STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Richard "Slugger" Labbe, who won two Daytona 500s as crew chief for Michael Waltrip, was hired Monday by Evernham Motorsports to call the shots for Jeremy Mayfield's team.
Chris Andrews, who spent part of last season as Robby Gordon's crew chief, was hired to run the part-time Evernham team for which Bill Elliott drives.
Labbe spent several years with Waltrip at Dale Earnhardt Inc. before he was moved out of the crew chief position late this season. He'll take over for Kenny Francis with Mayfield's team, which qualified this year for NASCAR's 10-race Nextel Cup playoffs.
Francis remains team director of the No. 19 Dodge.
"I'm looking forward to 2005 with more focus on my technical and engineering background," Francis said. "By bringing Slugger in to handle more of the day-to-day operations of the race team, it will increase the strength of the entire organization."
Andrews worked for Richard Childress Racing and was promoted to crew chief this season with Gordon.
