “We got back on the lead lap at the end with some good work on pit road,” said Labonte. “Doug made good calls on pit road all day today. We fought it, but we came back from it. It’s good to get back into the top 10. We can work from this as we approach the end of the summer.” Chad McCumbee filled in the #45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge for injured Kyle Petty on Tuesday. McCumbee was a victim of circumstances beyond his control in the race. The first accident of the day was brought out by a spinning Juan Montoya. McCumbee wass left with no place to go and spun. Recovering from the accident, McCumbee had clutch problems that forced the team behind the wall to make repairs. The team spent over 50 laps behind the wall, but was able to get back on the track. McCumbee finished 41st in Tuesday’s race. “It’s bad that it happened,” said crew chief Billy Wilburn. “Chad had nothing to do with it, but it cost us. We jus hurt the clutch and had to make repairs. We didn’t get a chance to show what we had today.” The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series now heads to the .533-mile, high-banked Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway for Saturday night’s Sharpie 500. The race will be televised live by ESPN and broadcast live on MRN Radio.