Texas Race Report

No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
November 2, 2008
1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway

RACE RESULTS:
1. Carl Edwards, Ford
2. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
3. Jamie McMurray, Ford
4. Clint Bowyer, Ford
5. Greg Biffle, Ford
39. Bobby Labonte, No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge

Since 2005, the driver that won the previous weekend’s event at the Atlanta Motor Speedway also scored the win at the Texas Motor Speedway. Carl Edwards continued that trend for a fourth year as he used extraordinary fuel mileage to take the checkered flag in Sunday’s Dickies 500..

Edwards was able to capitalize on a 15th place finish by point’s leader Jimmie Johnson to cut Johnson’s lead down to 106 points, meaning it will be difficult for Johnson to wrap up the championship next weekend at the Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway.

Bobby Labonte and the No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team finished 39th in Sunday’s race. Labonte, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, was hoping to pick up his first win in his home state. The race began under the sun, but would finish up at night. This forced crew chiefs to build a lot of adjustability into their cars because the track would change with the ambient conditions. Labonte, like many of the competitors in the field of 43, had to deal with a ‘loose’ condition when getting into and off of the corners, but a ‘tight’ condition in the middle. Jeff Meendering made several adjustments to the air pressure, wedge and track bar to improve the condition of the No. 43 Dodge. As the sun went down and the track gained grip, Labonte was able to pick out a line that worked best for him and his lap times began to improve. However he was unable to pick up any positions after his chassis handling improved.

“The car just felt numb today. It was never predictable as to what it was going to do,” said Labonte. “It was strange because some of the adjustments we made had the opposite effect of what they should do. The only thing that helped it was the sun going down. It was a little better after that. But our pit stops were solid all day. Those guys are on their game right now.”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will head to the Phoenix International Raceway for this weekend’s Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500. Friday’s qualifying session will be telecast on ESPN2. It will be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Channel 128.