It’s Close, but Labonte Gets a Win

Bobby Labonte became the first driver to win in each of NASCAR’s top three series at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia on Saturday, capturing the closest Craftsman Truck Series event at the track.

Labonte passed Chad Chaffin for the lead with 30 laps to go, then held off Ricky Craven and Ron Hornaday on a restart with five laps to go. His Chevrolet beat Craven’s Ford to the finish line by 0.257 of a second.

Labonte, making only his fifth start in the truck series, also became only the 12th driver to win in the truck, Busch and Nextel Cup series.

“Every win here has been awesome,” said Labonte, the 2000 Nextel Cup series champion. “It had its highlights and its moments of, ‘Well, we’re not sure if we’re going to get there or not.’ ”

Hornaday finished third in a Chevrolet, and Todd Bodine, who gave up the lead when he pitted with 39 laps to go, was fourth in a Toyota.

*

Defending top fuel champion Tony Schumacher claimed the top qualifying spot at the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. His second pass of 4.495 seconds and 327.90 mph from Friday night held up.

Robert Hight’s pass of 4.767 and 323.27 from Friday night also held up in the funny car class. In pro stock, Warren Johnson turned in a 6.696-second pass to earn his record 131st top qualifying position.

*

Justin Lofton finished 0.464 of a second ahead of Travis Thirkettle to win the Auto Club Late Models Series race at Irwindale Speedway.

Lofton, a 19-year-old in his rookie season at Irwindale after racing off-road in Southern Nevada, started fourth in his Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the 24-car field, passed Johnny White on the 29th lap to take the lead for good and held off Thirkettle after a restart on the 48th lap.

Tom Landreth won the King Taco Legends Car race, and John Mattie the Pure Stock Open Division race on the one-third-mile track. Larry Sampson won the Vista Paint Super Stocks race and Cory Fancy the Dodge Super Trucks race on the half-mile track.