(photo courtesy Kyle Busch Motorsports)
Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced today that Jason Leffler will be the primary driver of the team’s #18 Tundra in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the 2012 season. The veteran driver will be behind the wheel for at least 14 races this season, beginning with the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway. Dollar General, the nation’s largest small-box retailer, will serve as the primary sponsor for Leffler’s 14-race schedule.
Leffler has been a fixture in the NASCAR Nationwide Series throughout the last decade, finishing in the top 10 of the final point standings each of the last five seasons. In 292 career Nationwide Series starts, the 36-year-old driver has recorded two wins, eight poles, 42 top-five and 106 top-10 finishes.
In 46 career Truck Series starts, the California native has registered one win, 19 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes. Leffler’s 10 career poles rank him 10th on the series all-time list. In 2002, he captured a series-leading eight poles, ranked second with 494 laps led and collected 11 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes en route to a fourth-place finish in the final Truck Series point standings.
“As a racer, your ultimate goal is to win races, and driving the No. 18 Dollar General Tundra for KBM is definitely an opportunity where I expect to achieve that goal,” said Leffler. “Kyle has put together a first-class organization that builds top-notch equipment. I’m honored that he has the confidence in me as a driver to come in and carry on the winning tradition that his team has established. Dollar General is one of the premier sponsors in our sport and I’m looking forward to representing them on and off the track.”
“We are thrilled to have Leffler on board to drive the Dollar General Toyota this season,” said Busch. “He’s a pro behind the wheel and will be a great fit for the #18 Tundra.”
“Dollar General is excited to have Jason Leffler behind the wheel of the #18 Tundra,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO. “Our employees and customers will enjoy cheering him on to victory.”
The choice of Leffler by KBM to drive the #18 Dollar General Toyota Tundra is very interesting, if not predictable. In the last decade in the Nationwide Series, Leffler has been known for his aggressive, take no prisoner style of racing. Notwithstanding the fact that the driving style if Leffler replicates the owner of KBM, Leffler has not had realized anywhere near the amount of success that Kyle Busch has garnered in the Camping World Truck Series. Nevertheless, KBM has traded one aggressive driver for another piloting the #18 Dollar General Tundra.
It is my opinion that, even though Leffler is an experienced driver, he will fail to be the driver that you must beat each and every race, as has been the case when KyBu drove the truck!
What are you views?
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
