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Atlanta track suits Bobby Labonte just fine
By David Exum – SceneDaily Staff
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Bobby Labonte, driver of the No. 43 Petty Enterprises Dodge, has won at Atlanta Motor Speedway six times in his career - the most of any active driver.
Rusty Jarrett
Getty Images for NASCAR
If there is any NASCAR track where Bobby Labonte can feel especially confident about his ability to pick up a win, it has to be Atlanta Motor Speedway, site of this Sunday’s Pep Boys 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
With six victories to his credit at the 1.540-mile track, Labonte has the most wins of any active Cup driver.
Although Labonte hasn’t won at Atlanta since the spring race there in 2003 and hasn’t finished in the top five since the fall race that same year, the 2000 Cup champion remains confident for Sunday’s Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta.
“Our intermediate track program has improved a lot over the last month or so,” said Labonte, driver of the No. 43 Petty Enterprises Dodge. “We’ve proven that we can run up front.”
In this year’s spring race at Atlanta, Labonte qualified fifth but had to settle for a 12th-place finish.
“I can’t think of a better track for us to continue the progress that we have made,” Labonte said.
In 31 career starts at Atlanta, Labonte has 12 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes.
Labonte said that NASCAR’s new model Cup car gives drivers plenty of opportunity to use the entire track to gain ground.
“With this new car we’ve seen guys run the very top, the bottom or the middle, even more than we did the last couple of years with the old car,” Labonte said.
“Atlanta gives you the ability to do that. We’ve had all year to work on getting the car to turn, and that has improved as well. That’s not been as big of an issue over the last several events on the intermediate tracks. The fans will be in for a great race this weekend.”
Mentioned Drivers: Bobby Labonte
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8 responses to "Atlanta track suits Bobby Labonte just fine ". Post a Comment.
Anonymous said:
Oct 22, 2008 at 7:15 PMGo Bobby! Be one of 42 cars to beat Earnhardt Jr !
Jozef Colomy said:
Oct 22, 2008 at 9:53 PMAmen Anonymous :)...but be sure to also be one of the 42 to lose to Robby Gordon too ;)
John Lockhart said:
Oct 22, 2008 at 11:32 PMWow Anonymous,your one consistant fellow.Being rude that is.Dale Jr.must really be a thorn in your side.As for Bobby Labonte and his brother Terry,I've always like them.Thier great drivers and thier from TEXAS!
Josh Bunton said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 7:17 AMDale Jr will be in victory lane Sunday at Atlanta. Anonymous get ready for it. As for Bobby Labonte good luck this weekend.
Anonymous said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 7:29 AMNo problem with Earnhardt. He can't choose his fans!
Anonymous said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 8:55 AMWhere's Boris ?
Jozef Colomy said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 11:41 AMOk Josh, come on, let's be real. I mean, I'm a Robby Gordon fan but I was obviously kidding with my comment. Earnhardt Jr. is not going to win this weekend, don't succumb to delusions of grandeur
Anonymous said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 12:11 PM.