Labonte gets new crew chief for No. 96 Ford

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Bobby Labonte will have a new crew chief starting this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

Ben Leslie is taking over the No. 96 team from Todd Parrott. Yates Racing made the change to strengthen the organization, which is adjusting to Labonte's addition this season.

Labonte came to the team in mid-January when Yates aligned with Hall of Fame Racing. The team had to move quickly to prepare for the start of the season, and Labonte's first time in the car did not come until the first Daytona 500 practice.

Labonte is 28th in points. He has a season-best finish of fifth at Las Vegas in March, but has been hampered by an engine problem at Atlanta and an accident at Texas.