FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2011

Bobby Labonte Racing Collects Pair of Top-10 Finishes, Ready for Brownstown

Trinity, NC (March 24, 2011) - Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) is ready to return to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series after both Earl Pearson Jr. and Brad Neat brought home top-10 finishes for the team at different venues last weekend.

Pearson Jr. headed to Columbus Speedway in Mississippi to compete in the World of Outlaws (WoO) Late Model Dirt Series show. Neat decided to make the short trip to Volunteer Speedway in Tennessee for the unsanctioned "Spring Thaw" event.

On Friday, the No. 44 Lucas Oil Dodge of Pearson Jr. would have a tough time during qualifying at the ultra fast, high-banked facility putting him on the third row for his heat. Pearson Jr. finished fifth in his heat and earn a spot in the B-Main. He was able to transfer through to the main event where he started in the 21st spot.

When the green flag was thrown over the feature, Pearson Jr. was a man on a mission, passing cars both high and low and pushing his Longhorn Chassis to the extreme. By the halfway mark of the 100-lap event, he was already near the front and still coming strong. By the end of the 100 lap race, Pearson Jr. had passed 14 cars in route to his seventh-place finish. It was Pearson Jr.'s fifth top-10 finish of the season.

"We had an impressive run this evening in our Lucas Oil Dodge," said Pearson Jr. after the event. "The team worked throughout the night Friday to get the car handling better. I have to thank them for their hard work and preparing me such a fast racecar for tonight".

The No. 41 Red Buck Chevrolet of Brad Neat made the mid-week decision to travel to Volunteer Speedway. Neat started the feature event in the 13th position. The first part of the race was marred with caution flags for multiple car incidents, none of which Neat was involved in. Finally the race went caution free, and Neat was able to use the high side of the track to make the majority of his passes in route to an eight- place finish. It was Neat's fourth top-10 finish of the season.

"I want to thank my crew and Red Buck Cigars for giving me such a good car tonight," said Neat after the event. "Tonight was a rough night to get through, especially with all of the on-track incidents happening in front of us. Once we got to racing, this Longhorn Chassis took a real liking to the high banks here".

Next up for BLR will be the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway. The 14th annual Indiana Icebreaker will be the first event on the Lucas Oil schedule since the DART Winternationals back in February. With such a long layoff between races, the drivers are eager to get back on the track and in the championship hunt. Earl Pearson Jr. is a defending winner of the Icebreaker with wins coming in both 2006 and 2009.

"I always run really well at Brownstown," said Pearson Jr. "The track is always racy and it's a lot of fun to drive".

Neat and his Red Buck team will also travel to Brownstown. Neat already has one win on the Lucas Tour this year.

"Last year, we were able to place 11th in both races at Brownstown," said Neat. "It's still a learning track for me but after the start we've had to the season this year, I'm looking for the win".

The Icebreaker pays a nice $10,000 to win and $700 to start.