(no subject)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The bridge that was burned four years ago has been repaired, and now Jason Leffler hopes to deliver for Joe Gibbs Racing and FedEx.
Leffler was a promising young driver back in the late 1990s, winning Silver Crown and Midget titles in USAC's open-wheel division.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of former open-wheel star Tony Stewart, Leffler signed with JGR to compete full-time in the NASCAR Busch Series.
Leffler showed some promise, winning three poles and posting two top-five finishes in 2000. After another year or two in Busch, JGR officials figured Leffler would be ready to make the move to Cup.
But Leffler had other ideas. In what he now admits was a mistake, Leffler signed with Chip Ganassi Racing's Cup team for 2001 but was let go after finishing 37th in the points.
Three years and a Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series ride later, Leffler is back with Gibbs.
"I took the long way," Leffler said after making a dramatic entrance to the announcement. "I'm just grateful to be back here at Joe Gibbs. It's incredible. Their commitment to win is second to none.
"When I left there, it was a mistake. But to come back in this fashion is just an incredible feeling."
Leffler surprised a lot of observers when he left the Gibbs team, but team president J.D. Gibbs held no ill will toward Leffler.
"We think if he would've stayed, we probably would've had a Cup team (for him) a couple years ago," Gibbs said. "Things work out for a reason, and it kind of come full circle.
"He wanted to go then, and we understood that and wished him the best. To have it come around again, we're excited about that just because of the experience he's gained since then is invaluable. The passion he has is still there and will always be there."
Leffler won eight poles in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2002 and scored his first NASCAR national series victory in 2003 in Ultra Motorsports' truck. This year, he drove for Haas CNC Racing in the Busch Series, winning in controversial fashion at Daytona in July.
Leffler was third in the Busch Series points standings before being ousted from the No. 00 Chevrolet last weekend.
Still, Leffler said his experience in the two lower series would serve him well.
"When I first went to Cup, it was a little too quick," Leffler said. "I was able to run the truck series and have some success there and had a great year in Busch this year. I learned a lot about racecars.
"My rookie year in Cup, I got to learn the racetracks, learned what all the media is about, all the fans. It's just such a huge jump from the Busch Series to the Nextel Cup Series. Now I know what to expect."
The announcement of the new team was made at the FedEx facility at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, with dozens of raucous FedEx employees present.
Leffler was introduced in an interesting fashion, with the No. 11 Chevrolet rolled out of a FedEx plane onto a lift before Leffler drove it off a ramp.
Leffler then did some obligatory donuts on the tarmac before crawling out of the car.
His new crew chief was introduced in a less dramatic fashion, as Dave Rogers - head engineer with Stewart's No. 20 team - was driven in on an airport tug.
The Leffler/Rogers pairing gives Joe Gibbs Racing three full-time teams. Owner Joe Gibbs wasn't present Wednesday, as he had some coaching duties with the Washington Redskins.
"This is practice day at Redskins Park, and I'm trying to find a way to win a game," said Gibbs, referring to his team's 1-4 start.
But Gibbs still had a message.
"We know our goal is to beat that 'ups' car," said Gibbs, poking fun of Dale Jarrett's sponsor and FedEx's competitor.
J.D. Gibbs had come from a local hospital, where his son Zachary Taylor was born early Wednesday.
Gibbs joked with his wife that since their son was born on the day of the announcement, maybe he should be named Fed Ex Gibbs.
Well, no, the name for Wednesday was Jason Leffler.
Again.
all i gotta say is that asshole better stay clear of waltrip next year he's already on every waltrip's fans bad side
Leffler was a promising young driver back in the late 1990s, winning Silver Crown and Midget titles in USAC's open-wheel division.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of former open-wheel star Tony Stewart, Leffler signed with JGR to compete full-time in the NASCAR Busch Series.
Leffler showed some promise, winning three poles and posting two top-five finishes in 2000. After another year or two in Busch, JGR officials figured Leffler would be ready to make the move to Cup.
But Leffler had other ideas. In what he now admits was a mistake, Leffler signed with Chip Ganassi Racing's Cup team for 2001 but was let go after finishing 37th in the points.
Three years and a Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series ride later, Leffler is back with Gibbs.
"I took the long way," Leffler said after making a dramatic entrance to the announcement. "I'm just grateful to be back here at Joe Gibbs. It's incredible. Their commitment to win is second to none.
"When I left there, it was a mistake. But to come back in this fashion is just an incredible feeling."
Leffler surprised a lot of observers when he left the Gibbs team, but team president J.D. Gibbs held no ill will toward Leffler.
"We think if he would've stayed, we probably would've had a Cup team (for him) a couple years ago," Gibbs said. "Things work out for a reason, and it kind of come full circle.
"He wanted to go then, and we understood that and wished him the best. To have it come around again, we're excited about that just because of the experience he's gained since then is invaluable. The passion he has is still there and will always be there."
Leffler won eight poles in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2002 and scored his first NASCAR national series victory in 2003 in Ultra Motorsports' truck. This year, he drove for Haas CNC Racing in the Busch Series, winning in controversial fashion at Daytona in July.
Leffler was third in the Busch Series points standings before being ousted from the No. 00 Chevrolet last weekend.
Still, Leffler said his experience in the two lower series would serve him well.
"When I first went to Cup, it was a little too quick," Leffler said. "I was able to run the truck series and have some success there and had a great year in Busch this year. I learned a lot about racecars.
"My rookie year in Cup, I got to learn the racetracks, learned what all the media is about, all the fans. It's just such a huge jump from the Busch Series to the Nextel Cup Series. Now I know what to expect."
The announcement of the new team was made at the FedEx facility at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, with dozens of raucous FedEx employees present.
Leffler was introduced in an interesting fashion, with the No. 11 Chevrolet rolled out of a FedEx plane onto a lift before Leffler drove it off a ramp.
Leffler then did some obligatory donuts on the tarmac before crawling out of the car.
His new crew chief was introduced in a less dramatic fashion, as Dave Rogers - head engineer with Stewart's No. 20 team - was driven in on an airport tug.
The Leffler/Rogers pairing gives Joe Gibbs Racing three full-time teams. Owner Joe Gibbs wasn't present Wednesday, as he had some coaching duties with the Washington Redskins.
"This is practice day at Redskins Park, and I'm trying to find a way to win a game," said Gibbs, referring to his team's 1-4 start.
But Gibbs still had a message.
"We know our goal is to beat that 'ups' car," said Gibbs, poking fun of Dale Jarrett's sponsor and FedEx's competitor.
J.D. Gibbs had come from a local hospital, where his son Zachary Taylor was born early Wednesday.
Gibbs joked with his wife that since their son was born on the day of the announcement, maybe he should be named Fed Ex Gibbs.
Well, no, the name for Wednesday was Jason Leffler.
Again.
all i gotta say is that asshole better stay clear of waltrip next year he's already on every waltrip's fans bad side