Talladega Race Report

No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
October 5, 2008
2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway

RACE RESULTS:
1. Tony Stewart, Toyota
2. Paul Menard, Chevrolet
3. David Ragan, Ford
4. Jeff Burton, Chevrolet
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Bobby Labonte, No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
17. Terry Labonte, No. 45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge

Bobby Labonte and the No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team finished sixth in Sunday’s 500 mile event at the Talladega Superspeedway. The finish is the highest of the year for the 2000 Sprint Cup champion and his second top-10 finish of the season. Terry Labonte guided the No. 45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge to a 17th place finish as Petty Enterprises enjoyed one of their most complete performances of the season.

Tony Stewart picked up his first victory of the season and his first at Talladega after six career runner-up finishes. His victory, however, was not without controversy. Rookie Regan Smith appeared to have scored his first career victory, but NASCAR ruled that he went below the yellow ‘out of bounds’ line, which is not allowed, to make the final lap pass.

The race featured a NASCAR-record 64 lead changes among 28 drivers, but was also marred by two red flag periods following multi-car accidents involving six contenders in the ‘Chase for the Sprint Cup.’

Bobby Labonte began the race from the 32nd position, but quickly used the ‘high’ line to race his way inside the top-15 by lap 8. During a lap 33 caution period, crew chief Jeff Meendering brought B. Labonte down pit road for chassis adjustments. They would be the only adjustments to a fast No. 43 Dodge for the rest of the afternoon. After a big ‘push’ from the No. 26 car on lap 52, B. Labonte found himself running in the top-5. He was able to work his way to his race-high position of second on lap 60. The race would feature some breathtaking moments for the team as well. As one of the multi-car wrecks unfolded in front of B. Labonte on lap 68, he was able to make it through the chaos without hurting his car. He would spend the rest of the race inside the top-20. His 6th place finish was the highest for the Dodge Motorsports camp. B. Labonte finished inside the top-5 in several key statistics including Green Flag passes (1st), Fastest Drivers Early in a Run (4th), Fastest Drivers Late in a Run (3rd) and Green Flag Speed (4th, 195.061 mph). B. Labonte moved up one spot to 19th in the Sprint Cup Series point’s standings.

“We had a good car today, for sure,” said B. Labonte. “I could drive to the front when I needed to, but we just didn’t get enough help at the end to go for the win. It got pretty crazy out there at times, but that’s Talladega. We missed a couple really big wrecks and were able to come home with a top-10. That feels good. Now we get to look forward to a ‘home’ game at one of my favorite racetracks with a little momentum on our side.”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will head to the Lowe’s (N.C) Motor Speedway for this Saturday night’s Bank of America 500. Friday’s qualifying session will be telecast on ESPN2. It will be broadcast on the Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius Channel 128.