Kyle Busch Motorsports announced today that the team has parted ways with Jason Leffler. Kurt Busch will be behind the wheel of the #18 Shore Lodge Tundra for the VFW 200 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Aug. 18 and the driver lineup for the remaining races that Leffler was scheduled to drive this season will be determined at a later date. “How things have played out this season are not Jason’s fault — we’ve had some bad luck and a few other misfortunate happenings — but when it comes down to it, the #18 team has not performed to the standards we’ve become accustomed to and we owe it to our manufacturer and our sponsors to produce better results,” KBM owner Kyle Busch said. “Beginning to make these changes now, instead of waiting until the end of the season, it will allow us to evaluate where our program stands as we begin working towards becoming a championship-contending team once again in 2013. Jason represented KBM and all of our sponsors very well and we wish him the best of luck.” Brian Scott is scheduled to be behind the wheel of the #18 Tundra at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 24 and for three other races this season. Drew Herring will make his Truck Series debut in the September race at Iowa Speedway in Newton.(Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)(8-14-2012)
UPDATE: It’s been 11 years since Kurt Busch’s last NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start, but he’s hopeful that his return to NASCAR’s third division will be ‘like riding a bike. His bike for Saturday’s VFW 200 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn will be the No. 18 Shore Lodge Tundra, fielded by his brother’s Kyle Busch Motorsports team. As a 21-year-old driver, making his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start, Busch registered a second-place finish in the Truck Series opener at Daytona International Speedway. Busch collected four wins, four poles, 14 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes en route to a second-place finish in the final point standings and Rookie of the Year honors. Coincidentally, as Busch gets back to ‘riding a bike’ this weekend, a bike will be riding onboard the tailgate of his Shore Lodge Tundra. The tailgate will be promoting “Win Kyle’s Custom Made Chopper,” the latest Kyle Busch Foundation fundraising campaign. Deadwood Choppers, based in Middle Island, N.Y., designed and built a custom chopper that features the logos of the Kyle Busch Foundation’s largest supporters.(KBM PR) [More information is available on the Jayski Charities page.](8-15-2012)
