SRX at Nashville Fairgrounds results: Bobby Labonte leads every lap en route to his first win in the series

At age 58, Labonte became the oldest driver to take the checkered flag in SRX

NASHVILLE -- From the time he joined the Superstar Racing Experience in 2021, Bobby Labonte had racked up top-five finishes and finishes on the podium like clockwork. But for all that, the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion had been missing an SRX checkered flag -- until now.

After leading every single lap in the main event, Bobby Labonte aggressively held off his most serious challenge from Marco Andretti and drove away over the final laps to win at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Labonte's victory is his first in the Camping World SRX Series, and it marks his first win at Nashville Fairgrounds since he won a NASCAR Busch Series race at the track in March 1996.

SRX at Nashville Fairgrounds results

1. #18 - Bobby Labonte
2. #98 - Marco Andretti
3. #5 - Matt Kenseth
4. #3 - Paul Tracy
5. #06 - Helio Castroneves
6. #39 - Ryan Newman
7. #2 - Josef Newgarden
8. #15 - Michael Waltrip
9. #69 - Greg Biffle
10. #1 - Ryan Hunter-Reay
11. #14 - Tony Stewart
12. #46 - Cole Williams
13. #6 - Tony Kanaan

In a track-position heavy race, the front proved to be the place to be throughout the night. Josef Newgarden and Cole Williams led every lap in the first two Heats, and Labonte showed the way throughout the 75-lap main event. But it wasn't without a challenge from Paul Tracy, nor from Marco Andretti.

On a late restart, Andretti was able to fire off enough to get a bead on Labonte for the lead, and he looked to have the chance he needed to take the lead entering Turn 3. But Labonte used the open space beneath Andretti's car to muscle his way back to the lead, which he never relinquished.

Although he has been the model of consistency throughout the history of SRX, Labonte admitted in Victory Lane that he didn't think he was ever going to win in the series -- but a little family pressure after the son of nephew Justin Labonte won a quarter midget race earlier today helped him get the winning edge.

"This is so intimidating with these drivers. I'm telling you, I get nervous. I'm gonna puke with about 10 to go like 'Oh God, no more cautions,'" Labonte told CBS Sports. "Marco and Paul and all these guys ... It's just so hard. It's not easy. Maybe I made it look a little easy tonight, but it wasn't easy."

Labonte's win did more than just validate his consistency over the course of SRX's existence; It also gave him the SRX points lead with two races remaining. Labonte now leads Marco Andretti by three points, followed by Ryan Newman (-5), Tony Stewart (-31) and Greg Biffle (-37).

Nashville Fairgrounds marked the last asphalt race of the 2022 season, as the final two races of the season will take place on dirt. The first of those will be at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo. next Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:47 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Bobby Labonte will lead every single lap of the main event and he wins in SRX for the very first time!

First SRX win for Labonte, and his first victory at Nashville Fairgrounds since he won a NASCAR Busch Series race here in March of 1996.

1 - #18 - Bobby Labonte
2 - #98 - Marco Andretti
3 - #5 - Matt Kenseth
4 - #3 - Paul Tracy
5 - #06 - Helio Castroneves
6 - #39 - Ryan Newman
7 - #2 - Josef Newgarden
8 - #15 - Michael Waltrip
9 - #69 - Greg Biffle
10 - #10 - Ryan Hunter-Reay
11 - #14 - Tony Stewart
12 - #46 - Cole Williams
13 - #6 - Tony Kanaan

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:45 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

White flag for Bobby Labonte.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:45 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Seven tenths of a second for Labonte. Two to go.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:44 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Five laps to go. Six tenths of a second lead for Bobby Labonte.

He's lucky that Matt Kenseth doesn't have enough laps, because Kenseth is on a tear and has made it up to third.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:43 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Matt Kenseth got run all the way down to the bottom of the track by Helio Castroneves. Kenseth didn't take it. He sends him up the hill and Kenseth prevails with fourth.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:43 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Green flag with 10 to go!

An OUTSTANDING restart by Bobby Labonte! He's going to leave both Andretti and Tracy well behind as they battle side-by-side for second. Andretti prevails, but that cost him a lot of time.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:41 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

One to go until green. 10 laps to try and decide this race.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:39 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

We have more problems than just some torn-up cars: It sounds and looks like it's starting to rain at the Fairgrounds.

Still 10 laps left to race -- Will the wet weather hold off for long enough?

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:37 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Caution is out! Newgarden has crashed again, and it looks like he took Tony Kanaan with him.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:36 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

10 laps to go. Bobby Labonte's lead over Marco Andretti stands at half a second.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:36 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Matt Kenseth has moved up into the Top 5. Kenseth has gained a full six spots since the start of the main event -- Make that seven. He just took fourth from Castroneves.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:35 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Marco Andretti got a great restart that was enough to get a nose on Labonte, but Labonte completely used him up in Turn 3 to keep the lead! Meanwhile, Paul Tracy had a huge moment off the bumper of Ryan Newman.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:34 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Going to be 17 laps to go when we take the green flag. Bobby Labonte's looking for his first SRX win despite piling up Top 5s ever since IRP last year. Marco Andretti is looking for his second win after winning at Slinger last year.

Green flag!

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:27 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Crash in Turn 2, and it's Josef Newgarden! He backs it into the outside wall and it looks like he came to grief all on his own.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:27 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Don't look now, but here comes Ryan Newman. He's making his way to the front in the second half of yet another race, as he's working on Josef Newgarden to try and enter the Top 5.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:26 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Green flag is back out at Lap 44. A GREAT restart by Paul Tracy, and he's going after it!

Tracy scraped the wall on the backstretch, then tried to move Bobby Labonte up the hill in Turns 3 and 4. Doesn't work. Now he loses second to Marco Andretti.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:22 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

Caution is out at Lap 40. Fun flag after a long green run to begin the main event. 35 laps to go.

[Jul 9, 2022 at 9:19 pm ET · Steven Taranto]

You can see a bit of this from the CBS broadcast, but we've really lucked out here weather-wise. Two different rain showers earlier today, but it looks like as of now that this race (maybe!) will go the distance without issue.