Labonte races with a heavy heart: As if racing in the season’ longest race yesterday was not enough of a challenge, Bobby Labonte, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac was going to have to do it with a heavy heart after his father-in-law, Don Slate, passed away earlier in the day Sunday. In typical Labonte fashion though, he tried his hardest to put on a strong face and take care of the task that lay before him. Not only was Labonte able to do that, he overcame numerous obstacles throughout the course of event to finish a very respectable 14th. With as tough as the 2002 season has been so far for Labonte, the finish was actually not too bad considering everything Labonte and the team faced during the evening Sunday. Tonight was a tough race for all of us, said Labonte. With the way our season has gone so far, I was not surprised by anything we encountered out there. In addition to all of that on the track, it was tough for me personally to be here and have Donna (Labonte’ wife) and the rest of our family back home grieving and not be able to be with them right now. That’ what hurts the most. As far as the race was concerned, we were able to come back and have a decent finish, continued Labonte. It’ a finish that I am not too happy with, but am very proud of the team overall considering everything we went through today. This finish was a total team effort and that is very important. There are other things that take a higher priority in life and I am going home to attend to those things right now.(Joe Gibbs Racing PR) Thoughts and condolences out to the the family.(5-27-2002)
