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NASCAR BGN: Leffler salvages 19th at 'The Rock' for Grand Prix stable

27 February 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
ROCKINGHAM, N.C.- Rookie Jason Leffler brought the MBNA Pontiac Grand Prix home in 19th position Saturday at North Carolina Speedway, but found himself wondering just how great his day could have been.

Leffler, who qualified 11th for the Busch Series event, had a good handling car from start to finish, but lost a couple laps when the caution flew during an early green flag pit stop. That caution left only seven cars on the lead lap for the final 110 circuits and left the Joe Gibbs Racing driver to fight for every position he could get.

Leffler led a four-car Grand Prix contingent on Saturday that endured a long, frustrating day. Buckshot Jones finished 38th, rookie Mike Borkowski 40th and Jeff Purvis 43rd.

The Busch Series continues next weekend with a Saturday event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

JASON LEFFLER, NO. 18 MBNA PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:

"The MBNA Pontiac was running good. We had a really good race car and it was really disappointing to get hung out under the yellow like that. Other than that we had a great day. But the finish doesn't show it, and I'm kind of disappointed. When you have such a good car and run so good at the beginning of the race - I mean that's where you want to be -- and you have something like that tire coming loose cost you, it's disappointing. But that's the way it is. That's racing." (STAYING FOCUSED AFTER DROPPING A COUPLE LAPS DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES) "I guess that's just something you learn from experience. At first I was a little disappointed. But we got back racing, the track got slick when the tires got old and then it got fun again because we were sliding around. This whole MBNA crew did a good job. I'm glad to be associated with them and I'm glad they were patient with me." (ON LAS VEGAS) "We tested there and had a good test. I'm just looking forward to going back. Hopefully we'll have another good qualifying effort. Maybe we can get some breaks in the race this time and get a good finish."

Text provided by Al Larsen

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