Bobby Labonte – NSCS ADVANCE
Team: No. 96 Ask.com/Search for the Cure Ford Fusion

Crew Chief: Ben Leslie

Event: NASCAR Banking 500 – Lowe’s Motor Speedway

Date: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009

Broadcast Information: ABC Television and PRN Radio – 7:00 p.m. (EDT)

QUOTES

Bobby Labonte on Ask.com/Search for the Cure:

“It’s great that a company like Ask.com is using their presence to get the word out about breast cancer. I’m happy to represent a company that aligns itself with worthy causes like Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Ask.com did a great job allowing people a way to honor and remember loved ones affected by breast cancer because it does affect everyone.”

Crew chief Ben Leslie on racing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway:

“Including the race on Saturday night, we have just two more races with Bobby in the No. 96. It would be really nice to have a strong finish this weekend – not just for our team, but for our sponsor Ask.com. So, as always, we’re going to go out and give it our best shot and hope for the best.”

FAST FACTS

Bobby Labonte will make his 34th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in this weekend’s NASCAR Banking 500. The start will mark Labonte 577th-career Cup Series start.
RACE FOR THE CURE… Ask.com transformed its homepage into a one-day memorial for those affected by breast cancer on Oct. 1 to celebrate the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and its national partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cureâ. Each Tribute made that day will be incorporated into the No. 96 paint scheme. More than 13,000 names of people affected by breast cancer will be featured on the rear of Labonte’s pink No. 96 as part of a breast cancer awareness program with his sponsor Ask.com.
SPECIAL FIRESUIT AND HELMET…Labonte will sport a firesuit and helmet inspired by the pink colors of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for Saturday night’s race.
MAKE A DIFFERNECE…Ask.com; the Official Search Engine of NASCAR, recently announced a national multi-faceted partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure which included a pledge to invest $1 million to the organization. Throughout October, race fans can continue to participate in the Ask.com Search for the Cure program at www.Ask.com/cure. By downloading the special Komen search “skin” and answering questions about breast health, Ask.com will continue to make donations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure on behalf of users.
FOR THE RECORD… Labonte has three poles, two wins, 12 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes at Charlotte – his wins came in 1995 and 2000.
Labonte’s average start at Lowe’s is 13.5; his average finish is 12.8.
LAPS… Labonte has completed 10,900 of 11,785 (92.5%) of the laps he has attempted at Charlotte.
Labonte has led 807 laps at LMS in Cup Series competition. Only Mark Martin, Bill Elliott and Jimmie Johnson have led more laps at the 1.5-mile Concord, N.C. track.
REWIND, CHARLOTTE – May, 2009… Labonte and the No. 96 Ask.com team finished 12th in May’s rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The postponed race was ultimately called because of rain showers and was officially deemed complete at lap 227 with 259.5 miles to go.
NEXT WEEK… Labonte will make his final start in the No. 96 DLP Ford Fusion at Martinsville Speedway. Erik Darnell will complete the season in the Hall of Fame entry.
 

STATS

Labonte’s 2009 Cumulative NASCAR Sprint Cup Series After 30 of 36:

Rank Points Behind Starts Poles Wins Top-5 Top-10 Led

31 2591 3137 30 0 0 1 1 15

Labonte’s Career Stats at Lowe’s Motor Speedway:

Races Wins Top-5s Top-10s Poles Laps Completed Led

33 2 12 17 3 10,900 of 11,785 807