BOBBY LABONTE & NO. 47 HOUSE-AUTRY TOYOTA CAMRY
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SPRINT SHOWDOWN PREVIEW
FOR ALL-STAR WEEKEND AT CHARLOTTE
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Event: Sprint Showdown and All-Star Race
Bobby Labonte went on to finish 19th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson won the event.
This year, three All-Star spots remain up for grabs and Bobby Labonte wants one. The top-two finishers of the Sprint Showdown will transfer into the All-Star event. The winner of the Sprint Fan Vote gets the final starting slot. Labonte won the Sprint Fan Vote last year.
The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race field of 19 drivers is comprised of 2012-13 NASCAR Sprint Cup winners; the past 10 NASCAR Sprint All-Star winners; the past 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup champions; the top-two finishers from the Sprint Showdown and the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote. Sprint Fan Voting continues through 5 p.m. EDT, May 18 via NASCAR.com/SprintFanVote. Votes cast on NASCAR Mobile ’13 count twice.
When twenty-two drivers are turned loose in the All-Star race, more than $1 million is up for grabs.
JTG Daugherty Racing Quotes:
Sprint Fan Vote last year: “It was a great surprise to win the Sprint Fan Vote and very personally uplifting for the fact that we weren’t even going to the race other than to try practicing a few laps,” Labonte said. “For us to go and get voted in was awesome. For the fans to take the time do all that voting reminds me of how loyal NASCAR fans are.”
All-Star Race Sponsor: “We are very fortunate to have House-Autry sponsoring us for the All-Star weekend,” said Labonte. “Their support will allow us to focus on racing hard in the showdown so we can earn one of the transfer spots into the All-Star race.”
Showdown format and All-Star race: “It’s a great night of racing, different from anything else we do,” Labonte said. “To get in the All-Star race, it feels like you have to really drive harder than any other race throughout the year. But if you get in, the intensity level is even higher.”
Being home for Charlotte race weeks: “Yes, it is a really great track to race at and it feels good to sleep in my bed every night for a few weeks,” Labonte said.
Crew chief looks forward to All-Star weekend too: “Charlotte should be a really good weekend for the 47 team,” crew chief Brian Burns said. “We are using the practice session this weekend to do some testing on a few items that we’ve been developing back at the shop. Bobby had a very good car last year in the fall race, and our testing during the Charlotte offseason test sessions were very positive. We are using this weekend to learn what we can and apply to the car for the Showdown Race as well as the Coca-Cola 600.”
Bobby Labonte Stats
Career Starts: 701
Wins: 21
Top-five: 115
Top-10: 201
First Start: 06/03/1991 Dover
First Pole: 09/11/1993 Richmond
First Win: 05/28/1995 Charlotte
Last Pole: 04/04/2004 Texas
Last Win: 11/16/2003 Homestead (329 races since)
Driver DOB: 05/08/1964
Hometown: Corpus Christi, TX
Crew Chief: Brian Burns
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Wins List
Year Driver Year Driver
1985 Darrell Waltrip 1999 Terry Labonte
1986 Bill Elliott 2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1987 Dale Earnhardt 2001 Jeff Gordon
1988 Terry Labonte 2002 Ryan Newman
1989 Rusty Wallace 2003 Jimmie Johnson
1990 Dale Earnhardt 2004 Matt Kenseth
1991 Davey Allison 2005 Mark Martin
1992 Davey Allison 2006 Jimmie Johnson
1993 Dale Earnhardt 2007 Kevin Harvick
1994 Geoff Bodine 2008 Kasey Kahne
1995 Jeff Gordon 2009 Tony Stewart
1996 Michael Waltrip 2010 Kurt Busch
1997 Jeff Gordon 2011 Carl Edwards
1998 Mark Martin 2012 Jimmie Johnson
· There have been 28 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races.
· The first NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race was in 1985.
· 27 have been held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In 1986, the event was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and won by Bill Elliott. That season was also the first year for what is now known as the Sprint Showdown.
· 89 drivers have run in at least one NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, with 75 competing in more than one.
· There have been 19 different winners of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip won the inaugural NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race in 1985 at 161.184 mph.
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Tailgater of the Week:
Last weekend, Darlington Raceway had some of the best tailgaters and the winner’s awarded on Saturday were Todd and Dawn Arnwine from North Charleston, SC.
The pair had a prime spot on the main strip in the infield and actually bought two spots so they could have enough room for all of their friends to have a great tailgating experience.
The Arnwine’s favorite things to grill include tenderloin, brisket and steak. They are big fans of JTG Daugherty Racing’s sponsor’s products.
Todd was easily the most enthusiastic tailgater at the track, waving and talking to everyone that went past his site.
This is his fourth year tailgating in the infield. His spot was directly across from the giant Sprint Vision screen so they were able to continue the tailgate throughout the race and not go into the stands.
Congratulations to the Arnwine’s! We’ll be looking for this weeks Tailgater at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Are you the ultimate “Grillmaster” at the race track? Do you want to win an all expense paid trip and be the VIP guest of JTG Daugherty Racing at the big race in Las Vegas in 2014?
If you answered yes, then get out to the track and let us know where you are tailgating! Each race weekend during the Sprint Cup season JTG Daugherty Racing will be scouting the infields and campgrounds, looking for the best tailgaters at the track. The best, most enthusiastic tailgaters each race weekend will win a custom prize pack and become eligible for our “TAILGATER OF THE YEAR” competition.
You can let us know where you are tailgating by tweeting us your location.
Throughout the weekend, leading up to the green flag, our team members, owners and maybe even Bobby Labonte himself will be patrolling the infield and campsites looking for the best tailgaters. So, fire up your grills with Kingsford® Charcoal, heat up a can of Bush’s® Grillin’ Beans and clean up your messes with Clorox® and Scott® Brand Products!
Simply follow us on Twitter @NASCAR47 , send us a tweet with your tailgate location and include the hash tag #TweetYourTailgate.
Visit www.RaceSavers.com for more details!
