Leffler eager to make first Cup start since '05

By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor

Monday, June 09, 2008

Drew Hallowell
Getty Images for NASCAR

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LEBANON, Tenn. – Jason Leffler hasn’t started a Cup series race in three years, but he’s excited for more than simply making a race in NASCAR’s top series.

Leffler, who has a baby boy Charlie, will have a little extra cash in his pocket for expenses.

“I’m excited to be racing on Sunday and make a little extra money, you know?” Leffler said with a smile. “I can buy some diapers and kids’ shoes.”

Leffler starts 26th in Sunday’s Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway for Haas CNC Racing after running Saturday’s Nationwide Series race in Nashville.

His last Cup start was in August 2005 at Indianapolis, where he finished 33rd for Joe Gibbbs Racing.

“We all have something to prove,” Leffler said. “If I could win a Cup race … I don’t hasve dreams of being the next Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson, but if I could win a Cup race, then I could call my career complete. In the right situation, I could run competitively on Sunday, for sure.”

Leffler said the goal in Sunday’s race is simply to finish and help the No. 70 inch back toward the top 35 in owners points.

“Those guys at Haas, they have good equipment,” Leffler said. “It’s a good opportunity. They’re kind of in a hole with the points situation and the penalties and everything. It’s a tough situation to be in.

“Our goal is just to run all day and finish. They haven’t been able to do that. That is our goal, just to run 500 miles and see where we end up. It’s pretty exciting.”

Leffler said he would also run the car next week at Michigan, while competing for Braun Racing, his regular team, in the Nationwide race at Kentucky.

“I love being around these guys at Braun,” Leffler said. “This has been my home for three years, so when I go to another team, I feel a little bit out of my element.”