Motorsport.com reports it has learned that the #11 Fedex Joe Gibbs Racing Chevy team may be planning on replacing Jason Leffler with Ward Burton as soon as Darlington. While denied by team officials, insiders say Burton would fill the seat for the remainder of the season before a permanent driver [Yeley?] would be named to take over the ride. Burton stated that he has not been spoken to in regards to the #11 car but currently had several other offers in play.(Motorsport.com)(4-16-2005)
UPDATE – more on Ward, Indy 500?: With rumblings that the Nextel Cup Series “Silly Season” of driver hirings and firings could be ready to kick into gear, Ward Burton made an appearance at Texas Motor Speedway yesterday. The South Boston, Va., native was announcing a new marketing partnership between his wildlife foundation and Beretta that will promote firearm safety for kids, but he also spent several minutes answering questions about his NASCAR future. An Internet report yesterday linked the 43-year-old with possibly replacing Jason Leffler in the #11 Chevrolet of Joe Gibbs Racing. With the impending retirements of Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin, and the expected departure of veterans such as Sterling Marlin from established teams, several other quality rides could be open by the end of the year. Burton, who has stayed busy managing his Halifax County preserve, doing charity work and developing an outdoors show for TV, said he wasn’t in serious discussions with any team. He reportedly has been offered rides in the Cup, Busch and Truck series. “I won’t come back if the right situation isn’t there,” he said. “I won’t say Cup is my only choice, but it’s the only one I’m considering.” Burton said he also had been contacted about attempting the Indianapolis 500.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-17-2005)
UPDATE 2 DENIED: Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs on Sunday denied published reports that Jason Leffler is on the way out of the #11 Chevrolet and Ward Burton is on the way in. Gibbs called Leffler on Saturday night at Texas to give a vote of confidence. “I called Jason and kind of laughed,” Gibbs said. “We have a multi-year deal with Jason and with FedEx, so there is no truth to that. “I said, ‘You don’t have to worry about that,’ and he said, ‘I know.'” Joe Gibbs Racing has never released a driver on the Nextel Cup Series level in its history, and Gibbs said that Leffler has a three-year deal to drive the car. “We like long-term relationships with sponsors and team drivers,” Gibbs said. “He’s has been great, everything off the track. We have got to finish first and show improvement, which we have been doing.” A source close to Burton also denied the rumor.(NASCAR.com)(4-17-2005)
