Jason Leffler is well outside the top 35 in the Nextel Cup Series standings. Credit: Autostock

J.D. Gibbs: Leffler's spot in No. 11 Chevy is secure

Driver failed to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600

CONCORD, N.C. -- Despite rampant rumors to the contrary throughout the Nextel Cup Series garage area, Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs maintains that Jason Leffler's job is secure.

"He has not been fired," Gibbs said. "He's in that seat."

	Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Jason Leffler's 2005 Cup record Site Start Finish Daytona 40 36 Fontana 39 37 Las Vegas 17 22 Atlanta 10 25 Bristol 36 38 Martinsville 12 12 Texas 29 36 Phoenix 18 29 Talladega 18 26 Darlington 25 38 Richmond 38 25 Average 25.6 29.4

Speculation continues that Leffler's dismissal from JGR is imminent. But Gibbs continually discounts the rumor and, in fact, defends his driver.

Gibbs agrees the team must step up its performance, but says there are no plans to replace Leffler with former Daytona 500 champion Ward Burton, Busch Series driver Denny Hamlin or anyone else.

"We have no plans to change Jason out right now," Gibbs said. "He's driving that thing. FedEx loves him."

Gibbs said overall team confidence and communication between Leffler and crew chief Dave Rogers is the primary issue with the No. 11 program.

"We have good engines, we're in good shape there," Gibbs said. "Our bodies are pretty good right now. Some chassis stuff we may need to work on, but there's nothing glaring.

"We know Jason can drive a race car. It's how do you get (Leffler) communicating with Dave and the whole group there, and getting the confidence? Confidence is such a big factor. That's what we're struggling with."

In an effort to combat the communication issue, JGR appointed team manager Jimmy Makar to oversee the No. 11 team, Gibbs said. Unfortunately, Leffler failed to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600, prompting JGR to replace the Interstate Batteries sponsorship on the No. 18 Chevy with FedEx decals.

"Obviously there's a lot of pressure," Gibbs said. "That's just what comes with professional sports. That's part of the deal. We know that. FedEx has been super-supportive all the way through.

"And even tonight, with Interstate helping out, working a deal to put FedEx on the car. That's a big deal and (FedEx) appreciates that.

"We've got to run, run well, and we know that. A year ago we never thought we'd be sitting here. We thought 20th, 21st would be a failure. Now we're looking at 36th. It's just crazy. We've got some work to do, for sure."

Through it all, however, Gibbs manages to keep it all in perspective.

"Life's not fair, ya know?" he said. "We did a deal with FedEx and St. Jude's hospital, some of the kids there, and I told Jason that kind of puts some of this stuff in perspective, looking at the big picture. But right now, for us, we need to get everything running well."