Archdale, N.C. (June 2, 2008) – This week, NASCAR champion Bobby Labonte and four-time dirt series late model national champion Earl Pearson Jr. will be attempting to win on dirt’s biggest stage. Flying the colors of Lucas Oil, Labonte will compete in his own #44 Lucas Oil dirt late model in Wednesday night’s Prelude to The Dream celebrity dirt late model race broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View at the famed half-mile Eldora Speedway located in the city of Rossburg, Ohio. Friday, Pearson Jr. will attempt to qualify the #44 LifeLong Locks Dodge owned by Bobby Labonte Racing into the $100,000 to win “The Dream” dirt late model feature race.

Labonte set the fastest time during qualifying for last year’s Prelude to The Dream. This will be Labonte’s fourth consecutive Prelude to The Dream and first with Lucas Oil as primary sponsor.

“Lucas Oil has been a great partner of Bobby Labonte Racing since we formed the team,” said Labonte. “Earl (Pearson Jr.) has a great relationship with Mr. Lucas (Founder Forrest Lucas) and they have been nothing but the best for our program. It means a lot to race the Lucas Oil Dodge this Wednesday night at the Prelude.”

“Tony (Stewart) has done such a great job with the Prelude to The Dream,” continued Labonte. “It’s become just like a Sprint Cup race. All the top guys are here trying really, really hard to win. We wanted to bring Lucas Oil to this event in a big way. Hopefully we can have a good run and make them proud.”

The partnership continues Lucas Oil’s support of Bobby Labonte Racing in 2008. Lucas Oil will be the primary sponsor on Pearson Jr.’s #44 Bobby Labonte Racing Dodge for 10 races this season. These races will be televised on the SPEED Channel. The #44 Bobby Labonte Racing Dodge will sport a special red-based scheme during those races with Lucas Oil logos placed prominently on the car.

Pearson Jr. is a former winner of another crown jewel at the track, the World 100. He is now looking for his first win in “The Dream”.

“This is one of the biggest races on our schedule,” said Pearson. “You want to win the big races. For us, winning at Eldora is like winning at Daytona or Indianapolis. It’s that big for us. LifeLong Locks, Lucas Oil, Dodge and everyone who supports this team is giving us that extra support it takes to make that happen. We’re very thankful for that.”

About Bobby Labonte Racing

In 2007, Bobby Labonte took ownership of a national touring dirt late model race program. Today, Bobby Labonte Racing fields the #44 LifeLong Locks/Lucas Oil Dodge for driver Earl Pearson Jr. and the #44 Dodge for driver Bobby Labonte. Bobby Labonte Racing is one of the most successful dirt late model teams in the nation today. In 2007, Pearson and the team competed in 70 events. They earned 45 top-10s, 32 top-fives, 10 wins and capped the season with a fourth national title for Pearson Jr. in the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series and the first dirt championship for Bobby Labonte Racing.

Earl and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team would like to thank all their sponsors in 2008 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, SHY, Wilwood, Woodward, TWM, Dyers Top Rods, Weld, Hoosier Tire, PRC, 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.

For more information about the Bobby Labonte Racing Team and driver Earl Pearson Jr. visit their official website at www.bobbylabontemotorsports.com.