Gil Martin moves to R&D role, ‘Slugger’ Labbe takes over team
Austin Dillon is getting a new crew chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Richard Childress Racing announced Monday.
Richard “Slugger” Labbe will guide the No. 3 team, starting at Sonoma in the June 28 Toyota-Save Mart 350.
Labbe is a veteran crew chief with 433 Cup starts under his belt, including wins at the 2003 Daytona 500 and 2011 Brickyard. He guided Kenny Irwin Jr. to a rookie of the year title in 1998. He also has worked with drivers Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Sterling Marlin and Terry Labonte. He was Paul Menard‘s full-time chief from 2010 to 2014.
Dillon, a former NASCAR XFINITY Series champion and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, is 23rd in the Cup Series drivers points standings after Michigan. His best finish this season is 10th at Bristol.
Martin will move into a leadership role within the RCR R&D Department, taking over Labbe’s responsibilities.
Martin has 16 wins in 472 NSCS starts, including a 2003 Brickyard 400 victory, and has finished in the top 10 in year-end championship points seven times. Martin also has eight wins to his credit in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.