Kansas Race Report

No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
September 28, 2008
1.5-mile Kansas Speedway

RACE RESULTS:
1. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
2. Carl Edwards, Ford
3. Greg Biffle, Ford
4. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
5. Matt Kenseth, Ford
24. Bobby Labonte, No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
41. Kyle Petty, No. 45 Wells Fargo Dodge

Jimmie Johnson’s pit crew got him out first after a late-race caution period and he was able to hold on for the win in Sunday’s Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman at the Kansas Speedway. Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle finished second and third, respectively, as the top-three drivers in the “Chase for the Sprint Cup” standings finished 1-2-3.

The end to Sunday’s race proved to be one of the most exciting of the year. Johnson led Edwards by just under one second with ten laps to go, but lost that advantage as he tried to negotiate lapped traffic. Edwards passed Johnson in turn three of the last lap, but drove into the corner too hard and hit the wall. This allowed Johnson to pass him back and take the win.

Bobby Labonte and the No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team finished 24th on Sunday. Labonte, who has competed in every Sprint Cup race at the Kansas Speedway, began the day from the 21st position. To compensate for a car that was ‘tight’ at the start of the race, Labonte moved to the ‘high’ side of the track and began to pick off the cars in front of him. When he brought his No. 43 Dodge down pit road for a green flag stop on lap 51 he was running inside the top-15. Crew chief Jeff Meendering made several air pressure and track bar adjustments to help the handling of the car, but the chassis didn’t respond in a way that would allow Labonte to hold that track position. He was able to race around the top-20 cars before finishing 24th. Labonte made 87 green flag passes, which placed him 11th in the 43 car field.

“We threw a lot of adjustments at the car today, but nothing really seemed to get it to a ‘neutral’ condition,” said Labonte. “The guys fought hard all day, the pit crew had some fast stops and we were able to salvage a decent day out of it. I think we learned a lot today about the adjustments this car needs, and doesn’t need, on these intermediate tracks.”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will head to the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway for this weekend’s 500-mile event. Friday’s qualifying session will be telecast on ESPN2. It will be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Channel 128.