Bobby Labonte, driver of the famed #43 Petty Racing Dodge in NASCAR Sprint Cup, and new crew chief Jeff Meenderina were asked questions during pre-season Daytona testing today…
BOBBY LABONTE (No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge Charger)
THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR AT PETTY ENTERPRISES
“I would say the strength of the organization. The move to Mooresville has been challenging but I think that the strength will come in Jeff’s ability to get everybody working in the right direction. I’ve seen it already. He is helping everybody at the shop and working on things. He gives me more confidence, knowing that we’re doing all the right things. It will push us a little farther ahead for the start of the season.”
ON THE MOVE TO MOORESVILLE
“There are pros and cons to both. I think that in the long run it’s going to be [beneficial]. We’re putting people in the right places. There are guys that wouldn’t drive all the way to Level Cross to work [for Petty Enterprise]. They would just go somewhere else. So now you have people that will come work [at Petty Enterprises] because they can get there quicker. They have different ideas and that helps out. A little bit of that can get contagious and hopefully they will bring us up to speed. I think the move was inevitable.”
Jeff Meendering (crew chief, No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge Charger)
THE DECIDING FACTOR IN MOVING TO PETTY
“I worked with Robbie [Loomis] in the past and found out how good of a person he is. I really look up to him a lot. He kind of steered me in that direction [to Petty Enterprises]. I thought it was a great opportunity.”
These quotes are courtesy of a Dodge Motorsports press release.
