Bobby Labonte fans hope for more to cheer for this week. Bobby worked himself up to a 12th place finish in the All-Star Race last week. (Photo: Streeter Lecka) » More Photos

LABONTE HUNGRY TO WIN Bobby Labonte is hoping to return Petty Enterprises back to victory lane for the first time since 1999 this weekend in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Labonte, who ranks 19th in points, loves racing at Lowe’s, one of his favorite tracks. “This weekend we’ll have an extra 100 miles to work with,” said Labonte, who has finished in the top 20 in six of 11 points races so far in 2008. “That should give us a shot to get our best finish of the season. … The extra mileage gives your crew chief more time to dial-in the car. It gives the drivers time to figure out their car and communicate that over the radio. It’s a long race, but it’s a lot of fun.”

HEAT WAVE With the Coca-Cola 600 being the longest race of the season, there’s no question that it is physically taxing on drivers. And NASCAR’s new-generation race car, which this year is now being used at 1.5-mile tracks like Lowe’s Motor Speedway, is extremely demanding to drive. Add those facts in and sprinkle in some warm spring temperatures for Sunday’s race and it could be a recipe for disaster, according to Kurt Busch.

The final 65 laps or so of the Coca-Cola 600 will be “potentially the most demanding 100 miles in the history of NASCAR racing,” said Busch, driver of the No. 2 Dodge Charger for Penske Racing. “It’ll definitely separate the men from the boys, that’s for sure. It’ll be an unbelievable test of stamina and endurance. I’m sure the medical staff on hand will be ready with plenty of oxygen and fluids, if need be.”

Busch said he’s glad most of the race will be run at night. “We all can certainly be thankful that the race starts late afternoon and runs into the night,” he said. “I could only imagine the exhaustion rate if this race started earlier and was run in the heat of the afternoon. It could have very well been the first time we had seen relief drivers used in years out there.”