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Friday, August 17
Labonte has dominated at MIS
Associated Press
| |  | | | Labonte |
BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Michigan International Speedway is Bobby
Labonte's favorite track, and it's easy to see why.
The defending Winston Cup champ has completed every lap at the
track in late summer since 1993, including wins in '95 and '99. His
average finish in that span? Fourth.
Labonte and the rest of the Winston Cup Series returns to
Michigan for Sunday's Pepsi 400. Qualifying was to begin Friday
afternoon.
Despite his recent history at the track, Labonte was mediocre in
June's race. He started 25th and finished 13th, failing to lead a
lap. But he's been getting better since that day, moving up to
eighth in the point standings and getting his first victory of the
season last month at Pocono, Pa.
"We weren't real pleased with our results (at Michigan) in June
so we are very focused on returning and being able to unload and be
fast," Labonte said. "It seemed to work a few weeks ago when we
went back to Pocono for the second time.
"Maybe we can do a repeat performance this weekend."
Tony Stewart, Labonte's teammate with Joe Gibbs Racing, has gone
the opposite way the past two weeks, dropping to fifth in points
and losing about 150 points to leader Jeff Gordon. He was 25th at
Michigan in June, a performance he blamed partly on a lack of
horsepower.
"Our motor program has come along a little better since the
first race and horsepower is normally one of the biggest factors
there, so I think we're going to fare better," Stewart said.
A midseason rule change by NASCAR to eliminate "bump stops" in
the car's springs has left Stewart and his team frustrated and
searching for answers.
"We had to start over," he said. "It's the only series I've
ever been a part of where they change the rules halfway through the
season. (NASCAR does) things on a whim and it really hurts us as a
race team."
Both Gibbs' teammates probably will be chasing Gordon this
weekend. The Winston Cup points leader has won the past two races,
both since his 30th birthday on Aug. 4, and his point lead has
ballooned to 194 points over Ricky Rudd.
The bad news for Labonte, Stewart and the rest of the field is
that Gordon's using the same car this weekend that won in June at
Michigan. It also won the Brickyard 400 two weeks ago.
"We've been able to hit the right setups with this car and it
has paid off with a bunch of top fives and a couple of wins,"
Gordon said. "Hopefully, we haven't used up all that good
fortune."
Mike Skinner, recovered from a broken left ankle, returns this
weekend, ending Robby Gordon's four-week stint in a Richard
Childress Racing Chevrolet. Skinner, injured in an accident at
Chicagoland Speedway, also plans to run Saturday's Busch Series
race.
"The doctor released me last week to begin therapy to work out
my ankle and I've done that a couple of times, but it wore me out
each time," Skinner said. "Michigan will be a good warmup for my
ankle because we don't use much brake there.
"I need to get my rhythm back in the car and get my
coordination back."  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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