Bobby Labonte again proves why he likes Michigan track
By Times Wires
Published August 16, 2003
BROOKLYN, Mich. - There's something about Michigan International Speedway that brings out the best in Bobby Labonte.
He picked up his second straight Michigan pole, topping qualifying Friday for the GFS Marketplace 400 and earning his fourth pole at the track.
The 2000 Winston Cup champion turned a lap of 190.240 mph, just shy of the 190.365 that earned him the pole on the 2-mile, high-banked oval in June.
Labonte, who has been mired in a slump during which he has finished no better than 14th in his past five starts and has fallen from fourth to seventh in the points standings, became the first driver to sweep the Michigan poles since Bill Elliott in 1988.
Racing here also could get him back in stride, considering Labonte has won three times and finished in the top five 14 times in 22 starts.
"I just like coming here," Labonte said. "It just falls into the category of a good track. The cars can race here from the white line (at the bottom of the banking) to the white wall, which is about 100 yards. That's a lot of fun."
The qualifying session was delayed by rain for nearly two hours. Labonte said the downpour might have given him a slight advantage since he was the 16th of 43 drivers in line as the sun came out and began to bake the track.
Ryan Newman, who leads the series with five poles, was second. He went out ninth and ran a lap of 189.929.
"It had a lot of grip in it," Newman said. "That sun was real good to us. It just kept cooking (the track)."
IN THE MONEY: He may be ranked eighth in points, but Kurt Busch is second in earnings.
Jimmie Johnson tops the NASCAR money list with $3,877,730 while Busch is a close second with $3,640,150.
Eight of the top 10 on the money list have earned at least $3-million this season. Points leader Matt Kenseth is 10th with $2,897,470.
CABELA'S 250: Kasey Kahne earned the pole with a record qualifying lap for the Busch series race at Michigan. Kahne's fast lap was 186.490 mph, surpassing the mark of 185.644 set last year by Kevin Lepage.
"It wasn't a perfect lap, but it was pretty close," Kahne said. His first Busch pole came in his 43rd race. His best effort was in May at Dover, where he qualified second.
LUCAS OIL NATIONALS: Points leader Larry Dixon led the Top Fuel division during NHRA qualifying at Brainerd, Minn. Dixon was timed in 4.66 seconds at 319 mph. Gary Scelzi powered past 10-time winner John Force in Funny Car with a run of 4.940 seconds at 311.63 mph. Kurt Johnson was first in Pro Stock, and defending champion Geno Scali led Pro Stock Bike.
