Bobby Labonte Racing Geared Up for Wythe Raceway
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series to Make Its First Appearance

Archdale, N.C. (May 12, 2010) - Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) is eager to head to Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Va., which will host for the first time the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on Saturday night, May 15. After two rained-out events, BLR is ready to hit the track looking to fight for the $10,000 purse.

Earl Pearson Jr., driver of the No. 44 Lucas Oil Dodge, has an average eighth-place finish this season and has raced up the championship charts and is currently tied for third in points.

BLR team driver Brad Neat, in the No. 41 Red Buck Filtered Cigars Chevy, is looking to turn the corner and earn his second top-five this season. Neat is currently tied for 15th in championship point standings.

 

Team Manager Jason Fitzgerald comments on this weekend's events:

"We've been to Wythe Raceway before. It has been a couple years, so we will go back and look at some old notes and compare it to a couple other tracks that are shaped just like it. We'll go there with something basic, to try to be pretty decent right when we unload, and see how the track is going to be. From there, we'll make some minor changes from and go at it like that.

"The season has had its ups and downs. As far as Earl goes, I feel pretty positive about how that program is going. Every time they hit the track they seem to get better and better. For Brad's note, he is just not getting the results we'd like for him to have. We are just been trying to take some of his old notes and mix it with some of ours to find a happy medium. We need to get his confidence back up where he can get some good finishes. When our cars are really good for him, we have bad luck. It's little things like a bad draw or getting taken out of a race or something like that. I think if we can get the bad luck off our side, and get a consistent car that he likes, he'll be fine.

"We are running the same cars for both, and each driver drives different, we all know that. You have to qualify well for these races. It is extremely hard to start in the back these days to get up front. Brad was qualifying well, but it didn't feel comfortable to him. So, you try to get something that feels comfortable but where he can qualify well, too. That's what we are working on now. Earl helps him out a lot as far as experience on the track.

"Our goal is to hopefully get two top-fives and keep the consistency going. Earl is consistently in the top five and Brad is struggling a little bit, but we are working on his stuff pretty hard. Hopefully we'll have it better for him this weekend so he can have it back up there where he needs to be. Realistically, if we can keep getting top fives I think the wins will come. Consistency always prevails in the end. Naturally I would like to go run one-two, but like I said, reality is two-five. In my book, that's what we need to do to try and win this championship."