Bobby Labonte returns for Homestead race

Bobby Labonte Back in No. 47 Chevrolet Silverado

2000 Nascar Cup Champion To Make Third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Career Start at Homestead-Miami Speedway

STATESVILLE, NC - 2000 NASCAR Cup Champion Bobby Labonte will make his third career start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the No. 47 Chevrolet Silverado at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19. Labonte will team with 2004 NCTS championship contender Dennis Setzer in a Silverado fielded by Morgan Dollar Motorsports with veteran crew chief Randy Goss. The Ford 200 is the final event of the 2004 NCTS season.

Labonte wheeled the No. 47 to an impressive third place finish in the Kroger 200 on October 23 at Martinsville Speedway as one of the Chevy Silverado Celebrity All Star drivers coming from the 35th starting position when qualifying was cancelled due to rain His other previous NCTS start came in October 1996 at Phoenix International Raceway where he finished 34th after engine problems brought an early end to his day.

"I think it will be a fun deal to run the Chevy Silverado at Homestead," said Labonte. "I had a great time running with those guys are Martinsville when we finished third. I like working with Randy (Goss, crew chief) and being a teammate to Dennis. It just a fun group of guys to be around. We won at Homestead last year in our Interstate Batteries Chevrolet, so, hopefully, we can get our first truck win down there. I'm looking forward to it."

In the early days of their careers, Labonte and Setzer waged great battles in their late models at Caraway Speedway near Asheboro, NC. The pair battled to a tie in championship points one season with Labonte taking the crown as a result of having more wins.

"Dennis a good friend," Labonte continued. "He and I had some great battles back in the late 80's at Caraway Speedway. We were rivals, but very friendly rivals. I think people tried to make it a bigger rivalry than it was, like we hated each other or something like that. That wasn't true at all. All the times I raced him, I don't think he ever touched me or I ever touched him. It was just good, clean racing that was a lot of fun. So, we've always raced each other close, but clean."

Chevrolet Silverado, Acxiom and Morgan Dollar Motorsports teamed to bring the All Star program to fans at seven NCTS events during the 2004 season. At each event, the No. 47 featured a special paint scheme showcasing a prominent musical artist and was driven by a Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR Nextel Cup driver. The 2004 driver lineup included:

Michael Waltrip/Sheryl Crow, Charlotte; Robby Gordon/George Thorogood, Bristol; Tony Stewart/Sara Evans, Richmond; Ricky Craven/LeAnn Rimes, New Hampshire; Bobby Labonte/Josh Turner, Martinsville; Ron Hornaday/Big and Rich, Phoenix and Jason Leffler/Joe Nichols, Darlington.

Goss has served as the crew chief on the No. 47 throughout the 2004 season that included the seven Chevy Silverado Celebrity All Star races and two driver development races (J.J. Yeley at Michigan and Kyle Busch, Indianapolis Raceway Park). Under his leadership, in nine NCTS 2004 starts, the No. 47 has an impressive record including four top-five finishes; four top-10s and seven top-15 finishes. Goss' impressive NASCAR record includes championship-winning efforts in both the NCTS and NBS with driver Greg Biffle.

"We had a great time working with Bobby at Martinsville," said Goss. "He is a crew chief's dream because he really understands a racecar and works closely with his crew to make the right changes to get the best he can out of it during the race. It was pretty exciting for this crew to work with him and get such a great finish. We are looking forward to this weekend and we hard going to give it all we can to get the win this time."

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