Jarrett's Ford seized at Richmond

[dalejrfan]

Labbe to face NASCAR penalties after sway bar from Jarrett's Ford seized at Richmond


NASCAR confiscated the sway bar from Nextel Cup driver Dale Jarrett's No. 88 Ford this past weekend at Richmond, Va., and crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe faces stiff penalties for the infraction, the Observer has learned.

A sway bar may be used on the front and/or rear suspension to help keep the body flat as the vehicle rounds a corner, which greatly improves a vehicle's cornering agility. Replacing the sway bar with one of a larger diameter can increase it even more.

According to NASCAR sources, Labbe could receive a hefty fine and possible suspension for the violation. Jarrett and team owner Robert Yates could also receive points penalties.

An official announcement of NASCAR's verdict is expected on Tuesday.

In February, Yates was one of the more vocal owners critical of crew chief Chad Knaus and the violations on Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet that forced Knaus to sit out four races.

Yates said a short suspension is not enough if a Cup crew chief gets caught blatantly breaking the rules.

"If there is language in the rule book about not doing that particular thing, then he ought to have to go race the Talladega short track the rest of his life," Yates said.

"If the language covers that area ... he should be gone forever. That's just stealing."

[dalejrfan]

Yates promises appeal after NASCAR suspends, fines Labbe for violation on Jarrett's Ford, docks driver and car owner




NASCAR has suspended Richard "Slugger" Labbe, the crew chief for Dale Jarrett's No. 88 Fords, was suspended for four events for a violation found before Saturday's Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

Labbe is suspended until June 7, meaning he would miss Nextel Cup points races at Darlington, Charlotte and Dover as well as the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge. He was also fined $25,000. Jarrett was penalized 25 driver points and team owner Robert Yates was penalized 25 car owner points as a result of the infraction.

The team will appeal the penalties, however, and since that appeal will not be heard before this weekend's race, Labbe will be allowed to serve as Jarrett's crew chief in Saturday night's Dodge Dealers 500 at Darlington Raceway.

In its statement Tuesday announcing the suspension and fine, NASCAR said Labbe used "...car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules" and said he was in specific violation of rule 20-12.D, which prohibits the mounting of a sway bar for anything other than "anti-roll" - counteracting the side to side rolling force as a car goes through a turn.

In NASCAR's judgment, however, the sway bar on Jarrett's car at Richmond was mounted in a way designed to raise the rear end of the No. 88 Ford. In theory, that would have helped put air on the rear spoiler as the car went through the three-quarter mile track's turns.

"The wording of various rules in the NASCAR rulebook leaves them open for interpretation, as many teams have contested for years," Yates said.

"Obviously, in this case, we interpreted the rules differently from NASCAR, but because of the lack of a clear-cut understanding...we believe we have grounds for appeal and have started that process. If the appeal's committee believes otherwise then we will accept those terms."

[dalejrfan]

Richard "Slugger" Labbe, crew chief on the No. 88 Fords driven by Dale Jarrett, will begin serving a suspension this week after the National Stock Car Racing Commission rejected his appeal of penalties levied after the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond.

Labbe was suspended for four events and fined $25,000 for an unapproved sway bar mounting in Jarrett's car. Jarrett lost 25 driver points and car owner Robert Yates lost 25 owner points as well.

The team did not contest the legality of the bar configuration, but appealed the severity of the penalties. The three-member appeals panel said: "the penalties assessed are 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."