UPDATE III: I hear crew chief for the #28 Texaco Ford, Marc Reno may be released from the team soon. No info on who may replace him(3-4-98) – Sources tell me Reno was released on Wednesday from Robert Yates Racing. No word on a new crew chief for the #28 or what Reno may do.(3-5-98) – I hear Robert Yates will crew chief the #28 Texaco Ford in Atlanta and that Richard “Slugger” Labbe will be Reno’s replacement and is an in-house move. It seems Texaco was putting on the pressure for a change and are not happy with 1998 results so far, one rumor has Reno replacing Ryan Pemberton on the #36 Skittles Pontiac, but this one seems doubtful, even though Ernie Irvan, driver of the #36 is good friends with Reno and Reno was Irvan’s crew chief on the #28 in 1997(and former owner/cc in 1987).
It’s official: Per RPM2Nite, Reno has been released. Richard Labbe, who was Irwin’s crew chief on the #27 Ford in 1997 will assume the crew chief duties on the #28. He will act as the crew chief on Saturday. On Sunday he will handle his job as the #88 Front tire changer and take over the job at Darlington. Robert Yates and Raymond Fox will handle the duties on race day this Sunday(RPM2Nite)(3-6-98)