
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 14, 1991                   TAG: 9104140112
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: BRISTOL, TENN.                                LENGTH: Medium

BOBBY LABONTE WINS FIRST BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL RACE

Bobby Labonte, NASCAR's newest married man, finally shook the role of bridesmaid in the Busch Grand National series, winning his first race Saturday after demonstrating that he had conquered his problems with late-race restarts.

Labonte pulled away from the field after a restart on lap 237 of the Budweiser 250 and crossed the finish line at Bristol International Raceway 1.34 seconds ahead of rookie David Green.

Dale Earnhardt finished third in a most un-Earnhardt way. He was passed by Labonte and Green late in the race.

"It was just a complete surprise - a good surprise," Labonte said. "My car, I thought, was just terrible at the beginning. Then I noticed everybody else was having the same problems."

Labonte, 26, was married March 29 to Donna Slate of Thomasville, N.C. He spent what should have been his honeymoon at Darlington, only to see Dale Jarrett pass him on a late-race restart to win the race, as Jarrett also had done at Rockingham.

"I think this time here we might have had the proper hand on [the restart]," Labonte said. "The car was good on restarts."

Labonte's first victory, which comes in his second full Grand National season, was worth $21,269. Labonte moves from third to second in the championship points standings and now trails leader Kenny Wallace by 26 points.

Green, who has been having his ups and downs while generally running strong in his rookie season, said he was thrilled with second place.

"We're tickled to death," Green said. "Being a rookie and running against Dale Earnhardt and Jimmy Spencer and Bobby Labonte is just unreal."

Earnhardt said a tire problem allowed Labonte to pass him on lap 232, followed by Green a few laps later.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by CNB