Looking For Repeat Performance with Different Result
This weekend Bobby Labonte returns with Pillsbury and Cinnabon on the hood and sides of the famous #43 Petty Enterprises Dodge. Labonte will race the #43 Pillsbury/Cinnabon Dodge this weekend at the 2.5-mile Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The weekend is highlighted by Saturday night’s Daytona 400 ‘under the lights’ at the high-banked oval.
Labonte and the team have moved back to 18th in championship points heading into this weekends event. The team is only 69 points out of the 15th position. Labonte and the #43 team continue to be one of the best Dodge teams on the circuit. Labonte is the third best Dodge in points.
A year ago Labonte’s Dodge was up front and racing for a win before another car took him into the wall in the closing laps. The accident ended Labonte’s night. The team is again prepared for another strong performance this weekend with the same car. Making his 30th start at Daytona this Saturday night, Labonte has eight top-10 and five top-five finishes at the track.
Comments from Labonte as he prepares for this weekend’s Daytona 400:
“It was fun last year. The end result wasn’t fun, but having a strong car racing up front was. The car was handling so well, and that’s what you need at Daytona. We were racing up the front with those guy’s right when it counted. That was cool to put the ‘43’ in a position to win at Daytona. You hear things after about the excitement that brought to a lot of fans. I know there are a lot of Petty Enterprises fans and ‘43’ fans at Daytona. They were excited and we had people talking. That makes us want to get back there and have them talking about us again.
“We feel pretty good that we can come back and have a strong run Saturday. This race is one that is won back at the shop. The guys preparing the car, shaping it and molding it back at the body shop are the ones that win the races at Daytona. If you unload with a car that doesn’t have any ‘drag’ than you are going to have a good car. There isn’t much you can adjust to the car to gain a ton of speed once you arrive at the track. The body and aerodynamics are so very critical in preparing the car.
“The car was a ‘jet’ last year. It did its job of ‘cutting’ through the air like you want. We didn’t have to do too much to it during the race. We felt good about it and liked where we were at the end. There was a lot of frustration the way it turned out, but we have another chance this weekend.
“All the guys worked hard on getting this car ready again. We’re taking the same car back as last year. It’s back in shape and I know it looks good. How can it not? We’ve got Pillsbury and Cinnabon back on the car again. It not only fast, but we feel good about winning the best ‘car in show’ award with it too. It’s a pretty good looking car. With brands like Pillsbury and Cinnabon we won’t starve this weekend either.
“It’s just good to get back to Daytona. Obviously we have some unfinished business to take care from last year. We’ve got the same car. It’s touched up where it got scratched and beat up a little bit, but we’re hoping it’s another rocket ship like it was last year. If it is, we’re going to put the fans on their feet with this Pillsbury/Cinnabon Dodge this weekend.”
This weekend Bobby Labonte returns with Pillsbury and Cinnabon on the hood and sides of the famous #43 Petty Enterprises Dodge. Labonte will race the #43 Pillsbury/Cinnabon Dodge this weekend at the 2.5-mile Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The weekend is highlighted by Saturday night’s Daytona 400 ‘under the lights’ at the high-banked oval.
Labonte and the team have moved back to 18th in championship points heading into this weekends event. The team is only 69 points out of the 15th position. Labonte and the #43 team continue to be one of the best Dodge teams on the circuit. Labonte is the third best Dodge in points.
A year ago Labonte’s Dodge was up front and racing for a win before another car took him into the wall in the closing laps. The accident ended Labonte’s night. The team is again prepared for another strong performance this weekend with the same car. Making his 30th start at Daytona this Saturday night, Labonte has eight top-10 and five top-five finishes at the track.
Comments from Labonte as he prepares for this weekend’s Daytona 400:
“It was fun last year. The end result wasn’t fun, but having a strong car racing up front was. The car was handling so well, and that’s what you need at Daytona. We were racing up the front with those guy’s right when it counted. That was cool to put the ‘43’ in a position to win at Daytona. You hear things after about the excitement that brought to a lot of fans. I know there are a lot of Petty Enterprises fans and ‘43’ fans at Daytona. They were excited and we had people talking. That makes us want to get back there and have them talking about us again.
“We feel pretty good that we can come back and have a strong run Saturday. This race is one that is won back at the shop. The guys preparing the car, shaping it and molding it back at the body shop are the ones that win the races at Daytona. If you unload with a car that doesn’t have any ‘drag’ than you are going to have a good car. There isn’t much you can adjust to the car to gain a ton of speed once you arrive at the track. The body and aerodynamics are so very critical in preparing the car.
“The car was a ‘jet’ last year. It did its job of ‘cutting’ through the air like you want. We didn’t have to do too much to it during the race. We felt good about it and liked where we were at the end. There was a lot of frustration the way it turned out, but we have another chance this weekend.
“All the guys worked hard on getting this car ready again. We’re taking the same car back as last year. It’s back in shape and I know it looks good. How can it not? We’ve got Pillsbury and Cinnabon back on the car again. It not only fast, but we feel good about winning the best ‘car in show’ award with it too. It’s a pretty good looking car. With brands like Pillsbury and Cinnabon we won’t starve this weekend either.
“It’s just good to get back to Daytona. Obviously we have some unfinished business to take care from last year. We’ve got the same car. It’s touched up where it got scratched and beat up a little bit, but we’re hoping it’s another rocket ship like it was last year. If it is, we’re going to put the fans on their feet with this Pillsbury/Cinnabon Dodge this weekend.”