Slugger Labbe to take over lead role in research, development
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Longtime crew chief Slugger Labbe is taking a new role in research and development with Richard Childress Racing effective following the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway later this month. Justin Alexander, a race engineer who has worked his way up through the ranks, will become the new crew chief for the No. 27 Chevrolet team of Paul Menard.
Labbe has been Menard’s crew chief since 2010 and a crew chief in NASCAR since 1998. He is perhaps best known for leading Michael Waltrip to a Daytona 500 victory in 2003 as a crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Labbe earned a victory in the 2011 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Menard and compiled 13 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes. A native of Saco, Maine, Labbe has been in NASCAR since 1986 and felt it was time to scale back his career.
“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 release.
Alexander, 33, started his NASCAR career at Hendrick Motorsports as the shock specialist for the Nos. 24 and 48 teams in 2003, became lead engineer on the No. 48 team in 2005, moved to a R&D engineer in 2006 and then became lead engineer for the No. 24 team in 2009.
Alexander was part of five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships while at Hendrick. He joined RCR in January of 2014.
“Slugger is a great leader and will be a huge asset in making RCR stronger in his new role with the team,” Menard said in a release. “I am looking forward to working with Justin. Throughout this season, he has shown the qualities and potential to be a great crew chief.”
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