Homestead-Miami Race Report

No. 43 Liberty Medical Dodge
November 16, 2008
1.5-mile Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway

RACE RESULTS:
1. Carl Edwards, Ford
2. Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet
3. Jamie McMurray, Ford
4. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
5. Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet
33. Bobby Labonte, No. 43 Liberty Medical Dodge
39. Chad McCumbee, No. 45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge

Carl Edwards did everything he needed to do to win the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. He picked up the win in the season finale at the Homestead-Miami Speedway and led the most laps in the process. Unfortunately for Edwards, Jimmie Johnson also did everything he needed to do to win his third consecutive title, placing him alongside Cale Yarborough as the only two drivers to accomplish that feat. Johnson finished 15th in the race.

The final laps of the race were eerily similar to those at the Texas Motor Speedway two weeks ago. Many drivers found themselves only a couple laps short on fuel, but Edwards was able to squeeze his tank by running considerably slower lap times over the final three laps.

Bobby Labonte and the No. 43 Liberty Medical Dodge team finished 33rd in Sunday’s race. Labonte, who has competed in every Sprint Cup race held at Homestead, began the race from the 35th position. At the start of the race, Labonte radioed to crew chief Jeff Meendering that his car was ‘tight’ from the center of the corner off. Air pressure adjustments helped the car turn, but as the race wore on the handling condition moved over to the ‘loose’ side. Inconsistency would be the theme of the night for Labonte.

“We could not find any consistency with the chassis today,” said Labonte. “One run would be ‘loose’ and the next would be ‘tight.’ The car just wasn’t in the track. We were hoping for a better finish heading into the winter, but I’m proud of how hard everyone worked today. My pit crew has been solid all year and they were again today. Now we’ll start getting ready for Daytona because that will be here before we know it.”

“Congratulations to Jimmie and the No. 48 team on their third straight championship,” continued Labonte. “I was lucky enough to win a championship and I know how hard it is to repeat. They are on top of their game right now.”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will turn to the off-season following the completion of another 36-race season. The 51st running of the Daytona 500 will take place on February 15, 2009.