Pearson and Neat Hope to Steal Spotlight

Archdale, N.C. (April 13, 2010) - The Virginia Motor Speedway opens its 2010 racing season April 16 and 17 with the star-studded Commonwealth 100, and Bobby Labonte Racing (BLR) drivers Earl Pearson Jr. and Brad Neat hope to be among the big names in the spotlight.  The World of Outlaws Late Model Series-sanctioned event is expected to draw top competitors to Jamaica, Va., from around the country, with a $25,000 purse to the winner of the main event Saturday night.
 
The BLR team is coming off a solid run at the "Indiana Icebreaker" at Brownstown Speedway, where Earl Pearson Jr. and the No. 44 Lucas Oil team finished second and Brad Neat and the No. 41 Red Buck Filtered Cigars team came home 11th. The finishes moved Pearson Jr. up to fourth and Neat up to 13th in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship standings.
 
Pearson Jr. has seen Victory Lane at Virginia Motor Speedway, winning there with the BLR team in 2007.
 
Team Manager Jason Fitzgerald comments on this weekend's events and the team's progress:
 
"This is a big race with all the names in town, but honestly, they're all big races. At the level that we race, they're all tough. Every weekend we go race in our Lucas Oil series, we race the best of the best. So this is really no different than any other weekend. We've got cars that can win races and we're looking to do that every time out.
 
"We've had some success at Virginia Motor Speedway. The last time I went there with Earl, we had a brand new car and he had the fastest speed, won his heat and won the race. So I know he's comfortable there.
 
"Brad's getting closer to the results we all want to see from him. He's putting a little pressure on himself to go out and win. He just needs to go out there and have fun and race his race. Each event, he's getting better. We all know he can win races and he will.
 
"At this track, you, of course, have to qualify well. Get yourself a good starting position in your heat so you can transfer well. It's a big racetrack. It can be hard to pass early in the night if you're too far back in your heat race. By the time the feature gets around, the track tends to be pretty racy. So if you start mid-pack with a good car, you could actually come to the front at this place. I think the biggest thing is just to qualify well. And stay out of the wrecks. A lot of times when they crash here, they crash hard."