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Crew chief shakeups for Labonte, W. Burton

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two struggling Winston Cup drivers will have new crew chiefs in 2003.

Jimmy Makar is switching from Bobby Labonte's crew chief to team manager for the Joe Gibbs Racing team, and Tommy Baldwin left Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton on Tuesday.

Makar, 2000 Winston Cup champion Labonte's chief since 1995, will finish the season with the No. 18 Pontiac and help seek a replacement. He was the longest-tenured crew chief in NASCAR.

Makar, hired by Gibbs when he made the transition from NFL coach to car owner, was crew chief for Dale Jarrett three seasons. He stayed when Labonte replaced Jarrett and led Labonte to 19 victories and the 2000 championship.

But they have struggled and are 18th in points with one win.

Baldwin argued with team owner Bill Davis after Burton's last-place finish in Kansas City on Sunday, the Associated Press reported. Baldwin cleaned out his office Monday.

Frankie Stoddard, who led Jeff Burton to 14 victories at Roush Racing, was hired to finish the season with Ward Burton. Stoddard and Jeff Burton parted ways last month.

Ward Burton has had problems since winning at Daytona. He wrecked in Sunday's race. The No. 22 Dodge is 27th in points, having failed to finish a series-high eight races.

TALLADEGA ADDS SOFT WALL: A version of the SAFER barrier installed this year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is in place for Sunday's EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The track installed the system on the inside retaining wall of its 2.66-mile oval, extending from the exit of Turn 4, along the main straightaway and trioval and into the first turn -- about 3,000 feet.

DRIVER LOSES TITLE: Czech driver Tomas Enge lost his Formula 3000 title after failing a drug test. The World Motor Sport Council docked Enge 10 points he earned winning the Hungarian Grand Prix in August. France's Sebastien Bourdais takes the title; Enge fell to third. Enge was suspended one year, but if he tests negative in random tests during that period, the suspension will be lifted.

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