Justin Labonte has one Phoenix International Raceway start. It came last November and ended with a motor problem that sidelined him 135 laps into the 200-lap race. He started 35th and finished 37th.

Coast Guard Recruiting Command, in conjunction with the Coast Guard race team and NASCAR, is partnering with a local high school from Phoenix, a Coast Guard Strategic Metropolitan Area and Recruiting Territory (SMART), on Thursday for a program aimed at diversity outreach and Coast Guard awareness. Twenty-five diverse students will participate in the program that includes an autograph session with Team Coast Guard driver Justin Labonte, Busch Series garage tours, and the opportunity to view Busch Series practice from the grandstands.

Quoting Justin Labonte:

"Phoenix is a fun place to race. I liked it when I raced there for the first time last year. It is an unusual track. There is no other track for me to compare it to. It's a different kind of animal. I am excited about our chances in the race as the Labonte-Haas Motorsports team has great short track cars -- and then you throw in that Hendrick horsepower. We tested at Lakeland, Fla., last winter and things went well. I am a little concerned with the race starting at 6 p.m. local time and the sun setting around 7 p.m. It could give us some problems dealing with the glare. My uncle Bobby Labonte says he has some ideas for dealing deal with it, so I'll be working with him to make the best of that situation. My pit crew has been giving me great pit stops this year and I'll be depending on them to gain some spots when we pit, as track position is so important at Phoenix."

Source: www.coastguardracing.com

Date: 4/21/2005 6:03:21 PM