Slugger Labbe, crew chief for Dale Jarrett, will not be at the track again until June 18. Credit: Autostock

Yates' appeal denied; Labbe to miss four races

Burdett moved from car chief to crew chief during suspension

Jason Burdett, car chief on Dale Jarrett's No. 88 Robert Yates Racing Ford, has been named Jarrett's crew chief for the team's next four races, including this weekend's Nextel All-Star Challenge.

BUSCH TEAM PENALIZED The National Stock Car Racing Commission on Tuesday heard and unanimously denied the appeal of Curb Agajanian Performance Group concerning three penalties issued by NASCAR following post-race inspection on April 15, 2006, for the Busch Series' Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway.  The penalties resulted from the team's No. 43 Dodge having its "roof height too low in post-race inspection."  The penalties assessed were 25-point deductions to car owner Mike Curb and driver Aaron Fike and a $10,000 fine and probation for crew chief Joe Shear.  The Curb Agajanian team didn't contest the fact that the car was low, but primarily appealed the severity of the penalties given their contention that the right front jack bolt had "backed out" of its mounting point during the race.  The Commission panel, comprised of John Capels, Jack Housby and the chairman, NASCAR director of administration George Silbermann, found "the penalties issued are consistent with recent NASCAR Busch Series penalties for cars that did not meet minimum height requirements."  Curb Agajanian Performance Group can appeal the Commission's decision to National Stock Car Racing commissioner Charles D. Strang.  -- Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM

The move came when Yates' appeal to the National Stock Car Racing Commission of crew chief Slugger Labbe's suspension and fine was denied Wednesday. Labbe was fined $25,000 and suspended four weeks, while Yates was docked 25 owner points and Jarrett 25 driver points.

Burdett will remain in the position until Labbe returns in time for the June 18 event at Michigan International Speedway.

"We're disappointed but respect the decision of the appeals committee and accept the results," Labbe said. "Jason Burdett is a long-time employee of RYR and deserves this opportunity.

"Jason has been involved with the No. 88 team for years as car chief and certainly understands the handling of the racecar and the different things that I would communicate to Dale Jarrett.

"He's the best person to do this for our No. 88 team because the communication has already been started with the driver and crewmembers."

Burdett was with the team when Jarrett won the 1999 Cup championship. He left RYR to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2001, where he served as car chief for Jeff Gordon when Gordon won his fourth Cup championship.

In 2002, Burdett moved to the newly formed No. 48 team with rookie driver Jimmie Johnson where he served as car chief until returning to RYR in May 2003.

"We're just going to go do the same things we've been doing all year," Burdett said of his added responsibilities. "We have a pretty good support group and we all work so close together that it should be pretty seamless."

Jerry Pitts, RYR's ARCA crew chief, and Travis Geisler, engineer on the RYR's No. 90 Busch Series Ford, will assist Burdett as needed.

	Robert Yates said he stands behind his crew chief 100 percent. Credit: Autostock
	LABBE OFFERS TO QUIT Slugger Labbe said on Friday at Darlington Raceway that he had offered his resignation to team owner Robert Yates, but the owner refused to accept it.  •   Complete story, click here

Yates Racing's penalties were issued after Jarrett's car was found to have an illegal sway bar mount "for use other than anti-roll" in pre-race inspection at Richmond International Raceway on May 6.

Upon denying the appeal, the Commission adjusted Labbe's suspension date back to June 14, 2006, to remain consistent with the original four-week period. Labbe worked with Jarrett and his team last weekend at Darlington during the appeal process.

In addition to the all-star race, Labbe will miss points races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway.

In its plea, Yates Racing did not contest the legality of the sway bar configuration, but appealed the severity of the penalties.

In unanimously denying the appeal, the Commission panel -- comprised of chairman George Silbermann, NASCAR's director of administration; short-track promoter Russell Hackett; and former driver Lyn St. James -- ruled that the sanctions were "consistent with recent penalties for infractions of such a blatant nature.

"In reaching its decision, the Commission also notes that a warning for a lesser violation in the same area of the car had been issued at an earlier event."

A spokesperson for Yates said the team had been warned at Texas Motor Speedway prior to the April 9 Samsung/RadioShack 500.

The team spokesperson said RYR would not appeal the decision to National Stock Car Racing commissioner Charles D. Strang.