Haas CNC Racing has entered Jason Leffler in its #0-NetZero Pontiac for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol, but the driver’s status as a factory Dodge driver in the Truck Series may prevent it, as neither his truck owner nor Dodge want to permit it [Leffler ran the car at Indy and at MIS]. The problem is Leffler’s primary role is driving Ultra Motorsports’ factory-supported ASE/CARQUEST Dodge in the Craftsman Truck Series for owner Jim Smith. “As of right now, Jason Leffler’s under contract with me and he does not have permission to drive anything but this (No. 2 Dodge) truck,” Smith said Wednesday night before the O’Reilly 200 Truck Series race. “And he has been told he’s not to drive the 0 car. . .as of right now. If the 0 car was a Dodge, we wouldn’t have an issue with it. We’d all love him to do more racing, but from Dodge’s perspective, if he goes out there and does real well, it would make us look kind of crazy.” At Watkins Glen, Smith said he did not care if Leffler drove another car, but he said he was sensitive to Dodge’s feelings, and Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, the head of Dodge’s motorsports program, John Fernandez, made his feelings crystal clear. “Jason has said that he’d like to do it,” Haas CNC Racing’s general manager Joe Custer said Wednesday afternoon. “We’re just taking this one step at a time.” Leffler has continuously stressed his number one priority is his truck deal with Smith. At WGI, Smith said he had offered a new contract to Leffler. At Michigan, Leffler said there was no issue with that, except he had just changed agents. “We’re in good standing with Jim, and I’m totally comfortable there,” Leffler said. “There were some things behind the scenes that delayed us working on the contract, because I’m with Cary Agajanian [Tony’s Stewart’s agent by the way] and his group, now.( NASCAR.com ), so…if Leffler doesn’t driver, who does? Wonder if John Andretti is in Bristol?(8-22-2003) UPDATE: Jason Leffler has signed with Haas-CNC Racing and is expected to drive the #0 Ne Zero Pontiac in 2004 [Jayski note: NetZero supposedly will NOT be back as the sponsor]. Leffler, 27, has been the primary driver for Haas-CNC since Jack Sprague was released last month, but he is still under contract to drive the #2 ASE Dodge for Jim Smith in the Truck Series for the remainder of the season. “The deal just revolves around next year,” says Haas-CNC general manager Joe Custer. “He has to do what is necessary to appease his current sponsor and Jim Smith. “But we think Jason has a big future ahead of him and we want to be part of it.” Custer adds that Haas-CNC Racing will run both a Winston Cup and Busch Series team next season and allow Leffler to choose which program he feels the most comfortable with. He also has the option to run both. As part of his original nine-race Cup deal with Haas-CNC, Leffler will be in the team’s car this weekend at Bristol and for six more races. Leffler’s availability to continue that deal is contingent on getting the approval of Smith and Dodge.( Sporting News )(8-22-2003)
