This is where Labonte's approach to driving comes into play. His approach to life, actually. He does not seem to be too upset about being locked in a battle with two former champions for his first Winston Cup championship. He just spent eight days on vacation with his family, far away from the team's garage. After he posted the 13th-fastest qualifying time for Sunday's race, Labonte climbed the steps to the roof of his team's trailer to calmly review the run with Makar, and stayed there for a long time.
Most drivers disappear quickly after qualifying.
We let other people worry about it for us. And then there was just a hint of a grin. Labonte, who finished second a year ago to Jarrett, is pretty much where he wants to be. The team has not radically changed its approach from last year, when Labonte won five races and led a substantially higher percentage of laps. The team simply has been more consistent.