FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 3, 2011

Pearson Jr, Bobby Labonte Racing Pick Up Runner-Up Finish
Team Prepares for Paducah in Neat's Home State of Kentucky



Trinity, N.C. (May 3, 2011) - Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) was able to pick up another top-five finish on Saturday, as Earl Pearson Jr. finished in the runner-up position at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Pennsylvania. The team now prepares for the next Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) event at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Ky.

On Friday, April 29, BLR headed north for the LOLMDS event at Bedford (Penn.) Speedway. The No. 44 Lucas Oil Dodge of Earl Pearson Jr. came into the night with high hopes after two Top-five finishes in his last three events at the track. Pearson Jr. finished ninth in his respective heat race and 11th in the B-Main. Pearson Jr. started the main event in the 23rd position. During the feature, Pearson Jr. raced his way to a 17th-place finish.

The No. 41 Red Buck Cigars Chevrolet of Brad Neat had similar luck in the preliminary events. He placed ninth in his heat race and seventh in the B-Main. Neat started shotgun on the field, but raced his way to a 19th-place finish, advancing seven positions. The finish gave Neat the PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race Award, his first of the season and BLR's third Hard Charger Award of the year.

"These Longhorn Chassis race well during the long runs," said Neat after the event "We just need to work on getting better starting spots. The fields are tough and it's hard to advance when starting in the back."

On Saturday, April 30th, BLR made the short 90-minute drive to Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, Penn. for the teams first-ever appearance at the track. Pearson Jr. was a man on a mission and wanting redemption after his run the night before. He began the night with a second-place finish in a highly contested heat race. The second-place run put Pearson Jr. on the inside of Row 3 for the feature. During the feature event, Pearson Jr. battled his way past Steve Francis, Jared Landers, and Chris Wall. He then put his sights on eventual winner Scott Bloomquist, but with no cautions over the last 13 laps, Pearson Jr. was unable to get close enough to contend for the win.

"We did what we intended to do tonight by qualifying and racing well," said Pearson Jr. after the event "I'm proud of my Lucas Oil crew as they prepared a great racecar for tonight."

Just like his teammate, Neat advanced through the heat race with a fourth-place finish. This put Neat on the outside of Row 8. During the feature, Neat finished 18th on a track difficult to pass.

BLR now heads to Neat's home state of Kentucky for the $10,000 to win LOLMDS event at Paducah. The only Lucas Oil Series event at Paducah was held in 2009 when Neat finished 14th and Pearson Jr. finished 21st. The series was scheduled to compete at Paducah in 2010, but was cancelled due to severe storms.

Neat hopes to use the hometown crowd to his advantage "Paducah is one of my favorite tracks as it's just three hours away from home," said Neat "I hope to use the momentum of the crowd to my advantage and pick up a good finish Saturday evening."

Pearson Jr. now holds solo possession of fourth place in the Lucas Oil Series point's standings, 110 points out of third place. Neat dropped out of the Top-10 in points for the first time in well over a month and now sits 11th, but just 20 points out of 10th place and 55 points out of sixth. With such a tight points battle from sixth to eleventh, with a good run at Paducah, Neat could propel himself up five positions in the standings.

LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES
POINT STANDINGS (4/30/11)

1 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 1210
2 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN 1110
3 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 1090
4 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 980
5 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 925
6 36 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN 895
7 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL 885
8 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 870
8 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS 870
10 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 860
11 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY 840
12 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 830
12 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 830
14 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY 770
15 71w Chris Wall Springfield, LA 765
16 99jr Frank Heckenast, Jr. Frankfort, IL 735
17 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 705
18 9t Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI 680
19 c9 Steve Casebolt  Richmond, IN 640