Richard “Slugger” Labbe in his last night atop the box, was hoping to provide driver Paul Menard with his second career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory Saturday night at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
Instead, their night went up in smoke, after just 136 laps into the Bank of America 500. It was Labbe’s last night as crew chief for the No. 27 Chevrolet SS, as he’ll step away from the commander post to a leadership role of Richard Childress Racing’s research and development department.
Menard had run inside the top-10 during the early stages of the fifth race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, but the motor seized a short time later, leaving Menard with a dejecting 42nd place finish, his worst finish of the 2014 season.
“Something with the motor,” offered Menard. “I had a really good car. It’s too bad, awesome car, we had a pit stop problem and went to the back, but drove our way back up into the top 15 or so. We definitely had a top five car, just unfortunate. Something let go in the motor.”
Labbe has worked in the industry since 1989 and has worked for some potent teams in NASCAR, including Hendrick Motorsports, Robert Yates Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Evernham Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing.
He led Michael Waltrip to his second Daytona 500 victory in 2003. He joined Richard Childress Racing and driver Menard in 2010, where in 2011 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the two went to Victory Lane at the Brickyard 400.
“I’m looking forward to slowing down in my NASCAR career a little bit and spending more time with my family,” Labbe said in a October 1 press release. “This is a good move for RCR, Paul and the No. 27 team and I’m going to be there to help Justin with the upcoming transition.
“With NASCAR’s new rules for 2015, this is a unique opportunity for me to help RCR grow and be successful by helping out with their R&D efforts.”
Jason Alexander, a current race engineer for RCR will take over the reins as crew chief for next Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
