Realtree: Community: Labonte Earns Top-15 Finish for Team Realtree

Bobby Labonte put the No. 21 Team Realtree Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in position to challenge for the victory in the Camping World 300 presented by Chevrolet but the cards didn’t fall where he’d hoped and he had to settle for a 15th-place finish at Daytona International Speedway. The No. 21 Team Realtree car also carried the logos of associate sponsors Evolved Habitats, Bad Boy Buggies and Dri Duck Traders.

"Everyone at Realtree, Evolved Habitats, Bad Boy Buggies and Dri Duck Traders was holding their breath on Saturday," said Realtree founder and CEO Bill Jordan. "Bobby had a great car but just got shuffled out of the lead draft right at end. We really appreciate all of the effort he and his RCR teammates put into the event."

Labonte was the 35th driver to attempt a qualifying run for the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener and wheeled the No. 21 Chevrolet around the 2.5-mile tri-oval in 50.125 seconds (179.551 mph). The solid run earned Labonte the seventh starting spot and would line up on the inside of the fourth row.

The green flag waved at 1:35 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) under warm sunny skies and Labonte quickly picked up a couple of positions. He was sixth on lap five and fifth one lap later. He dropped to eighth by lap eight and called in to crew chief Shane Wilson that the car’s handling was very loose both entering and exiting the corners. Despite the handling issues, Labonte maintained position over the next 30 laps before pitting under green for fuel, four fresh Goodyear tires with air pressure adjustments, and major chassis adjustments.

With the cycle of pit stops complete, Labonte found himself in the eighth position on lap 41. He maintained his position when the day’s first caution waved on lap 55. The No. 21 Realtree Chevy came down pit lane two laps later to the attention of the crew that again added fuel, changed four tires and made further chassis adjustments. Labonte stalled the car briefly exiting the pit box and was ninth when green-flag racing resumed on lap 58.

As the laps continued, the handling characteristics turned slightly to the tight side and Labonte slipped to 11th. Another caution, this one on lap 78, allowed the Realtree crew to continue the chassis adjustments and the No. 21 returned to action in 12th on lap 82.

Labonte was 13th on lap 90 and 16th seven laps later when the third caution slowed the action. Team Realtree picked up two spots for him on pit road, to 14th, and racing resumed on lap 101 with 20 laps remaining. The 1991 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion moved into the ninth spot by lap 108 and picked up another spot two laps later before the fourth and final caution waved on lap 112. Labonte was sixth for the final restart on lap 115 and in position to compete for the lead. Unfortunately, the line of cars he chose to take didn’t move the way he anticipated and then fanned out three-wide, falling back in the field and ending any chance of mounting a charge to the front.

Tony Stewart paced the field across the finish line and was followed by Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brian Vickers, and Matt Kenseth. Labonte’s Richard Childress Racing teammates Scott Wimmer and Clint Bowyer finished 18th and 25th, respectively.

California Speedway is the second of 35 stops for the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series. The Stater Bros. 300 will take the green flag Saturday, Feb. 23, with Stephen Leicht behind the wheel of the No. 21 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS. Race coverage will be televised live on ESPN2 beginning at 7:00 p.m. EST. The race will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying will air live on SPEED the same day beginning at 12:35 EST.