Bobby Labonte Racing Ready for Return of Lucas Dirt Series Action
Pearson and Neat Look to Establish Consistency

ARCHDALE, N.C. (April 20, 2010) - Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) is ready for two action-packed days of racing. After three weeks off, the Lucas Oil Dirt Series will re-fire its engines for Bedford (Penn.) Speedway's Bedford Valley Petroleum on April 23 and Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway's 29th Annual Stanley Schetrompf Classic on April 24th. BLR drivers Earl Pearson Jr. and Brad Neat are anxious to vie for each track's $10,000 payout.

Despite last weekend being an off-week for the Lucas Oil Dirt Series, BLR stayed busy with World of Outlaws Late Model Series competition. Pearson Jr., driver of the No. 43 Lucas Oil Dodge, tallied an 11th-place finish in the Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway. Pearson set the fast time and won the heat race to open the main event. Neat, driver of the No. 41 Red Buck Filtered Cigars Chevrolet, finished 21st. Each driver looks to capture BLR's second win of the 2010 season this weekend.

 

Team Manager Jason Fitzgerald comments on this weekend's events and what it takes to contend for the championship:

"Right now we're not focusing on the points as much as we're focusing on consistency. Our cars are getting better and better each week and our performance is reflecting that. Both Brad and Earl are racing really strong right now. I don't want to get caught up in the points battle and lose sight of what we need to accomplish, and that's running well at every track we go to. If our cars get better and better each week, the points chase will take care of itself. There's no better way to secure a championship than to win each race, so that's what we'll focus on this weekend.

"We've had a few weeks off from the Lucas Dirt Series. Our guys are excited to get back at it. I've never been to Bedford, but Earl tells me that it's a lot like where we raced last week. It's a big, flat track. I think it will be a good track for Brad and Earl. They both seem to have a knack for places like that. Our cars ran really well last week. Hopefully that will give us a good starting point for Bedford.

"Hagerstown is smooth and wide, which means it's really fast. It has long straights, so we prepare our cars to get through the turns and carry that momentum as long as possible. It's important for a driver to keep his rhythm up. You've got to be on top of your game there. It's a track with a lot of history and we'll do our best to get our names in the books this week."

 

BobbyLabonteRacing.com helps fans follow the race-by-race action of the team's two cars - Pearson Jr.'s No. 44 Lucas Oil Dodge and Neat's No. 41 Red Buck Filtered Cigars Chevrolet - with news, schedules, results, photos and team-member bios. The site also embraces the growing use of social media, providing fans with Facebook and Twitter connections to Bobby Labonte Racing, Pearson Jr. and Neat, and the ability to subscribe via RSS feed to team news. Visit the new site at www.BobbyLabonteRacing.com.

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