Brickyard 400 - Jason Leffler Notes

LEFFLER BATTING A DOUBLE HEADER AT INDY

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 3, 2004) - No doubt about it, Jason Leffler, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Chevrolet is on top of his game in the NASCAR Busch Series with two consecutive Top-Three finishes and a gain of three positions in the championship point standings in the last two events. But the game is not going to stop there, as he and his Haas Automation Racing team will vie for a starting position in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Brickyard 400 this weekend.

Many drivers pull double duty on the weekends, racing in both the Nextel Cup race and the Busch Series race, but this will be the first time this year that Leffler has tried to pull it off. Leffler and his Haas Automation Racing team are having an outstanding rookie year in the Busch Series, standing fourth in the driver's championship points, only six points out of third. Their plan to extend their success into the Cup Series has brought them to the Brickyard, where they plan on having a successful learning experience.

The test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July allowed Leffler to get more time on the racetrack and gain information valuable for the race. Leffler, alongside Busch Series crew chief, Bootie Barker, was able to finish, with the two days combined, second fastest. If this shows them anything, it's that they have the ability to be competitive at this level.

Competing in the Brickyard, however, does not take away any of the glory from the Busch Series race Saturday at the Indianapolis Raceway Park. Leffler has a lot of time and success on the .686-mile oval in the Truck Series and the USAC Silver Crown and Midget Series. He has learned to have patience on the short track and his patience is what will prevail as he tries to win his second NASCAR Busch Series race this season.

"Being able to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a great experience," said Leffler. "There is just so much history at this track that it can't be ignored. They've been running races here since the early 1900's and to have the opportunity to be a part of a little fraction of the tracks history is cool.

"I'm really excited about this weekend. It's going to be busy for my Haas Automation Racing team and me but I think that we are ready for it. I can't say enough about this team. We have matured together and it's showing in the finishes that we are having and in the point standings. This weekend we hope that we will go run the Brickyard and learn a lot of things that will help us on both the Cup and Busch side. With the way that we have been running lately in the Busch Series I think that we have a great chance on leaving with the Kroger 200 win. I'm just ready to get out there and give them all that I've got. I'm bringing it!"

Leffler and his Haas Automation Racing team are geared up and ready to play a double header as they travel to Indianapolis this weekend. The NASCAR Busch Series Kroger 200 will be televised live from IRP on TNT at 7:30 PM (ET) and can be heard on MRN radio. The Brickyard 400 will be televised on NBC at 2:00 PM (ET) and heard on MRN radio.