Leicht to make Cup debut at Pocono

By Bob Pockrass

Friday, July 14, 2006

CHARLIE BERCH

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LOUDON, N.H. - Robert Yates Racing development driver Stephen Leicht will attempt to make his NASCAR Nextel Cup debut July 23 at Pocono Raceway.

Leicht, who was sixth-fastest among drivers Wednesday during the Cup test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said Friday that the plan is for him to run Pocono and then at the Brickyard in RYR's No. 90 Ford.

"The test went very well, a lot better than I expected and a lot better than I think a lot of people expected," said Leicht, who also has tested a Cup car Kentucky. "It was a lot faster [than a Busch car]. You miss the spoiler the Busch cars have.

"But at the same time, the Cup cars are a lot easier to drive because they turn better."

Leicht has nine Busch Series starts with the best finish of 10th at Kentucky. He has driven in two restrictor-plate Busch Series races.

The 19-year-old driver who won the 2005 American Speed Association Late Model Series title is considered a candidate to compete in Nextel Cup next season for the Yates team.

"Personally, I think I probably should be getting more Busch experience before I jump in one of those [Cup cars]," Leicht said. "But if Robert Yates and Doug Yates feel like I'm ready, then I trust their judgment.

"They have been in this business a long time, and they know a lot about it and if they think I am ready, I put my trust in them. ... Even if they say this is not really a tryout, everything is a tryout no matter what you do. You can't think about that or else you dwell on it."

Either Raymond Fox III or Butch Hylton will serve as crew chief for the car, said Leicht, who has never raced at Pocono.

"I think I can do it, the only question is whether or not I am ready," said Leicht, whose family owns New Asheville (N.C.) Speedway. "We'll find out."