Pearson Going for Sweep; Neat to Bounce Back

Archdale, N.C. (August 31, 2010) - Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) is ending their summer stretch this Labor Day weekend with two Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) events.  The team is returning to Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park on Saturday for the Pepsi '75' River Days Rumble and to West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, W.V. on Sunday for the 42nd Annual Hillbilly Hundred.

The series is returning to Portsmouth Raceway Park for the second time this season.  BLR team driver Earl Pearson Jr. won the Fourth of July event earlier this season.  Friday night's $20,000 to-win event will be taped and aired on September 25th at 1:00 p.m. on the Speed Channel.

West Virginia Motor Speedway is hosting a weekend full of events including live music, vendors, food and of course, great racing.  BLR will be in the LOLMDS feature event on Sunday with a $42,000 winning purse.  Pearson Jr. won the Hillbilly Hundred back in 2006 at Tyler County Speedway before it was moved to West Virginia Motor Speedway after the attendance outgrew the facility.

"The Hurricane" Earl Pearson Jr., driver of the No. 44 Lucas Oil Dodge Charger, is hoping that the current hurricane in the Atlantic, "Earl" will steer clear of the coast and give him the chance to sweep both events this Holiday weekend.  Pearson Jr. got his nickname when the last 'Hurricane Earl' was headed to the Florida coast, where Pearson Jr. is from.  His crew found "The Hurricane" as a perfect fit for Pearson.  Pearson Jr. is currently on a 13 race top-10 streak.

Driver of the No. 41 Red Buck Cigars Chevrolet, Brad Neat will go for another top-10 after finishing seventh at Bluegrass Speedway, his hometown track.  Neat is also looking to rebound from missing the heat race at Portsmouth back in July after a nasty wreck during qualifying.  The team hopes to continue to gain momentum as they battle for the top-10 in championship point standings.

Team Manager Jason Fitzgerald Comments on the Summer Stretch Results and going back to Portsmouth:

"It's really crazy that it is September already and our season is coming to an end.  Our summer stretch was really great. We had anticipated great results, but I think we ended up with 21 top-10 finishes, 12 top-five's and six wins.  Earl was able to go on a winning streak and Brad picked up his first victory of the season at Tazewell.  We were consistent and able to put down great results.  We really can't ask for much more.

"We're heading back to Portsmouth where Earl picked up the second win in his streak and really dominated.  He took that lead on Lap Three and led the field to the checkered flag.  Maybe going back here will get Earl going on another win streak.  Portsmouth is also where Brad took that pretty big crash and went to a backup car.  Hopefully we'll be able to measure Brad up a little better and get him into the feature this time.  He had a solid weekend last weekend and we want to keep that going.

"Like most tracks, Portsmouth is really weather sensitive.  This could be the roughest track or the slickest.  We are looking forward to putting on a good show for the fans, so hopefully the weather with cooperate and the track conditions will be good.

"We only have eight races left in the season and we are really looking to finish out the season strong and on the right foot.  I definitely see more wins coming for both Brad and Earl before the season is out.  We have the chance to bring home good money this weekend.  As one of the last big money races of the season, it would be really reassuring to end the season on a high note and be able to put that money towards any and all improvements for BLR and the 2011 season."