Slugger Labbe said the penalty he was delt was unfair. Credit: Autostock

Labbe: Suspension too harsh compared to past

Crew chief says actions were nowhere close to those of Knaus

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Slugger Labbe says the difference between what he did to Dale Jarrett's car two weeks ago at Richmond and Chad Knaus did to Jimmie Johnson's car at Daytona can be summed up in one word.

APPEAL DENIED Robert Yates Racing lost its appeal of the suspension and fines handed down following a rules infraction by crew chief Slugger Labbe. Jason Burdett will take over crew chief duties during the suspension.  •   Complete story, click here

Flagrant.

Labbe learned on Wednesday that the four-week suspension and $25,000 fine NASCAR imposed on him after the Richmond race had been upheld by the National Stock Car Racing Commission.

Jarrett's crew chief insisted his penalty should have been lighter, saying Knaus got the same penalty for flagrantly bending the rules while he simply pushed a gray area that wasn't clearly defined in the rulebook.

"If I felt it was over the line I wouldn't have done it because I understand the value of 25 points and $25,000,'' Labbe said during the Nextel Pit Crew Competition at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. "I thought long and hard about it. I had conversations with different people in our organization and felt confident in what we were doing.

	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

"It's just the way they [NASCAR] interpret the rules. It's their world.''

Labbe noted that he took his car through inspection with what NASCAR ruled an illegal sway bar and that he never tried to hide anything. He said everybody on his team knew about it, as well as everybody on the other Robert Yates Racing team of Elliott Sadler.

Labbe then noted that Knaus illegally rigged a part to push the rear window up to create an aerodynamic advantage after it went through inspection.

"It was a gray area of the rules,'' Labbe said of his violation. "To me, the penalty was too harsh. ''

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president for competition, disagreed.

"Slugger is just wrong,'' he said. "He's just wrong. It was flagrant.''

Labbe defended owner Robert Yates for standing by him after commenting at Daytona that anybody who intentionally violates the rules should be fired.

"What Robert said was if a person gets caught for cheating and a sixth grader can read the rule and interpret it as cheating, that person should be kicked out for life,'' Labbe said.

"Obviously, what he was talking about was the [Johnson] team doing something on pit road that was flagrant. There is no way to misinterpret the rule for what they did.''

Jason Burdett, Jarrett's car chief, has been named Labbe's replacement for the next four races, including this weekend's Nextel All-Star Challenge.

Labbe will return for the June 18 event at Michigan International Speedway. He said he will continue to support the team during the suspension.

"I've been in racing for 22 years and never missed a race,'' he said. "Now I've got to watch from home for four weeks. Maybe it'll make me a better person. I definitely learned a lesson.''