Bobby Labonte Homestead-Miami Race Preview
Bobby Labonte - No. 43 Chex Most Popular Driver Dodge
As Past Winner At Homestead Labonte Knows Importance of Winning Season Finale
LEVEL CROSS, NC (November 14, 2006) - This weekend, Bobby Labonte and the #43 Chex Most Popular Driver Dodge team will head to the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway for Sunday's season ending 400-mile race. Labonte will be behind the seat of the Chex Most Popular Driver Dodge for this weekend's event.
Labonte heads into the race 19th in driver standings. Labonte has finished in the top 20 in driver standings in 11 of his 14 years of full-time Nextel Cup racing. Labonte has also finished 20th or better in seven of the nine ‘chase' races this season.
Labonte will be making his 474th career start this weekend at Homestead. Labonte has seven starts at Homestead and has finished in the top 10 four times. Three of those finishes have been fifth or better including a win in 2003. Labonte's average finish is 12.9 at the track and has started sixth or better four times.
Comments from Labonte as he prepares for Sunday's race:
What are the hopes for this weekend?
"It's always pretty big if you can win the last race of the season. I've done that before and it helps you get ready for 2007. It makes the winter easier and gets everyone excited to get back on the track because you just won the last race. It's just a pretty big deal for the team that can win this race."
"So, really, that's what we are hoping to do. We want to be the team that does that. We feel like we've been strong over the last 10 races of this season. Homestead is a different track than what it used to be, but it's more like a bunch of the mile-and-a-half mile tracks that we've raced all season. All the guys on this team are looking for a good finish."
How does it help team morale over the winter to win this race?
"It's like I said, it makes the winter a little more sweet for the guys. They have something to look forward to and their heads are held high. A good finish does that from week-to-week, but you always want to end on a high note. You can see a difference over the winter.
"These Cheerios guys have worked hard all season. Paul (Andrews) has really made a difference with this team too. It's good to get a great finish for everyone. We're going to go to Miami with all our guns blazing. We want to win races and we're going to do everything we can to do that."
Do you like Homestead?
"It's a different track when they did the renovations. They totally changed the track. It used to be a flat track with a lot of speed. It's still lighting fast, but it has all the banking too. It's a good track for us. It's as good track as any to decide a championship.
"Some guys are going to like certain tracks and others aren't, but when you are in a championship battle you better like all of them. You need to have an open mind coming into every track. You have to keep focused on getting your car the best. I know the guys are going to do everything possible to have this Chex Most Popular Driver Dodge running at its best this weekend. I'm looking forward to it."
#43 Cheerio's Crew Members
Name Job Title
Todd Parrott Crew Chief
Austin Craven Front Tire Carrier
bryan Rockwell Rear Tire Carrier
Coleman Dollarhide Rear Tire Changer
Tony Martin Jack Man
Steve Mitchell Gas Man
Tommy Chandler Catch Can
As Past Winner At Homestead Labonte Knows Importance of Winning Season Finale
LEVEL CROSS, NC (November 14, 2006) - This weekend, Bobby Labonte and the #43 Chex Most Popular Driver Dodge team will head to the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway for Sunday's season ending 400-mile race. Labonte will be behind the seat of the Chex Most Popular Driver Dodge for this weekend's event.
Labonte heads into the race 19th in driver standings. Labonte has finished in the top 20 in driver standings in 11 of his 14 years of full-time Nextel Cup racing. Labonte has also finished 20th or better in seven of the nine ‘chase' races this season.
Labonte will be making his 474th career start this weekend at Homestead. Labonte has seven starts at Homestead and has finished in the top 10 four times. Three of those finishes have been fifth or better including a win in 2003. Labonte's average finish is 12.9 at the track and has started sixth or better four times.
Comments from Labonte as he prepares for Sunday's race:
What are the hopes for this weekend?
"It's always pretty big if you can win the last race of the season. I've done that before and it helps you get ready for 2007. It makes the winter easier and gets everyone excited to get back on the track because you just won the last race. It's just a pretty big deal for the team that can win this race."
"So, really, that's what we are hoping to do. We want to be the team that does that. We feel like we've been strong over the last 10 races of this season. Homestead is a different track than what it used to be, but it's more like a bunch of the mile-and-a-half mile tracks that we've raced all season. All the guys on this team are looking for a good finish."
How does it help team morale over the winter to win this race?
"It's like I said, it makes the winter a little more sweet for the guys. They have something to look forward to and their heads are held high. A good finish does that from week-to-week, but you always want to end on a high note. You can see a difference over the winter.
"These Cheerios guys have worked hard all season. Paul (Andrews) has really made a difference with this team too. It's good to get a great finish for everyone. We're going to go to Miami with all our guns blazing. We want to win races and we're going to do everything we can to do that."
Do you like Homestead?
"It's a different track when they did the renovations. They totally changed the track. It used to be a flat track with a lot of speed. It's still lighting fast, but it has all the banking too. It's a good track for us. It's as good track as any to decide a championship.
"Some guys are going to like certain tracks and others aren't, but when you are in a championship battle you better like all of them. You need to have an open mind coming into every track. You have to keep focused on getting your car the best. I know the guys are going to do everything possible to have this Chex Most Popular Driver Dodge running at its best this weekend. I'm looking forward to it."
#43 Cheerio's Crew Members
Name Job Title
Todd Parrott Crew Chief
Austin Craven Front Tire Carrier
bryan Rockwell Rear Tire Carrier
Coleman Dollarhide Rear Tire Changer
Tony Martin Jack Man
Steve Mitchell Gas Man
Tommy Chandler Catch Can
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