NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Sprint Showdown

Topics:  Sprint Showdown

Bobby Labonte
May 19, 2012

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA

KERRY THARP:  Another transfer into tonight's Sprint All‑Star Race, courtesy of the fan vote, is Bobby Labonte.
Bobby, congratulations on getting that fan vote and getting an opportunity to race in the All‑Star event.  Your thoughts?
BOBBY LABONTE:  Yeah, well, I obviously got to thank Sprint and all the fans.  That's awesome.  That's probably the only word I can really use that sums it up.
To have that happen is obviously great.  Just hoping that we can excel in the big race.
Everybody on our team's really done a good job this weekend to get our car here.  Actually, the story is two weeks ago we weren't even going to show up here because this is not in our budget to run this race.  Guys stepped up, so we got this far.  Hopefully we can just keep going.
Again, just thank the fans for doing that.  That's really a great deal.
KERRY THARP:  Questions now for Bobby.

Q.  Are you surprised at all that you were the fan selection?
BOBBY LABONTE:  I mean, yeah, obviously.  You just don't know.  You wait till the end.  You obviously find out.  You always want to be.  You'd like to be.
There's a lot of great racecar drivers in this race that could get this same type of vote.  Again, thank the fans for doing that.  That is a great honor obviously.
Been doing this a long time.  So always try to do the right thing.  Hopefully that pays off sometimes at the end.

Q.  How would you characterize this season?  You knew it was going to be a building year going to your own shop?
BOBBY LABONTE:  Exactly.  That's what we're doing.  A couple weeks ago, we had a test at New Hampshire.  Self‑inflicted wound.  Wiped out a racecar while we were there.  I'm not trying to make a sob story, that's where we're at.  We're building as we go.
I can always see improvements.  Everybody is doing a great job.  Todd is doing it.  We're making headway, it seems like, every weekend.  We've still got some battles to challenge.
As a single‑car team, really proud of all the guys.  We bought Michael Waltrip racecars from last year, year‑before‑type of cars, that we've made work.  We're hoping to build some new cars here shortly.
That's what hopefully will key on getting us a little bit better.
KERRY THARP:  Bobby, congratulations in the All‑Star Race in a little bit.
BOBBY LABONTE:  Thank you.