CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe was suspended for four races and fined $25,000 on Tuesday for using an illegal part on Dale Jarrett's car at Richmond International Raceway.

NASCAR officials discovered the sway bar on Jarrett's car was illegally mounted when the No. 88 Ford passed through Saturday night's pre-race inspection in Richmond.

The sway bar, also called an "antiroll bar," counteracts the rolling force of the car body through the turns. Any alterations made to it would likely be in an effort to help the car's agility through the corners.

Car owner Robert Yates said the violation was not intentional.