Makar moved to team manager for Labonte, Baldwin quits BDR

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Posted 3:29PM on Tuesday, October 1, 2002

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The disappointing seasons of top race teams were addressed Tuesday when Jimmy Makar, crew chief for 2000 Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte, was moved to team manager and Tommy Baldwin left Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton. Makar, Labonte's crew chief since 1995, will finish the season with the No. 18 Pontiac and help search for his replacement. Gibbs said Makar would then move into the team manager role in 2003. "Jimmy has been with us from the start of our racing operation in 1991," Gibbs said Tuesday. "He was our first employee. He helped take 18 guys, myself as a new owner, a new sponsor and was instrumental in building a championship winning race team." Baldwin reportedly got into an argument with team owner Bill Davis following Burton's last-place finish Sunday at Kansas. A team spokesperson said Tuesday that Baldwin spent Monday cleaning out his office and no decisions had been made on who would work as Burton's crew chief this weekend. Frankie Stoddard, who led Burton's brother, Jeff, to 14 victories at Roush Racing, is believed to be the leading candidate to replace Baldwin. He and Jeff Burton split last month amid their own struggles. Makar was first hired by Gibbs when he made the transition from NFL coach to car owner and was crew chief for Dale Jarrett for three seasons. He remained in that role when Labonte replaced Jarrett, and has guided Labonte to 19 victories and the 2000 championship. But they have struggled since winning the title and currently are 18th in points with just one win this season. Ward Burton, meanwhile, won the season-opening Daytona 500 but has been in a tailspin since. He wrecked out of Sunday's race, the third weekend in a row that he failed to finish because of an accident. Although the team scored a second victory this season when they won at New Hampshire in July, the No. 22 Dodge is 27th in points with a series-high eight DNFs. Baldwin had said he had an offer from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to crew chief longtime friend Steve Park, but Tony Gibson took that job last weekend.