LABBE Cheated Big Time?

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Labbe to face NASCAR penalties after sway bar from Jarrett's Ford seized at Richmond
By JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer

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."
 
RYR to appeal penalties levied against 88 team
Jarrett, Yates docked points; Labbe fined, suspended for violation
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
May 9, 2006
06:26 PM EDT (22:26 GMT)


Robert Yates Racing is appealing penalties NASCAR on Tuesday handed to Dale Jarrett's team for violations discovered prior to Saturday night's Nextel Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

Crew chief Richard "Slugger'' Labbe was suspended through June 7 -- three points races and the all-star race -- and fined $25,000 for using an unapproved rear sway bar mounting that was discovered during pre-race inspection.

Jarrett was penalized 25 points, dropping him from 11th to 12th in the standings, 380 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson. Car owner Robert Yates also was penalized 25 championship points.

A spokesperson at RYR said Labbe will be at Darlington Raceway this weekend and remain with the team until the appeal is heard, likely next week.

Yates, in a statement released by the team, said whether the modification was a blatant attempt to break the rules is a matter of interpretation.

"Obviously, in this case, we interpreted the rules differently from NASCAR,'' Yates said. "But because of the lack of a clear-cut understanding on our part, we believe we have grounds for appeal and have started that process.''

Eddie D'Hondt, the general manager at RYR, said the organization was surprised by the severity of the penalties.

"Obviously, if our interpretation is wrong, we did wrong,'' he said. "Like most, we're pressing the envelope to the highest degree to get the best performance. We pushed reading the rules to the edge.

"If that's the case [and we went beyond the edge], we've got to deal with the ramifications. But we are going to appeal it. There are things we would like to discuss with the Commission.''

D'Hondt was referring to the National Stock Car Racing Commission that hears all appeals. He would not comment on what the organization wants to discuss.

"Obviously, it's a sensitive issue,'' he said.

Yates took a hard stand against cheating before the Daytona 500 in February when Chad Knaus was ejected from that race and later suspended for a month for rigging a device that raised the level of the rear window in Jimmie Johnson's car.

Yates said any employee of his found intentionally cheating without his knowledge would be fired.

"If it was [an infraction] with a clear written rule against it, and he didn't tell me about it, because I wouldn't approve that, I'd have fired him, yes,'' Yates said.

Yates also suggested those that intentionally cheat should be banned from NASCAR, "outta here, outta here from now on.''

Yates was not available for comment on Labbe's status with his organization should he lose the appeal.
 
Well, Yates better put his $$$ where his mouth is!!!!! :D
 
laugh.gif
 
Ive been invloved in racing for over 20 years.We have rules and regulations at our local tracks we run.Before we even get to the track we have our car set up and ready to run.Of course we are not running these types of cars (Nascar) but rules are rules guys and girls.I feel they should make the fines and suspensions stiffer and longer.With heavier fines and suspensions these people might finally get it in thier itty bitty heads that cheating gets you nowhere.I have raced against guys who cheat all the time,but when they go thru tech lane after the race and get DQed whos the real loser?You know what im getting at?Sure everybody wants to push it to the next level,but before you do that maybe they should speak to an official or have brought this stuff up at some drivers meetings.
 
Well if DJ had any final reason to "sway" his way towards Toyota this might be it. I've been a DJ fan for over ten years and cannot remember and DJ team that was penalized for cheating. If indeed Slugger had blatantly broke a rule in the book Yates had better can his ass.
 
the only thing i can say is BS, did they already forget chads penalty, i really don't think his "cheat" was worse than chads, where was the point loss there.

nascar what a bunch of losers
 
really don't think his "cheat" was worse than chads
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And, see that's why you're not on the rules committee. It was exhaustively explained at the time why the 48 team didn't lose points. It's not even worth going into again. :rolleyes:

And, here I had let the 48 haters have some slack only to see them come back. Shame on me I guess... ;)
 
i'm just sad.

it's always about the 48 even when it's not.

:(

but yates is really in a corner now.

1000 bucks says he'll talk his way out of it..."it wasn't REALLY cheatig...blah blah"
;)

The SPIN
Yates, in a statement released by the team, said whether the modification was a blatant attempt to break the rules is a matter of interpretation.

"Obviously, if our interpretation is wrong, we did wrong,'' he said. "Like most, we're pressing the envelope to the highest degree to get the best performance. We pushed reading the rules to the edge.

"If that's the case [and we went beyond the edge], we've got to deal with the ramifications. But we are going to appeal it. There are things we would like to discuss with the Commission.''


hmm... that sounds kinda blatent to me.
:) :D
 
That's the point in racing, Push the rules as far as you can, because if you dont put them right on the edge, someone else will and and it will get your doors blown off. There is not such thing as a legal racecar.
 
barelypure said:
And, see that's why you're not on the rules committee. It was exhaustively explained at the time why the 48 team didn't lose points. It's not even worth going into again. :rolleyes:

And, here I had let the 48 haters have some slack only to see them come back. Shame on me I guess... ;)
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actually i don't hate any of them,then again i really don't like any of them. all i'm sayin is whats good for the goose is good for the gander, but i guess your to closed minded to get it, or you are just a blind follower and anything nascar says is gospel
have a nice day :)
 
barelypure said:
It was exhaustively explained at the time why the 48 team didn't lose points. It's not even worth going into again. :rolleyes:
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barelypure, I wasn't on here much when all of that went on. I'm curious to see what you said on that. Do you care to rehash it one more time?
 
MRM said:
barelypure, I wasn't on here much when all of that went on. I'm curious to see what you said on that. Do you care to rehash it one more time?
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POSTED 02/14/06 by MRM QUOTE [There's a difference betweeen finding a gray area and trying to get by with something than blatant cheating. This is a case of blatant cheating, just like Berrier getting into trouble over the fuel cell. Anyone that's blantatly cheating should get hammered for it.] QUOTE


Apparently MRM does not remember being around at the time,but MRM was very vocal in the opinion on the subject matter. Perhaps MRM is just trying to rehash the entire incident, which, as has been mentioned by Barelypure, is not worth rehashing again.
 
Thanks Whizzer. But, if anyone wants to know what I or anyone else said the search function here works really well.
My main comment on the incident was:
Fines don't mean that much...

Especially considering that at the end of the year the fines are distributed back to the teams that were fined. Wasn't it Kurt Busch 2 years ago that got back more than he paid in. Missing a few races might hurt but not enough. Points, points, points. And, for those who say I constantly dog Lil'E, Jimmie is one of my favs but right is right.
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I hope I haven't disillusioned anyone too much... :)
 
Whizzer said:

POSTED 02/14/06 by MRM QUOTE [There's a difference betweeen finding a gray area and trying to get by with something than blatant cheating. This is a case of blatant cheating, just like Berrier getting into trouble over the fuel cell. Anyone that's blantatly cheating should get hammered for it.] QUOTE


Apparently MRM does not remember being around at the time,but MRM was very vocal in the opinion on the subject matter. Perhaps MRM is just trying to rehash the entire incident, which, as has been mentioned by Barelypure, is not worth rehashing again.
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MRM is not a trouble maker. That I know for sure. I've posted on his boards for a very long time.
 
Man, don't even get close to bashing little Jimmie. Let's not forget about little E either. Jeffy...Lord no. Hmmmm, I know, let's only bash the reporters that we don't like or the TV announcers. We've exhausted all we can say about the drivers. :rolleyes:
 
buckaroo said:
We've exhausted all we can say about the drivers. :rolleyes:
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You dont wanna know what one drag racing forum my dad frequents did..lets just say they have a professional moderator...and anything he says is taken as gospel or else...
 
Magnethead said:
You dont wanna know what one drag racing forum my dad frequents did..lets just say they have a professional moderator...and anything he says is taken as gospel or else...
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I am curious. why do you have Trans Am in your signature....they are a dead series.
 
Sometimes things do get out of hand where one person posts unfounded crap about a driver, crew, owner, etc. But, then again some want everything off limits. There has to be some middle ground where the adults in the group can discuss perceived shortcomings without folks wanting to put on the gloves and go at it. Is it attitude or maturity? I've never been sure...
 
I think it is being loyal to your driver, some people just get in a tizzy when anything negative is said about their favorite.
 
RYR has tried to use this sway bar once this year with the 38 team. They were told to get off the car. I think John Darby said it was at Texas. That is why the Slugger susp.
 
Magnethead said:
You dont wanna know what one drag racing forum my dad frequents did..lets just say they have a professional moderator...and anything he says is taken as gospel or else...
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Sam tried that over at OTC. Guy lasted one night. Someone really should have warned him about me. The next morning, there was blood everywhere, and they never found the body.
 
The real point may be here that Labbe might NOT have made the decision to use this part, He may be just the "Fall Guy" for Robert. If NASCAR figures this to be the fact, it could explain WHY RYR got points taken away too.

On NASCAR. com in an interview with Jeremy Mayfield when asked about this infraction Jeremy says he finds it hard to believe Slugger really did that because he was to straight. or something to that affect. Read ther asrticle for yourdself, these statemebnts are down near the bottom.
http://http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/05/11/jmayfield.smayfield.darlington/index.html

Just might add a different perspective if it's true that RYR tried using this same part earlier on the #38.
 
Good point Eagle and you know what we will never hear the entire story because this a lot of closed door stuff. Whatever happens Nascar will act the way they want with all their infinite wisdom.
 
Thank you for the support KellogsTL5fan.

Whizzer, I asked the question out of curiosity, not to start trouble. If I wanted to do that, I'd go back to another board where that is the norm. I didn't remember anyone offering a differing opinion on the JJ controversy. I did a search on barelypure's posts. Between what I found and what you posted, I still don't see what position this person took on the issue. It's a moot point now. I was just curious if barelypure or anyone else actually took for Hendrick in that situation.

I would like to hear NASCAR's explanation on how this deserves docking of points and JJ's situation does not.
 
MRM said:
Thank you for the support KellogsTL5fan.

Whizzer, I asked the question out of curiosity, not to start trouble. ... I was just curious if barelypure or anyone else actually took for Hendrick in that situation.

I would like to hear NASCAR's explanation on how this deserves docking of points and JJ's situation does not.
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If that's all you wanted a search would have yielded Bobby Ford's post on 2/24. And, he goes on about the article.

If you maliciously put something on a car that's made or machined, and it's an unapproved piece that can be confiscated, the team will be fined, the crew chief will be suspended and the driver and owner will lose 25 points.
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I suppose a sway bar is a machined part that is unapproved so this does follow what Nascar did earlier.

As to whether or not I took up for Hendrick in my previous post I stated I thought he should have lost points even tho he is one of my favorites. Once I read this explanation it was time to move on to the next race so I accepted what Bobby posted. And, it doesn't really matter whether or not I agree. At least not to me... :eek:
 
From what I have read, it was not the sway bar itself.

It was how it was mounted to allow for more rear elevation and thus more downforce.
 
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