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ARCHDALE, NC (November 25, 2007)- Earl Pearson Jr. became the first dirt late model driver to win four consecutive national touring series titles in a row in 2007. Earl won this years Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Championship, his third in a row. Earl won the Lucas Oil Series titles in '05 and '06, and the Stacker2 Xtreme DirtCar Series Championship in 2004 while driving for Carlton Lamm and the Dunn-Benson Ford Motorsports team. This year's championship was very satisfying for Earl by winning the title for a new car owner in their first year together. In late 2006 Earl was hired by 2000 NASCAR Champion Bobby Labonte to drive for his new dirt late model team that Bobby had put together. The Bobby Labonte Motorsports team instantly meshed winning two events during the 2007 Florida speedweeks events at East Bay Raceway and Volusia Speedway Park.
Earl and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team would continue to get better and better throughout the year and would tie for the most series wins with 5 wins on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2007. Earls wins would come at East Bay Raceway in Tampa, FL, Farley Speedway in Farley IA, Virginia Motor Speedway in Saluda, VA, Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO and Kankakee Motor Speedway in Kankakee, IL. Earl and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team would also lead the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with the most LifeLong Locks Fast Time Awards with 6. Earl would post 16 top 5 finishes and 22 top 10 finishes in 32 events on the touring series in 2007.
"It was a great year for us on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. To win
the third Lucas Oil Series Championship in a row is just incredible. To be able to win the Championship with Bobby Labonte as my new car owner in our first year together is really awesome to say the least! Bobby is a great car owner and he is really good about putting good people together and being successful. I have to really thank Bobby especially for giving an opportunity to drive for him and his organization. I have to thank all my crew guys from Jason Fitzgerald, Matt Langston, Keith Edwards, Ben Harrison and all the people at Bobby Labonte Racing headed up by Mark Hughes that have made it possible to win the championship this year. Bobby Labonte racing is a great organization to work for and hopefully I'll be here for years to come", stated Earl.
Earl and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team also had several other big wins throughout the year at various dirt late model events all across the country. Earl and the team won a total of 10 events in 2007 including the 5 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned events. Earl would win two World Of Outlaws Late Model Series sanctioned events in 2007 including the World of Outlaws sanctioned event at the famous Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH in July. For Bobby Labonte and his first year dirt late model team, the 2007 racing season was very successful for his whole organization.
"This championship has to be one of the biggest thrills for me in racing in quite some time. It has been several years since I got back into the ownership role and I am proud to have been so successful in such a short period of time. Having Earl Pearson Jr. as the driver and Jason, Matt, and Keith as a crew sure made my job a lot easier. I can tell you that when you have a great team together with their work ethic for winning, that is what it is all about, and these guys have it. I am looking forward to the challenge next year, as I know that we are going to work twice as hard to do this again", stated Bobby Labonte.
Bobby Labonte has a history of tremendous success as both a driver and a car owner. Listed below are a few of Bobby's accomplishments.
As a Car owner Bobby has won:
1987 Caraway Speedway Track Champion. (Late Model Stock)
1991 Busch Grand National Champion Driver/Owner
1994 NASCAR All-Pro Series Mike Cope-Driver/BLE Owner
1995 Busch Grand National David Green-Driver/BLE Owner
2007 Lucas Oil Champion Earl Pearson Jr-Driver/BLE Owner
As a Driver,
1987 Caraway Speedway Track Champion
1991 Busch Grand National Champion
2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion
2001 IROC Champion
In 2008 Earl and Bobby have committed to running the full Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and defend their championship. After two seasons together as Earl's crew chief, Jason Fitzgerald is leaving Bobby Labonte Racing and returning to Jacksonville, FL. Earl's new crew chief for 2008 will be Randall Edwards, a well respected crew chief for many years in dirt late model racing. "I want to thank Jason for his dedication and hard work over the past two years that he has been my crew chief. He is one of the best when it comes to preparing cars and maintaining them and a great team organizer. I wish him the best in the future but I also look forward to working with Randall Edwards. I've known Randall for a long time and he will be a great asset to our team", stated Earl.
Earl and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team would like to thank all their sponsors in 2007 for their support including LifeLong Locks, Lucas Oil, Mastersbilt Race Cars, Larry Wallace Engines, Mopar, Sunoco Race Fuels, Allstar Performance, Tiger Rear End, BERT, Butlerbuilt, Hyperco, Moroso, SHY, Wilwood, Woodward, TWM, Dyers Top Rods, Weld, Hoosier Tire, PRC, Jones Racing Products, Stealth, Trick, Wrisco, Sparco, Bell, Mechanix Wear, Oakley, Cheerios, Coke, Dunn-Benson Racing Supply, ASI Racewear, WRT Web Designs, The Decal Source, Rick Schwallie Photography and WD Enterprises.
To learn more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and their television broadcasts schedule that begins December 1st visit www.lucasdirt.com. For more information about LifeLong Locks and the strongest locks on the market today, visit www.lifelonglocks.com. For more information about Earl Pearson Jr. and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team visit their official website at www.bobbylabontemotorsports.com.
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