.jpg) Labbe atKentucky Speedway in 2016 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Labbe |
| Nickname | Slugger |
| Born | (1968-06-14)June 14, 1968 (age 57) Saco, Maine, U.S. |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,NHRA |
Richard "Slugger" Labbe (born June 14, 1968) is an American technical consultant who currently works forToyota Racing Development. He had previously been employed inNASCAR as acrew chief forYates Racing,Dale Earnhardt, Inc.,Richard Petty Motorsports,Richard Childress Racing and others. He has also previously served as an analyst forNASCAR on NBC.
Labbe was born inSaco, Maine and introduced to racing at a young age.[1] His father, Ray, worked on cars in the NASCARBusch North Series and often brought his son to the events. In 1984 at the age of 15, Labbe began work on the crew of a Late Model stock car team. Two years later he began working in the NASCAR Busch North Series.[2]
In 1989, Labbe moved toHickory, North Carolina to compete in NASCAR’sBusch South Series. Working as a mechanic for NASCAR Busch Series driverTommy Houston, the team finished second in the NASCAR Busch Series South championship.[2]
In 1991, Labbe moved into the NASCARXfinity Series, working with driverTerry Labonte. In three seasons the team captured five victories. In 1994, Labbe joined Hendrick Motorsports, assuming the duties of front tire changer and mechanic for his No. 5 team in the Winston Cup Series. Labbe became thecar chief in his second year with the organization and helped them win theUnocal pit crew championship and the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 1996.[2]
In 1998, Labbe joinedRobert Yates Racing (RYR) when he was offered the crew chief position for the No. 28 car driven byKenny Irwin, Jr. He led the team for 29 races.[3] Irwin, Jr. earned the NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year Award that year. Labbe remained at RYR through 2000.[2][4]
In September 2001, Labbe accepted a position withDale Earnhardt, Inc. becoming the crew chief for the No. 15 car driven byMichael Waltrip. Labbe led Waltrip to 3 of his 4 Cup wins, and oneDaytona 500.[2]
In 2005, Labbe moved toEvernham Motorsports and served as crew chief forJeremy Mayfield. The team won the race atMichigan International Speedway that year and qualified for a berth in theChase for the Sprint Cup.[2]
Returning to Yates Racing in 2006, Labbe worked with 1999 NASCAR Cup Series championDale Jarrett for the first 20 races of the season. Labbe missed four races that season due to a suspension handed down by NASCAR for an illegal sway bar mount.[5] Labbe spent the first half of 2007 withSterling Marlin atMB2 Motorsports but then headed toHigh Point, North Carolina andBill Davis Racing for the second.[2][6][7]
Labbe began the 2008 season working withFormula One championJacques Villeneuve helping him with the switch from open wheel to NASCAR before sponsorship fell through.[7][8] He also took on a coaching role with NASCAR newcomerScott Speed in theARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, theCamping World Truck Series, and the Sprint Cup Series. Labbe coached Speed to his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win at the spring event atDover International Speedway. Later they earned their first pole atBristol Motor Speedway that fall.[2]
In 2009, Labbe moved toTRG Motorsports leadingDavid Gilliland in the team’s first season in NASCAR Cup Series.
In 2010, he was crew chief for theRichard Petty Motorsports (RPM) car driven by Paul Menard in his fourth full-season of Sprint Cup.[4][9]
In 2011, Labbe and Menard departed the financially struggling RPM team to go race at Richard Childress Racing as a fourth team with the number being 27 and the sponsor beingMenard's. On July 31, 2011, Menard won his first career NASCAR Cup Series race at theBrickyard 400. The pairing remained together through at least 2013.
In 2015, RCR assigned Labbe as the new crew chief for Austin Dillon driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet SS, who previously had Gil Martin as crew chief.
On May 22, 2017, Labbe was relieved from his duties as being a crew chief of the No. 3 car. He was replaced by Justin Alexander, who won with the 3 team in his first race.[10] Soon after, Labbe joinedNASCAR on NBC as an analyst.[11] In September 2017, he joinedToyota Racing Development in a vehicle support role.[12] In 2018, he focused on Toyota's programs in theNHRA andNASCAR Camping World Truck Series.[13]