Theres nothing quite as special for a driver as that first win, but when it comes in dramatic fashion like it did for Justin Labonte (No. 44 U.S. Coast Guard Dodge), that just adds icing to the cake. Labonte had closed to the rear bumper of Mike Wallace (No. 4 GEICO/SportClips Ford) as they headed to the white flag at Chicagoland Speedway, but a pass for the win was far from certain. Suddenly, Wallace slowed as he flashed under the starters stand on the frontstretch, having run out of fuel. Labonte charged past and scored that precious first victory. Afterward, the son of two-time NASCAR champion Terry Labonte and nephew of 1999 NASCAR champ Bobby Labonte didnt do a smoky burnout. He simply took the checkered flag dropped to him by chief starter Kevin Moss and slowly toured the track before heading to Victory Lane. The whole familys so excited, because everybody is involved in my racing team here and at the shop, the younger Labonte says. My dad, my mom [Kim] and grandpa [Bob] have all had so much input on everything, its kind of a special win. Its pretty cool. I couldnt ask for a better way to win our first race. It surprised us on the last lap there, but well take them any way we can get them. When Labonte got home to Trinity, N.C., his house and shop had been decorated by his sister, Kristy. My sister went a little crazy on the decorations in the yard and stuff, Labonte says. It was a mess when I pulled in. She got the shop and my house and everywhere. She had that stuff hanging all over the place. I had to cut some banners down to get in my front door. As thrilling as the win was for Labonte, it was just as important for his sponsor. The United States Coast Guard Adm. Thomas H. Collins, commandant of the Coast Guard, is extremely satisfied with Labontes progress. When the Coast Guard signed on to sponsor Justin, we did it knowing that he comes from a winning tradition, Adm. Collins said in a statement. Justins action on and off the race track from the classy way he celebrated after winning to his efforts as our national safe-boating spokesman clearly reflect that this young man is the right partner for the Coast Guard. The men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard look forward to watching Justins many future wins, and were proud to say that we were there when it all began.
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Chevrolet leads in manufacturers standings Chevrolet has built a fairly comfortable lead in the Bill France Performance Cup standings for manufacturers in the NASCAR Busch Series. Chevrolet has 12 wins and 146 points to 113 points and five wins for Ford. Dodge is in third place with 89 points and two wins following last Saturdays victory by Justin Labonte at Chicago. The standings are determined by a scoring system in which the highest-finishing manufacturer receives nine points, the second-highest gets six, and third-highest receives four.
Yeleys team claims Chicago McDonalds POWERade title The Joe Gibbs Racing crew of J.J. Yeley (No. 18 Vigoro/The Home Depot Chevrolet) won the McDonalds POWERade Drive-Thru Pit Crew of the Race Award for the Tropicana Twister 300 at Chicago. The Haas CNC Racing crew of Jason Leffler (No. 00 Haas Automation Chevrolet) leads the Brewco Motorsports crew of David Green (No. 37 Timber Wolf Pontiac) by 27 points in the season standings.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Ten years ago this week, on July 16, 1994, Kenny Wallace and Ricky Craven were racing hard for the lead at Myrtle Beach Speedway. They made contact, sending Wallace to the garage area for repairs. As soon as Wallace came back onto the track during a subsequent caution, he rammed Cravens car on the backstretch. As a result, Wallace was penalized five laps for overaggressive driving. Current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points leader and 2003 runner-up in the championship point standings, Dennis Setzer, went on to win the event for his first NASCAR Busch Series victory.
Fast Facts
What: Siemens 200 (Race No. 20 of 34 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, N.H.
When: 1 p.m. (ET), Saturday, July 24, 2004.
Track layout: 1.058-mile paved oval.
Race length: 211.6 miles/200 laps.
Posted awards: $1,028,302.
TV: TNT, 1 p.m. (ET).
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2003 winner: David Green.
2003 polesitter: Kevin Harvick.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday Practice, 9-11:15 a.m.; Qualifying, 1:30 p.m.; final practice following Featherlite Modified Series, NASCAR Touring Event.(NASCAR PR)(7-16-2004)
