August 13, 2007

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. –Two-time NASCAR champion Terry Labonte brought home a 30th-place finish in his final run in the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry during Sunday’s Centurion Boats at The Glen.

“I was really hoping for a better result,” said Labonte after climbing out of his Camry. “I thought our car would be better than what we showed today. Unfortunately, the car was just too tight and it created a real challenge when coming off the corners. Watkins Glen is normally a tough track to pass on, but it makes it even tougher to gain track position when the car is too tight. We worked on it all day, but we could never get it loosened up enough to make a run towards the front. It’s too bad. I was really hoping to get a good finish for these guys. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the NAPA racing family, and I hope I have been able to help Michael and his team.

“I really do believe Michael has a good team assembled. They are a lot better than what they have been able to show on the race track. I think with time and some gains made by Toyota in its engine program, this team, and this manufacturer, will see success in the future.”

Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon dominated the race, but with two laps to go, the NASCAR NEXTEL CUP points leader lost control and spun out. It allowed Tony Stewart to take the lead and go on to score this third victory of the season.

Looking back on the race weekend, Friday saw Labonte turn in the 12th-fastest time in practice (73.352 seconds/120.242 miles per hour) at the 2.45-mile road course. Shortly thereafter, rain started to fall washing out qualifying. NASCAR set the field based on the NASCAR rulebook which meant Jeff Gordon was on the pole and Labonte was lined up in 38th through the usage of his past champion’s provision. Then on Saturday, the NAPA team took part in two practice sessions. In the first session, Labonte was 39th (74.598 seconds/118.234 mph). He followed it up with the 35th-fastest lap (74.276 seconds/118.746 mph). Fastest in the first session was Tony Stewart (72.897 seconds/120.993 mph) and in the second, the top spot went to Robby Gordon (71.335 seconds/123.642 mph).

When the green flag dropped on Sunday for the Centurion Boats at The Glen, Labonte radioed in to crew chief Buddy Sisco that his NAPA Camry was too tight in both the right and left-hand turns. The first chance to make an adjustment occurred under caution on lap 12 after the No. 6 car ran into a sand trap. The pit crew made an air pressure adjustment and changed four tires. The race resumed on lap 15 with Labonte in 39th and Gordon in the top spot.

A caution for debris slowed the action on lap 24. As before, Labonte came over the radio to say he needed more help getting the car to turn. The pit crew went to work to make significant changes by raising the track bar and adding spring rubbers to the NAPA Camry. The race went green on lap 26 with Labonte in 38th and Jamie McMurray in the lead.

Two more caution-flag periods came out on laps 41 and 53 before the NAPA Camry visited pit road for adjustments. Another track bar and air pressure changes happened on lap 54. The adjustments helped the team’s Camry break into the top-25 by lap 60. That’s when Labonte encouraged his crew by saying the air pressure seemed to get the car going faster at the start of the run. Unfortunately it was not long into this green-flag sequence when the lap down car of Reed Sorenson made contact with the NAPA Camry. The incident frustrated Labonte since it cost the team nearly 10 positions on the track.

The NAPA team’s final stop came under caution on lap 69 for fuel and fresh tires. A 13-second stop was completed sending Labonte back out in 36th place. Gordon led the field to the green on lap 73, but when entering turn 1, Juan Pablo Montoya was hit from behind by Martin Truex Jr. The contact caused a chain reaction collecting the cars of Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton. Harvick was not happy with Montoya and the two exchanged heated words out on the track after climbing out of their machines. NASCAR officials were forced to break up the altercation and the clean up of debris and removal of wrecked cars caused the race to be red flagged. During the race stoppage, Sisco and Labonte talked over the radio and as before, the car was struggling to get off the corners. The two-time champ had no choice but to hold on until the end. He did his best and was able to gain three more spots on the track before the race ended.

A total of six Toyota teams participated in today’s race.  Besides Labonte’s 30th-place result, PJ Jones, subbing for David Reutimann finished 25th, Jeremy Mayfield scored 27th, Dale Jarrett earned 29th, Dave Blaney was 35th and Brian Vickers earned 41st.

Following Tony Stewart to the checkered flag were top-10 finishers Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Ron Fellows, Robby Gordon, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle.

Next week Waltrip will be back in his NAPA AUTO PARTS Camry at Michigan International Speedway --- the site of his best performance of the year, a tenth-place result back on June 17.

Centurion Boats at The Glen Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/22/data/results_unofficial.html

Next Up:
3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 19
2006 Winner: Matt Kenseth
2006 Pole: Jeff Burton
Television: ESPN at 1 p.m. EDT
Radio: MRN