LAP 250: HOMETOWN BOY TRYING TO HANG ON
Kyle was snakebit in the Daytona 500 when he was the fastest car but collected in a multicar wreck that was not of his doing.
He finished third at Fontana, Calif., last year.
He vowed today in driver introductions that he was going to come from the back to win.
Just leading this late is phenomenal.
But after 242 laps Labonte is within five car lengths of Kyle, about 0.2 seconds.
Kyle’s radio chattered indicates he has enough gas to make it the rest of the way.
After 250 laps: Kyle leads Labonte by 0.4 seconds. Third is Vickers, followed by Reutimann, Burton, Edwards, McMurray, Bowyer, Logano and Gordon. Earnhardt has slipped to 15th, 25 seconds behind the leader.
