Catchfence

Pocono, PA, (July 30, 2010) - Bobby Labonte qualified the No. 71 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet Impala SS in 22^nd position for TRG Motorsports for Sunday’s running of the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway.   Labonte improved on his June qualifying run by 16 positions.

Labonte has three career wins at the Tricky Triangle and is well positioned for a strong run on Sunday.  The 2.5-mile tri-oval Pocono circuit had Labonte lapping the unusual layout 25^thin practice.  The Texan put down a time of 53.380 seconds and 169 mph.

“We brought a different car than we had here the first time,” Labonte said.  “The car is a lot better.  Dan (Stillman, crew chief) and the guys have a good handle on the car.  I am impressed with the way it drives, I feel really good about it.  I am looking forward to the race.  We were able to make positive gains in practice and then again in qualifying.”

Fuel strategy and the possibility of a green-white-checker finish will play a major role at Pocono on Sunday.

“You want to keep your options open at Pocono.  Fuel mileage strategy has to be a part of the game plan.  If you are leading the race with 40 laps to go, you may stay out. Or if you are not running as good you may stay out and go for it.  You have to know your options, there may be several different scenarios that present themselves during the race that you don’t have at other places like Martinsville.  If you have a good race car you just race.  If you are in a certain position and are getting good fuel mileage you may just take two tires, or stay out.  If there is a green-white-checker you have to take that possibility into account as well.  I have seen people run out of gas here on the last lap.”

Kevin Buckler, team principal, likes the way the team has progressed since the last race at Pocono in early June.

“We made a noticeable improvement from the first race here, just like most of the areas of our program,” Buckler said.  “We remain on a really cool and steep learning curve here, probably more than most teams.  This track is a strange mix of speed and handling, unlike any other on the schedule.  The front stretch is nearly three-quarters of a mile long.  Bristol isn’t that long if you stretch it out straight.  Dan and the guys have done a great job with the car and Bobby is showing good speed.  We need to have all of the elements come together on Sunday.  The whole team has pep in their step again and it is showing in all areas.  We are setting ourselves up as an awesome partner for sponsorship next year.  It is a very exciting time right now.”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 will be televised live on ESPN starting at 1:00 p.m. ET, pre-race stating at noon.

TRG Motorsports is based in Mooresville, North Carolina. Currently the team fields a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry as well as a limited Camping World Truck Series effort and an ARCA RE/MAX Series team. The Racer’s Group was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of sports car racing. TRG’s Porsche sports car program is run out of the company’s headquarters in Petaluma, California. The team has the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 33, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (three) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

- TRG Motorsports, Press Release