ARCHDALE, NC (November 12, 2008)- Winning his 5th National touring series in a row did not come easy in 2008 for Earl, nicknamed "The Hurricane". In 2008 adversity would strike Earl for the first time in his career while competing at Volusia Speedway Park for several events including both UMP sanctioned events and WoO sanctioned events during speedweeks this year. A violent crash during the final night at Volusia Speedway Park would temporarily halt any plans for a record 5th dirt late model national touring series title. Earl competing in the WoO sanctioned event drove hard into turn three on a very rough track surface and hooked a rut at the very moment he turned the wheel for the turn. Earl's car became air borne and rolled violently into turn three before coming to rest upside down on its roof. Earl was trapped and knocked out from the wreck and unable to escape the upside down machine. Rescue personnel gently turned the car back over and cut away part of the roll cage to remove Earl from the car. An eerie silence would come over the facility as it was uncertain the severity of Earl's condition. A life flight rescue helicopter was called to the track to transport Earl but it was decided later to transport Earl by ambulance to a Deland Florida hospital. Many at the track that witnessed the wreck said it was a very scary looking wreck that had many concerned Earl would ever race again. Earl would awaken from being knocked out from the wreck in the ambulance ride to the hospital. Earl later said he remembers hearing the helicopter flying above the track and thought he must be hurt bad but he was even unaware how bad till later that night in the hospital. Earl would suffer a mild concussion, a badly bruised ankle and soreness throughout his body in the days after the wreck.
 
Earl would recover from the wreck but returned to racing with several new added safety devices installed in the car. Earl would start wearing the special head and neck restraint device the HANS device and using a window net in the car. Other safety devices added after the wreck included an on board fire system and added padding and seat bracing in his cars. Earl and Bobby Labonte would use their experience as an opportunity to encourage other dirt late model race teams and drivers to apply more safety devices within their cars. But even with the added safety devices Earl would suffer another injury in April while competing in the Colossal 100 at the Lowes Dirt track in Concord, NC. Earl was involved in a minor crash with several other drivers in the feature event but Earl's right wrist would get caught in the steering wheel breaking his wrist. Earl would see several specialists and was fitted with a special cast that he would wear for six weeks that allowed him to continue driving. Both injuries had many people doubting Earl would repeat as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion in 2008 but Earl and the team kept working hard and competed every week to win each event.
 
Earl Pearson Jr. and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team again proved to be the team to beat and won the 2008 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series national points championship for the second year in a row! It was a record 5th straight national touring dirt late model series championship for Earl Pearson Jr. Earl had 4 wins on the series tied for the most wins in 2008, 21 top 5 finishes, 28 top 10 finishes and 3 Fast Time awards in 40 sanctioned events in 2008. Earl also won the PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger Points Category in 2008. For the season Earl and the team recorded 6 wins, 30 top 5's and 43 top ten finishes in 65 events in 2008. Earl also set three new track records in qualifying in 2008. Earl holds the World 100 track record at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH, the track record at the Knoxville Late Model Nationals at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA and the new track record at Belleville Speedway in Belleville, KS.
 
Earl and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team would like to thank all their sponsors in 2008 for their support including LifeLong Locks, Lucas Oil, Mastersbilt Race Cars, Larry Wallace Engines, Mopar, Sunoco Race Fuels, Allstar Performance, Tiger Rear End, BERT, Butlerbuilt, Hyperco, SHY, Wilwood, Woodward, TWM, Dyers Top Rods, Weld, Hoosier Tire, PRC, Wrisco, Sparco, Bell, Mechanix Wear, Oakley, Cheerios, Coke, Dunn-Benson Racing Supply, ASI Racewear, WRT Web Designs, The Decal Source, Rick Schwallie Photography and WD Enterprises.
 
For more information about LifeLong Locks and the strongest locks on the market today, visit www.lifelonglocks.com. To purchase Earl Pearson Jr. merchandise and for more information about Earl Pearson Jr. and the Bobby Labonte Racing Team visit their official website at www.bobbylabontemotorsports.com.
 
SPEED is available through cable television providers nationwide, DISH Network (Channel 150) and DIRECTV (Channel 607).
 
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series SPEED Channel Broadcasts:
12/06/08, 3:00pm EST- East Bay, Florida
12/13/08, 3:00pm EST- Golden Isles, Georgia
12/20/08, 3:00pm EST- KC Raceway, Ohio
01/03/09, 7:30pm EST- Wheatland, Missouri
01/10/09, 7:30pm EST- Talladega, Alabama
01/31/09, 7:30pm EST- Columbus, Mississippi
02/14/09, 7:30pm EST- Tri City, Illinois
02/21/09, 7:30pm EST- Florence, Kentucky
02/28/09, 7:30pm EST- Batesville, Arkansas
03/07/09, 7:30pm EST- Bardstown, Kentucky
03/14/09, 7:30pm EST- Brownstown, Indiana
03/28/09, 7:30pm EST- Rome, Georgia
TBD (but after 04/11/09), TBD - 1 Hour Dixie Special
TBD (but after 04/11/09), TBD - 1 Hour Best of Season 2008 Special