FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2012
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Electrical Issues, Bad Luck Hamper Better Finishes for Bobby Labonte Racing

TRINITY, N.C. (October 3, 2012) - Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) and driver Earl Pearson Jr. faced some bad luck this past weekend at Knoxville Speedway on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) tour. The "Knoxville Nationals" for dirt late models brought some of the best teams together at a historic venue in Knoxville, Iowa. Racing was staged over three nights in front of thousands of fans.
 
On Thursday night, the No. 44 Lucas Oil/MavTV Dodge of Earl Pearson Jr. was running second in their heat race when a fellow competitor ran into the rear of the car causing a flat tire and a disappointing finish to their transfer race. However, they went on to win the C-Main feature before deciding to take the rest of the night off to prepare for Friday night's races.
 
The No. 44 Lucas Oil/MavTV team had better fortune Friday night. Pearson Jr. started on the outside pole of the second heat. He then made quick work, driving himself to the front and capturing the victory. The win gave him an 18th starting position in the feature event. During the 25 lap feature, Pearson Jr. drove his Longhorn Chassis hard gaining 10 spots and finishing eighth.
 
"We had some bad luck on Thursday night but the guys worked hard to get us ready for the feature tonight," said Pearson Jr. after Friday night's race. "We started back in the field but my Lucas Oil Dodge was hooked up. We made a lot of great progress and passed a lot of good cars. "
 
After great improvements on Friday, the team and Pearson Jr. felt confident going into the final night of the ninth annual Lucas Oil "Late Model Knoxville Nationals" with a $40,000-to-win feature set for Saturday night. Pearson Jr. started the 100-lap feature in 22nd position looking to push his way to the front. With 100-laps, "The Hurricane" had plenty of time to make his charge towards the front of the field. However, the No. 44 Lucas Oil/MavTV Longhorn Chassis had electrical issues which caused Pearson Jr. to pull off the track early in the feature.
 
"It seems things weren't on our side for most of the weekend," said Pearson Jr. "The BLR guys worked hard all weekend to give me a fast car and they did that. We can't help a tire went flat on Thursday night and electrical issues tonight. We had a lot better car this weekend than what the results show."
 
BLR now heads to Georgia this weekend for a couple of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races with Pearson Jr. and team looking for improved finishes. They start the weekend Saturday at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga. and then head to Rome Speedway in Rome, Ga. on Sunday.