Chrud Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Finally! He NEVER deserved that ride. There are plenty of other drivers in other series that could FINISH a race with that team. _______________ 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." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: Leffler Out of the 11 Uh, how about letting Mikey drive in 06. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: Leffler Out of the 11 Can't really say that is an kind of surprise. The only surprisng thing is he lasted as long as he did in that car. With the money Fed-Ex is paying to have their name on the #11, that couldn't have been real happy with the performance this year.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: Leffler Out of the 11 [ QUOTE ] Uh, how about letting Mikey drive in 06. [/ QUOTE ] I like that idea! Bout time they gave Leffler the ax.I don't know what Gibbs was thinking when they put him in that ride to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABuckSlayer Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: Leffler Out of the 11 They could put Ward Burton in that car. I'd love to see ol' Ward back in a Cup car! Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: Leffler Out of the 11 With so many up coming stars from the Busch series...I highly doubt JGR will put Mikey or Ward in the #11. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted August 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: Leffler Out of the 11 [ QUOTE ] With so many up coming stars from the Busch series...I highly doubt JGR will put Mikey or Ward in the #11. [/ QUOTE ] Hamlin and Yeley will split duties. Terry Labonte will drive it a bit also. Actually, I read a story on Jayski that said Mikey might not be out of DEI at the end of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: Leffler Out of the 11 [ QUOTE ] 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. [/ QUOTE ] I think everyone was refering to next season...those two busch drivers will split duties this season where Labonte isn't driving. I was just thinking with Hamlin, Yeley, Sorenstein (sp), Boyer...just to name a few...JGR would like to put a young upcoming star in that car to mentor under Stewart and Labonte. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: Leffler Out of the 11 As much I would like to see Ward back in a cup car again, and this would be a chance. Like everyone else said I am sure they will go with an up and coming busch driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 Re: Leffler Out of the 11 [ QUOTE ] They could put Ward Burton in that car. I'd love to see ol' Ward back in a Cup car! Eric [/ QUOTE ] That's who I originally thought should have gotten that ride. I love Ward. I read an article about him in the latest NASCAR Illustrated, he's perfectly happy working on his land for his Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, he says he still wants to race but is waiting for the best deal, he seems like he's perfectly content doing what he is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY_Bowhunter14 Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Leffler Out of the 11 put Sterling in it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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