Archdale, N.C. (February 8, 2010) - Coming off its first win of the season at East Bay Raceway in Tampa, Fla., Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) is staying in the Sunshine State and is preparing for six nights of racing at the Volusia Speedway Park. The events are part of the annual DIRTCAR Nationals sanctioned by UMP and World of Outlaws.
The two-car operation is coming off four days of racing action that began the trek for the 2010 Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series championship at East Bay. The trip was a successful one after Earl Pearson Jr. parked the No. 44 Lucas Oil Dodge in victory lane for the first time this season. He also continued his streak of seven top-10 finishes to start the season.
Brad Neat and the No. 41 Red Buck Filtered Cigars team earned a season-best third finish at East Bay, helping push his tally to three top-five finishes on the young season.
Team Manager Jason Fitzgerald Comments on the Team's First Win and Racing in Florida:
"It's awesome to get a win so early in the season, especially when it's a Lucas Oil event. Earl and the guys did a great job last Thursday night, and for us to pass Scott (Bloomquist) on the last lap to do it, that makes it better because Scott is such a strong competitor. Overall, Earl's guys really had a great week in Tampa. They keep putting together top-10 results and we can't ask for much more.
"The fields have been 23-, 24-car strong and some of the best guys in the country are coming down here to start their seasons. You're seeing racers from the Lucas Oil, World of Outlaws, UMP series racing in one night. It's some of the toughest competition when you get all these guys together. The events in Florida are always some of the hardest to win all season. It's like an all-star event at both East Bay and Volusia and you're racing four, five or six nights in a row. You have to come ready each night.
"It's why I can't say enough about our start, but we still have some work to do. Brad and the Red Buck team had a bit of struggles at East Bay and we need to get the car the way Brad likes it. He had a bad wreck, one of his worst in his career, and we're working really, really hard to get the car back the way Brad needs it. He bounced back strong the night after the race to finish third, and he actually has more top-five finishes then most late model racers in the country right now. That's saying a lot. We just need to find some more consistency.
"Volusia will be another round of tough races. The top guys from the Lucas Series will be looking to do our best against the guys from the World of Outlaws. We're probably going to see some of the Sprint Cup drivers hop into a late model too. It's never easy trying to beat guys like Tony Stewart, Kenny Schrader or whoever shows up. They know how to race, but it makes it fun for the fans and us, too.
"We're hoping to continue our good start and grab another win. We'd like to have Brad get into victory lane, but getting him back in the top-10 and top-five will be our priority."
About Bobby Labonte Racing:
BLR is located in Archdale, N.C., and owned by 2000 NASCAR Champion Bobby Labonte. The team was formed in 2007 and immediately won back-to-back Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championships. The team will become a two-car operation in 2010 with the addition of driver Brad Neat. The organization is sponsored by Red Buck Filtered Cigars, Lucas Oil, Sunoco Race Fuels, Coca-Cola, ALLSTAR, Tiger Rear Ends, BERT, Butlerbuilt, Hyperco, SHY, Wilwood, Sweet, TWM, Dyers Top Rods, Weld Wheels, Bell, Hoosier Tire, PRC, Mechanix Wear, Braswell (new carb), , Larry Wallace Engines, Dunn-Benson Racing Supply, ASI Racewear, Xtreme Graphics, Hank Thomas Performance, Wiles Drive Shafts, MasterBilt Race Cars, Bazel Race Fuels, Mason Racin, Racing Optics, TNT Energy, Cornet Racing Engines and WD Enterprises
The two-car operation is coming off four days of racing action that began the trek for the 2010 Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series championship at East Bay. The trip was a successful one after Earl Pearson Jr. parked the No. 44 Lucas Oil Dodge in victory lane for the first time this season. He also continued his streak of seven top-10 finishes to start the season.
Brad Neat and the No. 41 Red Buck Filtered Cigars team earned a season-best third finish at East Bay, helping push his tally to three top-five finishes on the young season.
Team Manager Jason Fitzgerald Comments on the Team's First Win and Racing in Florida:
"It's awesome to get a win so early in the season, especially when it's a Lucas Oil event. Earl and the guys did a great job last Thursday night, and for us to pass Scott (Bloomquist) on the last lap to do it, that makes it better because Scott is such a strong competitor. Overall, Earl's guys really had a great week in Tampa. They keep putting together top-10 results and we can't ask for much more.
"The fields have been 23-, 24-car strong and some of the best guys in the country are coming down here to start their seasons. You're seeing racers from the Lucas Oil, World of Outlaws, UMP series racing in one night. It's some of the toughest competition when you get all these guys together. The events in Florida are always some of the hardest to win all season. It's like an all-star event at both East Bay and Volusia and you're racing four, five or six nights in a row. You have to come ready each night.
"It's why I can't say enough about our start, but we still have some work to do. Brad and the Red Buck team had a bit of struggles at East Bay and we need to get the car the way Brad likes it. He had a bad wreck, one of his worst in his career, and we're working really, really hard to get the car back the way Brad needs it. He bounced back strong the night after the race to finish third, and he actually has more top-five finishes then most late model racers in the country right now. That's saying a lot. We just need to find some more consistency.
"Volusia will be another round of tough races. The top guys from the Lucas Series will be looking to do our best against the guys from the World of Outlaws. We're probably going to see some of the Sprint Cup drivers hop into a late model too. It's never easy trying to beat guys like Tony Stewart, Kenny Schrader or whoever shows up. They know how to race, but it makes it fun for the fans and us, too.
"We're hoping to continue our good start and grab another win. We'd like to have Brad get into victory lane, but getting him back in the top-10 and top-five will be our priority."
About Bobby Labonte Racing:
BLR is located in Archdale, N.C., and owned by 2000 NASCAR Champion Bobby Labonte. The team was formed in 2007 and immediately won back-to-back Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championships. The team will become a two-car operation in 2010 with the addition of driver Brad Neat. The organization is sponsored by Red Buck Filtered Cigars, Lucas Oil, Sunoco Race Fuels, Coca-Cola, ALLSTAR, Tiger Rear Ends, BERT, Butlerbuilt, Hyperco, SHY, Wilwood, Sweet, TWM, Dyers Top Rods, Weld Wheels, Bell, Hoosier Tire, PRC, Mechanix Wear, Braswell (new carb), , Larry Wallace Engines, Dunn-Benson Racing Supply, ASI Racewear, Xtreme Graphics, Hank Thomas Performance, Wiles Drive Shafts, MasterBilt Race Cars, Bazel Race Fuels, Mason Racin, Racing Optics, TNT Energy, Cornet Racing Engines and WD Enterprises
