Post by dalejrfan on Oct 29, 2005 0:54:31 GMT -5
HAMPTON, Ga. - Slugger Labbe said he went to team owner Ray Evernham and told him "it was time to do something different" than serve as Jeremy Mayfield's crew chief but there wasn't another opportunity to continue to work at Evernham Motorsports.
Labbe was released Thursday by Evernham. Team director Kenny Francis and car chief Mike Shiplett are sharing crew chief duties this weekend.
"I wanted to stay with the company," Labbe said. "I wanted to know what my options were in the company, and what he presented me was not what I wanted to do. So, I'm doing something different."
Asked what it was he wanted to do, Labbe replied: "As a crew chief, I want to win races and contend for top-fives every week, not top-15s."
Labbe said his future should be clear by next week, and he expected to be at the Nextel Cup race at Texas. Sources say Labbe is likely headed to Robert Yates Racing, but in what capacity remains unclear.
Mayfield said he doesn't expect his No. 19 Dodge team to miss a beat, as he has worked with Francis the past three seasons.
"We're not going to give up," said Mayfield, 10th in points. "I'm not going to sit here and tell you we will finish 10th or first, but we are going to do everything we can."
When asked about rumors Labbe was looking at other job opportunities, Mayfield said, "If you're looking, in our organization you don't need to be there. Everybody knows Ray. If you don't want to be there, you don't have to be there. If you want to go somewhere else, you go somewhere else. That's the way Ray approaches things."
Labbe was released Thursday by Evernham. Team director Kenny Francis and car chief Mike Shiplett are sharing crew chief duties this weekend.
"I wanted to stay with the company," Labbe said. "I wanted to know what my options were in the company, and what he presented me was not what I wanted to do. So, I'm doing something different."
Asked what it was he wanted to do, Labbe replied: "As a crew chief, I want to win races and contend for top-fives every week, not top-15s."
Labbe said his future should be clear by next week, and he expected to be at the Nextel Cup race at Texas. Sources say Labbe is likely headed to Robert Yates Racing, but in what capacity remains unclear.
Mayfield said he doesn't expect his No. 19 Dodge team to miss a beat, as he has worked with Francis the past three seasons.
"We're not going to give up," said Mayfield, 10th in points. "I'm not going to sit here and tell you we will finish 10th or first, but we are going to do everything we can."
When asked about rumors Labbe was looking at other job opportunities, Mayfield said, "If you're looking, in our organization you don't need to be there. Everybody knows Ray. If you don't want to be there, you don't have to be there. If you want to go somewhere else, you go somewhere else. That's the way Ray approaches things."