Labonte looks for new chief

[Elwood]

Bobby Labonte looking for new crew chief

 

 

 

July 14, 2004

 

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Bobby Labonte is looking for a new crew chief.

 

Joe Gibbs Racing said Wednesday that Michael ``Fatback'' McSwain is out as crew chief of the No. 18 Chevrolet.

 

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McSwain joined the team as Labonte's crew chief in December 2002. He came from Robert Yates Racing, where he was Ricky Rudd's crew chief.

 

``This was a difficult decision, but it was time to go in a different direction,'' said J.D. Gibbs, president of JGR and son of team owner Joe Gibbs.

 

Labonte finished eighth in the points last year with two wins, 12 top-fives and 17 top-10s. After the first 18 races this season, the 2000 NASCAR champion is sixth with no wins, five top-fives and nine top-10s.

 

Gibbs said an interim crew chief will be hired in the near future. Jimmy Makar, senior vice president of racing, will assist the team and the interim crew chief while McSwain's replacement is being sought.

 

Makar served as a crew chief with JGR from 1992-2002, winning the 1993 Daytona 500 with Dale Jarrett and the 2000 title with Labonte.

 

The Nextel Cup series is idle this weekend, with the next race July 25 at New Hampshire International Speedway.

[antig24]

I guess 6th in points isn't good enough for gibbs, I thought fatback was doing a good job with Bobby :/