FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2011
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Bobby Labonte Racing Weathers the Storm at Magnolia Motor Speedway
Team Prepares for Midwestern Doubleheader

TRINITY, NC (July 12) - Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) weathered the storm to earn two more top- five finishes on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) tour at Magnolia Motor Speedway located in Columbus, Mississippi. The "Clash at the Mag" produces some of the best racing all season and both BLR teammates of Earl Pearson Jr. and Brad Neat came away with top finishes.

The No. 44 Lucas Oil Dodge of Earl Pearson Jr. came into the event as the defending champion of the $20,000 to win event. After Red Buck Cigars qualifying, Pearson Jr. was placed in the first heat race which yielded a stout field of competitors with only three transfer positions available. Pearson Jr. raced his way to the fourth position during the 10-lap event, just one position short of a transfer.

On Saturday evening, the B-mains and feature event were scheduled to be run, but Mother Nature had other ideas. Rains began to fall during the middle of the afternoon and into the night. It wasn't until before midnight that the B-mains finally began. Pearson Jr. lined up to compete in the first B-main. He quickly propelled himself to the front and went on to capture the victory in the 12-lap event guaranteeing him a starting position in the feature event.

Starting the feature in the 19 position, Pearson Jr. knew he had his work cut out for him during the 100-lap event. When the green flag dropped, Pearson Jr. went to work utilizing his Longhorn Chassis and what he learned from the B-main earlier in the evening. By the halfway point, Pearson Jr. was into the top-10 and by Lap 70, he was fourth. Over the next 30 laps, Pearson Jr. raced with Steve Francis but was never able to get by for a podium finish. Pearson Jr. finished in the fourth position after advancing 15 spots.

"My Lucas Oil Dodge was hooked up for the feature tonight," said Pearson Jr. "We made a lot of progress in the race and passed a lot of good cars. We didn't want to start that far back, but it was a good night considering our progress to the front."

The No. 41 Red Buck Cigars Chevrolet of Brad Neat also qualified his way into the first heat race. From the drop of the green, Neat followed his teammate Pearson Jr. through the field and finished in the fifth position.

This also delegated Neat to the first B-main along with his BLR teammate. This time though, Neat started the 12-lap event near mid-pack and began to race his way to the front where he finished in the fifth position.

Neat started the feature event in the 24 position, but used the valuable track time and lessons learned during the B-main to his advantage. Dale McDowell, who started 25, teamed up with Neat and the two veteran drivers made their charge to the front. When the checkered flag flew, Neat had advanced an astonishing 15 positions finishing ninth.

"My Red Buck Cigars crew gave me a great car for the feature tonight," said Neat. "We really passed a lot of cars too. It's really hard starting in the back like that, but we just slowly picked off some cars and made our way to the front."

Next up for BLR is another LOLMDS doubleheader weekend in the Midwest. First, BLR will make a stop at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Illinois for a two-day show. On Thursday, July 14, the LOLMDS will hold Red Buck Cigars Qualifying along with heat races. On Friday, July 15, the B-mains and feature event will be held.

Last year, almost to the day, Pearson Jr. captured the win at Tri-City Speedway in the Budweiser 50 while Neat finished in the 14 position.

"We had a great run last year at Tri-City," said Jason Fitzgerald, BLR Team Manager "Both Earl and Brad race well there and we will be looking for another win this weekend."

After the two day show at Tri-City Speedway the team will travel to Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri for the Diamond Nationals.

In his first appearance in 2011 at Lucas Oil Speedway for the DART Show-Me 100, Neat advanced 15 positions to finish just outside of the top-10. Then in 2010 at the Diamond Nationals, Pearson Jr. continued his dominate performance with a third-place finish while his teammate Neat finished in the 10 position.