Austin Dillon is getting a new crew chief, with Richard Childress Racing naming Justin Alexander on Monday to replace Richard “Slugger” Labbe and lead Dillon’s No. 3 Cup Series team beginning this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Richard Childress Racing makes crew chief change for Austin Dillon
Justin Alexander takes over as crew chief for Austin Dillon, who ranks 22nd in points and had a trying season.
Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images
Labbe took over as Dillon’s crew chief halfway through the 2015 season, and is credited with guiding the 27-year-old driver to a career year in 2016. Dillon had four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes, and earned a first-ever playoff berth.
But this season the No. 3 team has struggled through 11 races. Dillon has just a single top-10 finish and currently ranks 22nd in the standings, 57 points behind Trevor Bayne for the 16th and final playoff position. Fifteen regular season races remain.
The No. 3 team has also experienced issues passing NASCAR technical inspection. Last month at Bristol Motor Speedway, Dillon’s car required five trips through the Laser Inspection Station before it cleared. Coincidentally, Labbe didn’t travel to the following week’s race at Richmond International Raceway, a move RCR said was not disciplinary but one that allowed him to stay back at the shop and focus on building cars for upcoming races. Labbe returned to his normal role the next week.
RCR said Labbe left the company to “pursue other opportunities.” He had been with the team since 2011, first as a crew chief for Paul Menard.
Alexander has held multiple roles within the organization, including serving as Menard’s Cup crew chief for 64 races. Most recently, he’s been an Xfinity Series crew chief on RCR’s No. 2 car, which Dillon drives regularly.
Randall Burnett, previously a Cup crew chief for A.J. Allmendinger at JTG Daugherty Racing, replaces Alexander as crew chief of the No. 2 Xfinity team. JTG Daugherty replaced Burnett with Ernie Cope last weekend.
See More:
