Auto racing briefs for September 6, 2001

Thursday, Sept. 6, 2001 | 8:15 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WHAT'S UP, DOC? Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd will be along for the ride when Jeff Gordon chases his sixth victory of the season.

"We haven't had a lot of luck with special paint schemes this year, but I think this weekend will be different," Gordon said. "There will be some bumping and banging at Richmond, but I think Bugs and Elmer can take it."

Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet and six other Monte Carlos will feature Looney Tunes paint schemes in the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 on Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway.

Gordon, the series leader and defending race champion, has two victories, three poles and nine top-five finishes in 17 career starts on the 0.75-mile Richmond track.

"It can get pretty slick at Richmond, especially if it's hot," Gordon said. "It's kind of like Bristol, you just hope to stay out of trouble and be around at the end. Even though we've got a pretty good cushion in the points race, it only takes a few bad finishes to even things up."

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NEW CHIEF: Richard "Slugger" Labbe will serve as Michael Waltrip's crew chief for the rest of the Winston Cup season.

Labbe takes over for Steve Hmiel, the Dale Earnhardt Inc. technical director who handled crew chief duties following Scott Eggleston's resignation in May.

Labbe teamed with Waltrip at Ultra Motorsports and also has worked for Hendrick Motorsports and Robert Yates Racing.

Waltrip, the Daytona 500 winner, is 27th in season standings.

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HANNAGAN INJURED: World of Outlaws driver Randy "The Hurricane" Hannagan had surgery Monday to repair his broken right leg.

Hannagan was injured Sunday in a second-lap crash in the Harvest Classic at Calistoga Speedway in California.

Hannagan, expected to be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks, is 14th in the season standings. He has qualified for 50 of the series' 52 main events and won the first "A" Feature of his career March 24 at I-55 Raceway in Missouri.

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DRIVER SHUFFLE: The two-car Dick Barbour Racing team has shuffled its driver lineup for this weekend's American Le Mans Series event at Raceway Laguna Seca.

Didier de Radigues, who has already clinched the LMP 675 driver's title, will be paired with Milka Duno, while Scott Maxwell will join John Graham to form an all-Canadian driving team.

Bruno Lambert has teamed with de Radigues to win the last two races, but is not available because of a previous commitment.

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