Lead Is the Safest Place for Labonte in Virginia 500

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Bobby Labonte isn’t one for the bumping and banging that characterize short-track racing. So when the Pontiac driver found himself in prime position Sunday, he only had to drive.

On a day when Kevin Harvick wasn’t allowed to race, the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race still featured plenty of banging, and one near gift from Tony Stewart that Labonte turned into his 19th victory.

“I’m never going to push anybody out of the way like I’ve seen other guys do, so I figured if I was up front I probably had a better shot than being behind somebody,” Labonte said of his first short-track victory.

Harvick’s growing status as NASCAR’s bad boy was solidified hours before the race, when the governing body made him the first driver barred from an event because of rough driving in the series’ 54-year history.

Harvick’s penalty came after he clashed several times with Coy Gibbs during the Advance Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday.

In all, there were 14 caution flags that slowed the pace for 104 laps, many caused by the nose-to-tail and side-by-side contact that typify short-track racing.

The race even ended under a final-lap caution after a crash, allowing Labonte to cruise home.

In all likelihood, he had Stewart to thank. Stewart, who finished third, led until Stacy Compton and Johnny Benson got together, Benson spinning into the wall to bring out the 11th yellow flag.

Only 55 laps remained, but Stewart and Bobby Hamilton, running fourth, pitted to take on two new tires, giving Labonte the lead.

“If he’d have stayed out, he probably would have won,” Labonte said.

Instead, Labonte won with an average speed of 73.951 mph, becoming the 10th different driver to win in the last 10 Virginia 500s.

Matt Kenseth, who started 26th, finished second.

Pole-sitter and four-time series champion Jeff Gordon finished 23rd, a non-winner for the 16th consecutive race.