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Bobby Labonte gets set for race under Bristol lights

"You have to have great communicate between the driver and spotter. You have got to be ready for anything." Bobby Labonte

Bobby Labonte, Toyota

Bobby Labonte, Toyota

Action Sports Photography

Speedway to short track racing: "We are coming from a two-mile track with a wide racing surface to a fast, action-packed fun short track," driver Bobby Labonte said. "We had a good run the last time we were at Bristol Motor Speedway and we feel good about the setup we have this weekend. The last time we raced at the .533-mile concrete oval, we were running around the top 15 before our motor blew up. We just wrapped up our competition meeting and we feel like we have a good package this weekend with our No. 47 BUSH'S Beans Toyota Camry."

Key factor: "The spotter is really important at a track like Bristol because things happen so fast," Labonte said. "You have to have great communicate between the driver and spotter. You have got to be ready for anything. I feel really comfortable having David Green spotting for me."

Bobby Labonte, Toyota
Bobby Labonte, Toyota

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

In sync: "Basically, the driver and spotter need to be in sync at a place like Bristol," spotter David Green said. "Communication becomes more important than ever. It only takes 15 seconds to get around that place and things happen quickly. Some tracks are easier to spot, but at Bristol there are 43 cars on track at all times and that starts with practice on Friday. The timing of what you are saying and the wording is vital. At Bristol, I come in with the mindset that I've got to step everything up three notches."

Getting in the mode: "I'm going to spot the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race to get into the flow of things," continued Green. "Any amount of practice and race time before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is good to get you in that mode and mindset because it is different."

Sense of danger: The neat thing about Bobby and I working together is that he knows when something is going to happen before I even get it all out of my mouth. He can sense it before I say it with just my adjectives or inflection in my voice. It is one track where I use my voice level a little more effectively than any other track. It is due to the close quarters where everything is happening.

Fast forward: "When you go to Bristol it's like watching a movie on play," Green said. "As soon as the cars hit the track, you are going in fast forward times three from simply getting on track, merging in traffic and getting off the track. Sometimes after the race at Bristol, I walk away from that track thinking, 'Man, it' has got faster and faster.' It really has sped up over the years."

JTG Daugherty Racing

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