CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Richard “Slugger” Labbe, a native of Biddeford, was fired Thursday as crew chief for Jeremy Mayfield with four races left in the Chase. Mayfield is 10th in the Chase standings, 216 points behind leader Tony Stewart.

Team director Kenny Francis will replace Labbe as crew chief for the rest of the season.

Labbe, who won two Daytona 500s as crew chief for Michael Waltrip, was in his first season with Mayfield. He was rumored to be in discussions for the vacant crew chief job with Elliott Sadler’s team, which may have led to his release by Evernham.