NexCup: Chevy Advance Notes - Pocono 500

CHEVROLET NOTES & QUOTES
NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES 
POCONO 500 Advance 
POCONO RACEWAY
JUNE 11, 2004
 
Terry Labonte in the No. 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet will make his 600th start in a Chevy at the Pocono 500.  Labonte had two top ten finishes at Pocono Raceway in 2003.  Of Labonte's 22 wins, 19 have been in a Chevrolet.
 
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST RACE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CHEVROLET:  "My first race car was a '57 Chevy.  I've raced Chevys most of my entire career.  I raced strictly Chevys before I ever got into NASCAR racing."
 
"This is our 600th start in a Chevy.  That's a lot of events driving Chevrolets.  They're definitely my favorite.  The majority of races that we've won have been in Chevys.  The two championships we have won were in Chevys.  I've always been a Chevy guy."
 
HOW HAS THE RACE CAR CHANGED FROM 600 RACES AGO?  "The Monte Carlo that I ran in 1978 for the first time versus the one today is a lot different.  There's so many changes that have taken place over the years.  The cars are so different - they're smaller, they're lighter, they have a lot more downforce.  The safety equipment is no comparison to what it used to be back then.  The technology is so different with the shocks and tires.  Believe it or not, they actually are easier to drive than they were then.  I get a kick out of seeing some of the old pictures and seeing the old cars we used to race in the late 70s because they're so different from what they are today." 
 
HOW HAS THE SPORT CHANGED OVER THE LAST 600 RACES?  "It's changed tremendously over the years.  If you look from the late 70's to today, there's been huge changes.  It was always a gradual change from year to year.  If you look at where it is today to where it was back then, it's a huge change.  It never happened that fast over night.  It was always one step at a time.  The sport has grown a lot.   We go to a lot different places than we used to."
 
"I can remember when I first started racing, I had to stop and call home after leaving the race and tell my parents how I did.  It wasn't on the radio or TV yet.   So I went to a pay phone and called them in Corpus Christi, Texas.  It's changed an awful lot."
 
HOW DO YOU FEEL GOING INTO THE POCONO 500?  "We've had some good runs.  Hopefully we'll have a good car this weekend.  Last year this was one of our best tracks for us.  These guys have worked hard to have a good run here.  Hopefully we'll get out there and have a good car and a good run on Sunday."
 
ON HIS FAVORITE CHEVROLET MEMORY:  "The one that stands out in my mind is the day down in Atlanta when we won the championship in a Chevy and Bobby (Labonte) won the race in a Chevy (in 1996).  We made a victory lap together.  That's still definitely one of the highlights of my years in racing."