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[/media-credit]The Lady in Black has been Fair Weathered to Labonte Over the Years
DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 8, 2012) – – Bobby Labonte and his JTG Daugherty Racing team have the 63rd Annual Bojangles’ Southern “500” at Darlington Raceway circled on their calendar.
In 108 races at “The Lady in Black,”, Labonte is one of 45 race winners and was close to a top-10 finish last season until a last lap accident relegated him to 18th-place. This time he is back with SCOTT Products on the hood of his car for the first time this season and looks to improve upon that finish.
“We ran good and almost had a top-10 finish last year, but got caught up in an accident on the final lap,” said Labonte, who made hard contact with the retaining wall from another car running into him while in 11th place. “That was tough, but I managed to nurse it across the finish line. We’re happy to have SCOTT Products on our No. 47 Toyota Camry this weekend and look forward to putting on a good show for them. ”
Labonte, who celebrates his 48th birthday today, has experienced the temperaments of Darlington Raceway. However, his shining moment occurred on September 3, 2000. He captured a victory at the 1.366-mile oval in a backup car after taking a provisional and starting 37th. With weather threatening the race finish, the 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion beat the field off pit road the time when it counted the most. Within minutes the track was drenched with rain and Labonte, under the ninth and final caution of the day, captured the victory.
“It was all about timing,” Labonte said. “We didn’t have the fastest car that day, but we were able to beat everyone out of the pits and capitalize when the track was drenched the final time.”
In addition to his win, Labonte’s track record at Darlington Raceway includes a pole award (8/31/97), five top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in 31 starts. The 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner has led 131 laps. His average start is 15.903 and his average finish is 15.935. With his credentials, Labonte is lobbying to be the next race winner. The last five at Darlington were Regan Smith, Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon respectively.
“Man, I’d like to be the one sitting in victory lane again,” Labonte said. “It’s a track like no other with rich history. I just love going there.”
Live coverage Saturday of the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on FOX begins at 6:30 p.m. ET at Darlington Raceway.
