FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2011
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Bobby Labonte Racing is Ready for Second Half of Season

Trinity, NC (June 28, 2011) - Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) is ready to take the momentum they earned during the first half of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) season and apply it to the second half of the year. To start, an Independence Day weekend doubleheader is next on the BLR schedule. The team hopes to see a mirror image of their success at both Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park and Muskingum County (Ohio) Speedway from last year.

Earl Pearson Jr. in his Lucas Oil Dodge has collected 10 top-10 finishes with five of those being earned on the Lucas Oil Tour in 2011. BLR teammate, Brad Neat in his Red Buck Cigars Chevrolet has raced his way to nine top-10 finishes with seven of those being on the LOLMDS. Neat earned a victory early in the season at East Bay Raceway Park which was broadcast on SPEED channel earlier this year.

BLR will now be making the trip to Ohio for the doubleheader weekend. Both nights will pay $10,000 to win with a full slate of racing including Red Buck Cigars qualifying, heat races, b-mains and the feature event.

This same time last year, BLR competed at both tracks where fans witnessed quite a performance from Pearson Jr. He motored his Lucas Oil Dodge to victory lane in consecutive nights at both speed plants. The victories were Pearson Jr.'s fourth and fifth of the season with the LOLMDS.

"Last year we were on a roll when we came into Ohio," said Pearson Jr. "This weekend our Lucas Oil team will be looking for the same success and vying for another win. Larry Wallace builds us a great engine with a lot of horsepower and torque which helps us at these large, fast speedways."

In BLR's return trip to Portsmouth Raceway Park in late August on the LOLMDS, Neat collected a runner-up finish to Dale McDowell after starting the feature event in the 12 position. Pearson Jr. had to take a LOLMDS provisional to get into the feature, but raced his way from his 23 starting position to a ninth-place finish.

"Our Longhorn Chassis is setup well for the long runs at Portsmouth," said Jason Fitzgerald, BLR Team Manager. "I'm excited to bring both Earl and Brad back to Portsmouth and Muskingum to contend for the win this weekend."

Currently Brad Neat is sixth in LOLMDS standings while Earl Pearson Jr. is tied for seventh in points with Ray Cook. A mere 25 points separate both BLR teammates while Neat sits just 65 points out of the top-five.

"With a good run this weekend, I hope to crack into the top-five in points," said Neat. "Earl had two great runs here last year and we have good notes to setup our Red Buck Cigars Chevrolet for this weekend."

All BLR fans are encouraged to bring their favorite Earl Pearson Jr. or Brad Neat pictures, shirts and hats as Appliancezone.com will offer an up close and personal autograph session with both drivers.