Labonte, Earnhardt quickest in ARCA RE/MAX Series LMS testing

CONCORD NC, 4-26-01 - Third-generation drivers' Justin Labonte and Kerry
Earnhardt unofficially posted the quickest speeds in ARCA RE/MAX Series
open testing Wednesday night under the lights at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Labonte, son of 2-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte, was
quickest at 181.757 mph ahead of Earnhardt at 178.512. Both Labonte and
Earnhardt were in Chevy Monte Carlos while Robby Benton, with the
fastest Ford Taurus in the field, was next with a speed of 178.510. Josh
Richason, in a Ford, was 4th quickest at 178.336 over third-generation
driver Steadman Marlin at 176.702 in the Sadler Bros Ford to complete
the top-five. Marlin, who finished 13th in his first ARCA start at
Nashville Superspeedway, is the son of Winston Cup veteran Sterling
Marlin.  Philip Kranefuss, son of Winston Cup/ARCA team owner Michael
Kranefuss, was next in a Ford at 174.984 over Rick Thoennes (Chevy)
175.382, Todd Shafer (Ford) 172.194, Terry Harris (Ford) 172.629,
Richard Mitchell (Pontiac) 170.670, Carl McCormick (Ford) 161.146,
Robbie Cowart (Chevy) 157.987, John Neal (Chevy) 139.860.

The test session was in preparation for the EasyCare ARCA 100 Saturday
evening, May 19 at Lowe's Motor Speedway which kicks off a big night
under the lights to include NASCAR's allstar events: The Winston Open
and The Winston.