Phoenix International Raceway has had success with a night race, and this week Chicago will have their first Saturday Night race. (Photo: Darrell Ingham, Getty Images) » More Photos

NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Joliet, Ill., this week for race No. 19 of 36, the LifeLock 400. It’s an unusual schedule, with practice Thursday afternoon, qualifying on Thursday night, two more rounds of practice on Friday and the race under the lights on Saturday night. One of the big fans of Saturday night shootouts is Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

“Saturday night races are awesome,” said Earnhardt. “We get home and have Sunday to go out on the lake or hang out an extra day. Night races are exciting for the fans. We have run well in Chicago so it's going to be a good weekend.”

Although Kyle Busch has dominated the headlines this season, Earnhardt like his championship chances. “We've had that consistency and have been able to show up every weekend and have something for 'em,” said Earnhardt, who is second to Busch in the Sprint Cup standings. “We're competitive, and that comes from the preparation and pride my guys have at Hendrick Motorsports. Tony Jr. (crew chief Eury) and the boys are getting the job done. I think this is a really good opportunity for me to race for a championship this season. As far as consistency, this has been my best season so far. We show up every single week with a competitive car, we lead laps, and I think we have a shot to win a few more races this year.”

THE KING AND I Bobby Labonte will run a special paint scheme on his Petty Enterprises Dodge this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. And while special paint schemes are so pervasive these days that most are anything but special, Labonte’s is a notable exception: His car will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Petty’s first NASCAR Grand National race, which believe it or not, was in Toronto on July 18, 1958. Driving a 1957 Oldsmobile, “The King” finished 17th in a 19-car field at the one-third-mile Canadian Exposition Center in his inaugural event, which was won by his father, Lee.

“I’ve been fortunate in my career and I’ve been able to do a lot of things that I didn’t foresee happening,” said Labonte, the 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. “Driving the No. 43 falls into that category. It’s the winningest number in NASCAR history. That’s pretty spectacular. It’s an honor to go out there every weekend and compete in that number. But when you are associated with ‘The King’ you have to honor his appreciation of the fans as well. That’s one of the best parts.”