PENNSYLVANIA 500 -
POST RACE SUNDAY JULY 29

RACE IN BRIEF:

Bobby Labonte, 2000 Winston Cup Champion and driver of the No. 18 car, won the Pennsylvania 500 on Sunday at Long Pond, PA. It was his first win of the 2001 season. Labonte, who started 12, chased the No. 8 car, driven by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who led the race from Lap 169 until Lap 198 when Labonte caught and passed him for the lead and ultimate win.

Race Statistics

Average Speed of Race Winner: 134.590 mph.
Time of Race: 3 hours, 42 minutes, 54 seconds.
Margin of Victory: 1.680.
Caution Flags: 6 for 24 laps.
Lead Changes: 20 among 12 drivers.Lap Leaders: T.Bodine 1-2, Rudd 3-10, J.Gordon 11-35, Martin 36-39, J.Burton 40-40, Jarrett 41-41, J.Gordon 42-70, Rudd 71-73, J.Gordon 74-105, Labonte 106-106, Earnhardt Jr. 107-108, Kenseth 109-111, J.Gordon 112-132, Rudd 133-144, J.Gordon 145-147, Elliott 148-148, J.Gordon 149-159, Spencer 160-160, Benson 161-168, Earnhardt Jr. 169-197, Labonte 198-200.

Todd Bodine
No. 66 Kmart Blue Light Special Ford

A Transmission puts the Blue Light out of Commission Todd Bodine put the Kmart Blue Light Ford front and center as he captured the pole at Pocono for the Pennsylvania 500. Transmission trouble early in the race, despite Bodine's efforts to compensate, hindered the Blue Light's performance and eventually retired the No. 66 to the garage for repairs.

Bodine reported that the car was loose off and tight in the middle of the turns after his second trip around the 2.5 mile tri-oval. At Lap 35 he brought the No. 66 machine in for adjustments. Bodine brought the car in 3rd and the crew maintained the position for their driver.

However, 10 laps later the car's condition got worse and Bodine now felt the transmission vibrating and the new set of tires made the car push in the center. On Lap 62, he could no longer shift. Even with loosing power, by having to stay in 3rd gear, Bodine maintained a position in the top-10. On lap 85 one of the right side tires was vibrating and the transmission kept jumping out of gear.

"We're going to have to change it," Bodine said.

He was forced to pull the Blue Light Machine, running in 10th, into the garage after 94 laps to change the transmission. The crew was able to change the transmission and get Bodine back out for 24 more laps. During which time he had the No. 66 machine clocking the 3rd and 4th fastest times on the track, but to no avail.

Bodine and the Blue Light team look forward to heading to Indianapolis, where they tested a few weeks back with very positive results.

Congratulations Todd & the 66 Crew on winning the Pole  at Pocono. Todd Bodine completed a lap at 170.326 miles per hour that won him the 1st place spot.

PENNSLYVANIA 500 QUALIFYING

Bodine puts the Blue Light on the Pole at Pocono The top spot for the Pennsylvania 500 belongs to Todd Bodine and his No. 66 Kmart Blue Light Special Ford. Bodine captured his 2nd pole in three weeks - two weeks ago earning the pole position for the inaugural race in Chicago.

"That was pretty awesome," Bodine said. "Right there, the Kmart Blue Light Special car was just about perfect."

"To put the whole 500 miles together, that's the hard part of this sport," Bodine said.

"It takes such a team effort. It takes pit stops, making the right calls on the chassis, the driver not making mistakes. It takes the whole package. "We feel like we learned enough at the beginning of this year that we can put that package together and start contending for wins."

This also marks Bodine's 9th top-six start for the season.

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