Pearson Eyes Trophy, Neat Ready for Familiar Setting
Archdale, N.C. (March 3, 2010) - Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) is gearing up for two consecutive nights of racing in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series this weekend with action in Bulls Gap, Tenn., and Gaffney, S.C.,. The series will first stop at the Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap for the "Spring Thaw" and then race at the Cherokee Speedway the following afternoon, competing in the "March Madness VIII" main event. Both races will pay $10,000 to the winner.
BLR team driver Earl Pearson Jr. is a former winner of the "Spring Thaw" event and the No. 44 Lucas Oil team is looking for its first "March Madness" win. The Lucas Oil entry comes into the weekend's events with one win and seven top-10 finishes in eight starts this season. Pearson currently sits third in championship points.
Brad Neat and the No. 41 Red Buck Filtered Cigars team is the newest member to BLR this season, helping expand the operation to a two-car team. Neat is currently tied for 13th with eight other drivers in the Lucas Oil championship chase. The Red Buck team has one top-five finish this season.
Both teams had a few weeks off after returning from for their annual Speedweeks visit in Florida. The teams were able to regroup and prepare for this weekend's two series races.
Team Manager Jason Fitzgerald comments on this weekend's events:
"This is a pretty big weekend because we have two series races back-to-back. This Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is our home. It's where we concentrate on winning the championship for Earl and Brad. Right now, coming back from Florida, we feel pretty good about the direction of the No. 44 Lucas Oil team. Earl is off to a great start and sitting third in points. He has a win in the series (East Bay Raceway, Tampa, Fla.) and he hasn't been outside the top-10 but only one time. We're aiming for wins this weekend.
"We are working with Brad and the Red Buck team. They started off really good with a third-place finish, but haven't had the results after that like anyone on the team has wanted. But, Brad is still young. He's fast and has been fast. Sometimes he's had a bad draw and had to start in the back of his heat race or try to race through the consi. It's tough then. I don't think they've had the luck on their side.
"The goal this weekend is to get Earl a pair of top-five finishes. We should be able to compete for the win both days, but a top-five finish is going to be a good points day too. We like where we are at in points. We'd like to have the points lead coming out of the weekend, but if we stay in the top three that will be good, too.
"We've talked with Brad and the Red Buck team after coming home from Florida. We've made some changes to the cars that we're going to test after this weekend. We've also made some setup changes to the car for this weekend. You have to remember, he'd never been to Brunswick, at East Bay he never had good results and Volusia was new to him, too. So, considering all that, we're going to keep working, but he and that team have done a lot of good things.
We're going to Bulls Gap with a car that Brad really likes. He's been there and likes the track. We're taking smaller steps so it's not a big shock to these guys, but I know we're on the right path. I don't think people should be surprised to see Brad and that Red Buck No. 41 up front this weekend. We are expecting both cars to have two good days of racing."
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, Braswel, 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.
Archdale, N.C. (March 3, 2010) - Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) is gearing up for two consecutive nights of racing in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series this weekend with action in Bulls Gap, Tenn., and Gaffney, S.C.,. The series will first stop at the Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap for the "Spring Thaw" and then race at the Cherokee Speedway the following afternoon, competing in the "March Madness VIII" main event. Both races will pay $10,000 to the winner.
BLR team driver Earl Pearson Jr. is a former winner of the "Spring Thaw" event and the No. 44 Lucas Oil team is looking for its first "March Madness" win. The Lucas Oil entry comes into the weekend's events with one win and seven top-10 finishes in eight starts this season. Pearson currently sits third in championship points.
Brad Neat and the No. 41 Red Buck Filtered Cigars team is the newest member to BLR this season, helping expand the operation to a two-car team. Neat is currently tied for 13th with eight other drivers in the Lucas Oil championship chase. The Red Buck team has one top-five finish this season.
Both teams had a few weeks off after returning from for their annual Speedweeks visit in Florida. The teams were able to regroup and prepare for this weekend's two series races.
Team Manager Jason Fitzgerald comments on this weekend's events:
"This is a pretty big weekend because we have two series races back-to-back. This Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is our home. It's where we concentrate on winning the championship for Earl and Brad. Right now, coming back from Florida, we feel pretty good about the direction of the No. 44 Lucas Oil team. Earl is off to a great start and sitting third in points. He has a win in the series (East Bay Raceway, Tampa, Fla.) and he hasn't been outside the top-10 but only one time. We're aiming for wins this weekend.
"We are working with Brad and the Red Buck team. They started off really good with a third-place finish, but haven't had the results after that like anyone on the team has wanted. But, Brad is still young. He's fast and has been fast. Sometimes he's had a bad draw and had to start in the back of his heat race or try to race through the consi. It's tough then. I don't think they've had the luck on their side.
"The goal this weekend is to get Earl a pair of top-five finishes. We should be able to compete for the win both days, but a top-five finish is going to be a good points day too. We like where we are at in points. We'd like to have the points lead coming out of the weekend, but if we stay in the top three that will be good, too.
"We've talked with Brad and the Red Buck team after coming home from Florida. We've made some changes to the cars that we're going to test after this weekend. We've also made some setup changes to the car for this weekend. You have to remember, he'd never been to Brunswick, at East Bay he never had good results and Volusia was new to him, too. So, considering all that, we're going to keep working, but he and that team have done a lot of good things.
We're going to Bulls Gap with a car that Brad really likes. He's been there and likes the track. We're taking smaller steps so it's not a big shock to these guys, but I know we're on the right path. I don't think people should be surprised to see Brad and that Red Buck No. 41 up front this weekend. We are expecting both cars to have two good days of racing."
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, Braswel, 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.
