NASCAR BGN Series All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 Preview: Stewart and Labonte
1 October 1997
#18 Bobby Labonte, Shell Oil Pontiac Grand Prix #44 Tony Stewart, Shell Oil Pontiac Grand Prix NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division All Pro Bumper to Bumper Advance Charlotte Motor Speedway SHELL'S "DOUBLE DYNAMITE" SET TO TAG TEAM ALL PRO BUMPER TO BUMPER 300 FIELD CONCORD, NC - Saturday's All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be a day of firsts for the Shell Oil Racing Team. The 300 mile, 200 lap event marks the first time Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart will compete against each other head to head as "teammates." Stewart will use the familiar number 44 while Labonte's car will carry number 18. Both drivers are armed with potent Pontiacs sponsored by Shell Oil Company and both cars have been prepared under the direction of veteran Busch Series crew chief Bryant Frazier. Frazier says preparing two cars for the Charlotte race has been a tough task. "To be honest, it has been a challenge to get both cars prepared," Frazier said. "We feel like Bobby has an excellent opportunity to win the pole and the race and we don't want to take anything away from that. At the same time, we want to give Tony the best car possible. It's been a balancing act, but we feel like both Bobby and Tony will have excellent equipment." Labonte grabbed the pole positions for both the Winston Cup and Busch Series events at CMS last October. The driver of the Shell Pontiac finished second to Mark Martin in the last year's 300. Labonte should once again be a threat this year when the green flag waves on Saturday afternoon. "I'm excited about the All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 because I think I've got a good shot to win the race," Labonte said. "I've had cars capable of winning the last two or three Busch races I've run at Charlotte. We've had an up and down year all season. One week we're chasing a win and the next we're sitting in the garage area halfway through the race. I think we can score a win Saturday." Labonte has seven career starts in the All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300. He has one pole, two top-five finishes and has placed in the top-10 three times. His average starting position is 14.57 while his average finish is 17. Labonte has earned a total of $94,050 in his seven starts in the fall Busch Series race at Charlotte. By Camp & Associates, Inc.
