Charlotte, N.C. ? Michael “Fatback” McSwain was released Wednesday from his contract at Robert Yates Racing, then immediately hired as Bobby Labonte’s new crew chief.

McSwain was crew chief for Ricky Rudd at RYR for the past three seasons and was supposed to remain in that role next year with Elliott Sadler as the driver.

Instead, he’ll take over for Jimmy Makar at Joe Gibbs Racing and try to return Labonte to championship form. Since winning the Winston Cup title two years ago, Labonte has been on a slow decline.