LABONTE AND JTG DAUGHERTY RACING SPOTLIGHT KINGSFORD CHARCOAL BRAND AT MICHIGAN
BROOKLYN, Mich. (August 17, 2011) – – As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sneaks up on the Chase, the NFL is approaching the midst of preseason games while week one of NCAA Football is just around the corner.
With the season heating up with sports, now’s a good time to fire up the grill with family and friends. This weekend Kingsford Charcoal continues to use NASCAR as a platform to remind millions of fans it’s grilling season by being front and center on the No. 47 Toyota Camry with driver Bobby Labonte at the two-mile D-shaped Michigan International Speedway (MIS) oval for the Pure Michigan 400.
“Kingsford is a signature charcoal, and as I’ve said before, my family and I grill out with the brand a lot,” Labonte said about the brand made with natural ingredients offering a range of bestselling products for every grilling need. “Whether my family and friends are attending a football game, a baseball game, a concert or a NASCAR race, we’ve always used Kingsford. This weekend at Michigan, it’s not any different. Michigan has been a good track for me in general and we are glad to have a partner like Kingsford on board this weekend to support our efforts.”
Earlier this season the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visited the Southeastern Michigan track with 18 degree banking and 73-foot wide sweeping turns nestled in the Irish Hills. Labonte finished 22nd in the 200-lap event won by Joe Gibbs racing driver Denny Hamlin.
The 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion has had his fair share of success at MIS. Three of Labonte’s 21 career victories occurred in Brooklyn, Mich. sweeping in 1995 and then capturing his third win in August 1999. Four of his 26 career pole awards took place at the speedway. In addition to his wins, he has nine top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. He also has a NASCAR Nationwide victory to his credit.
“I love the place and I have three Cup wins and a Nationwide win at MIS,” Labonte said. “It’s a fun track and it’s a wide track that gives drivers room to race with three and four grooves.
“We didn’t have the finish we hoped for when we were there in June,” Labonte continued. “We’re hoping to unload better and improve our results.”
It was a short week for the division with the Watkins Glen International race being postponed to Monday due to inclement weather. Labonte went on to finish 19th in the event won by Australian driver Marcos Ambrose. Then on Tuesday, Labonte and his JTG Daugherty Racing team traveled to Martinsville Speedway for a two-day Goodyear tire test at the half-mile oval where the team will race on October 30th.
“There are some things to be gained by having the opportunity to participate in a Goodyear tire test,” Labonte said. “It will help us when we race at Martinsville Speedway later this season.
However, everyone seems to catch back up to you because the competition is so close.”
Thursday NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams travel to Michigan in preparation of the Pure Michigan 400. Live coverage from MIS on Sunday begins at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. MRN will also broadcast the event and Sirius XM Satellite.
