There's been lots of big NASCAR news during the past few weeks -- the impressive performance of Stewart-Haas, Dale Jr's crew chief shift, Jeremy Mayfield's indefinite suspension, et cetera, et cetera. And while the media has been shining its spotlight on these high- profile stories, one new Cup team has been quietly plugging away and will likely surprise some folks before the season is over. Though you probably haven't noticed it, Bobby Labonte and his Ask.com Ford Fusion have been steadily getting better. And last week, if it weren't for a pit road speeding penalty, Labonte and Co. would have bagged their best finish yet.
That's why I'm looking forward to seeing what the #96 team has in store for the Pocono 500. After all, Mark Martin isn't the only Cup veteran who's still got it. When it comes to racing at Long Pond, Labonte has got the goods. He's a three-time Pocono winner, with three top-five finishes and seven top tens to his credit. And if his crew can get his car in shape, he and the boys at Hall of Fame Racing may put on quite a show come Sunday.
“Last week I saw this team come together in the pits and on the track," said Labonte's crew chief Ben Leslie. "The guys have started really getting Bobby out of the box fast and Bobby’s really been racing what we give him hard. I think we’re in for a good weekend in Pocono.”
Let's hope so. This fan would love to see Labonte back in Victory Lane.
Gosh, I was wondering when anyone was going to see Bobby Labonte as a veteran driver and can wheel a race car! I have been a Bobby Labonte fan since 2001 and knows with the right equipment he can get it done! Thanks for the great article!
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