Posted on 08/03/2005 5:40:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOL! My expectation as well!
Jason Leffler failed to record a top-10 in 19 starts. Credit: Autostock
Leffler out at Gibbs; three to split No. 11 seat
August 8, 2005
06:10 PM EDT (22:10 GMT)
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has released driver Jason Leffler from his driving duties with the No. 11 car in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Terry Labonte will compete in several of the upcoming Nextel Cup races in the No. 11, beginning this weekend at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.
JGR will also turn to its NASCAR Busch Series drivers - J.J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin - to split driving duties in the No. 11 in the remaining Nextel Cup races where Terry Labonte is not scheduled to drive.
"This was a difficult decision," said J.D. Gibbs, president of JGR. "Everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing had high hopes for Jason and the No. 11 team, but our performance wasn't meeting the expectations all of us set forth at the beginning of the year.
"It hasn't been for lack of effort, as Jason is a talented race car driver who worked incredibly hard and was terrific with our sponsor.
"With an experienced veteran in Terry Labonte, the No. 11 will benefit from his 25 years of Nextel Cup racing, and ideally, climb higher in points.
"In looking toward next year, J.J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin will get some valuable seat time at the Nextel Cup level that will allow us to build the No.11 into a race-winning contender for 2006 and beyond."
Terry Labonte's addition to JGR is a natural, as Terry's younger brother, Bobby, is a 10-year veteran of JGR, having piloted the No.18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet since 1995.
The Labonte brothers are the only brothers in NASCAR history to win NASCAR Cup Series championships. Terry won the title in 1984 and 1996, while Bobby won in 2000.
"We want to thank Hendrick Motorsports for allowing Terry to assist us with the No.11 team," said Gibbs, whose team now features three NASCAR Cup Series champions in Bobby, Terry and 2002 series champion Tony Stewart.
"In planning the future of the No.11 team, we looked around the Cup and Busch Series garages and decided that the two best talents were already driving for us. J.J. and Denny are exceptional race car drivers, and we felt it was important to give each of them a shot at Nextel Cup."
http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/08/08/jleffler_released/index.html
We were doing a Vegas show until we found out we found out we could make more money on FR...
I don't buy conspriacies; if they were there, there's no way they would have let Smoke and Robot become Winston Cup champs :-)
You nailed it for the reason for 10. The 400 comes from the fact that nobody has ever come back from more than 400 down to win the Winston Cup.
You mean there's a cover charge?
What about the big-eared knucklehead ?
what is this? are you and Brad's Gramma working in cahoots tonight? lol
I think it won't work - "I gave at the office"
Ha ha, that's where I thought you were sending me.
I actually checked my bank account today and my monthly donation was just sent.
I wish everyone who appreciates this site would donate.
I wish everyone who appreciates this site would donate.
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I hear ya on dat!
;-)
I've posted a total of 60 threads and 13,500 replies.
Based on those stats I should contribute more than I do.
Now that I think about it 13,500 replies is a lot!!
But at least I don't have to stand in front of the group and say I'm a FReepaholic AND a FReeploader. lol
The entry lists for Watkins Glen are up (Cup/Busch), and there's a few surprises.
Over on the Cup side, we've got the following road-course ringers; Pual Menard in the #1 (yes, he's a ringer), PJ Jones in the #4 (they need to get in on time, and Mike Wallace would not have made Sonoma had they needed to make it on time then), the aforementioned Terry Labonte in the #11 (even though they don't have to make it via champ's provisional this time), Ron Fellows trying to do the Tide Slide in the #32 (this is his "home" track), Scott Pruett reprising his annual #39 Target Dodge ride, Boris Said continuing to get used to Cup in the #136, and Jose Luis Ramirez trying again to break into Cup in the #152 (he didn't qualify for Sonoma). On the oddity side, Kirk Shelmerdine and Morgan Shepherd are bringing their cars, and Hermie Sadler is back in the #192, but the #66 (the team that used to be Hermie's) isn't (they had attempted every race until now).
There's even more surprises on the Busch side. Ringering are - Joe Fox in the #0, Chris Cook pulling double-duty in the #7, Jorge Goeters in the #32, Carlos Contreras in the #40, Scott Turner in the #52, Ron Fellows doing double-duty in the #143, Matthew Kobyluck in the #150, Jeff Spraker in the #163, Stan Silva Jr in the #265, Paul Bonacorsi in the #271, and Todd Souza in the #297. Buschwhacking are Boris Said in the #1 (same deal as Mexico City; Johnny Sauter heads to the #109) Brian Vickers in the #5, Kasey Kahne in the #6, Jeff Burton in the #21, Tony Stewart in the #33, Carl Edwards as always in the #60, Jamie McMurray in the #64, Greg Biffle in the #66 (he's back), Joe Nemechek in his #87, Dale Jarrett in the #90 (and a shot of getting back in the top 30 in owners' points), Michael Waltrip in his #99, Elliot Sadler in the #108, Ryan Newman in the #139, Travis Kvapil in the #177, and Robby Gordon in the #283 (dunno why he entered with that car number instead of the #55. Last, and IMHO least, DeLana Harvick gave a second car (#183, meaning Crash will need to find a different number than 83) to Wally Dallenback (uh-oh, more of the "Hey Wally, how ya doin' out there?" from the booth).
You rang da bouncer? :-)
The Chase was made for him :-P
Here's another reason I don't have a blog - I've posted a total of 80 threads and 28,791 replies (and counting).
I'll catch up with ya someday Steve :o)
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