JASON LEFFLER QUICK FACTS
No. 38 Great Clips Toyota Camry
Sharpie Mini 300
Bristol Motor Speedway
Saturday, March 24, 2007
The start of the 2007 season has been tumultuous for Jason Leffler and the Great Clips team. >From being touted as a championship contender prior to Daytona to currently sitting 23rd in the point standings after a third DNF in Atlanta, Leffler and his team hope to see a change in their luck this weekend at Bristol, a track where they were very strong at last season.
Leffler has a total of 11 NASCAR starts at Bristol Motor Speedway with (7) in the Busch Series, (3) in the Nextel Cup Series and (1) in the Craftsman Truck Series.
If his performance in both of last season’s events at Bristol is any indication, Leffler could be a serious threat for the win in this weekend’s Sharpie Mini 300. In the spring event last year, Leffler was having a solid top-five day before a blown tire on lap 115 ended chances to contend for the win. In the fall, Leffler again ran strong in the top-five and pulled off a career-best NBS performance at the half-mile by finishing 5th after starting 20th.
LEFFLER’S BRISTOL (NBS) STATS
Best start: 8th (2006, spring)
Best finish: 5th (2006, fall)
Average start: 21.7
Average finish: 23.9
Top-five’s: 1
Top-10’s: 1
DNF’s: 2
Laps completed:1603/1808 (88.7%)
BRISTOL BECOMING A FAVORITE OF LEFFLER’S:
“Bristol is a track that drivers either love or hate. There is not much grey area on the subject. But some can have an unexpected change of heart. When I first started racing stock cars in the Busch Series I really dreaded going to Bristol because it was such a struggle and I couldn’t seem to stay out of my own way. But over the last couple of years, I have really come to enjoy racing there and feel like I continue to improve each time. Going back this weekend after the strong runs we had last year, I am probably more excited than I have ever been about going to Bristol.”
LEFFLER ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENCE AT BRISTOL:
“With 43 cars starting the race on a half-mile track, there are a lot of things happening all at once. You have to be on top of your game every second of the race and know what’s going on around you every lap. Everyone says that patience is one of the keys to success at Bristol, but with everyone beating and banging each other that can be a pretty tall order. You just have to get yourself in the right frame of mind before you climb into the seat.”
EQUIPMENT INFORMATION:
The Great Clips team will unload chassis # 21 in this weekend’s Sharpie Mini 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Chassis #21 is a new car on the Braun Racing rotation for 2007.
