SPRINT CUP NATIONWIDE SERIES CAMPING WORLD TRUCKS Race: Quicken Loans 400 Race: Alliance Truck Parts 250 Race: UNOH 225 Where: Michigan Int’l Speedway Where: Michigan Int’l Speedway Where: Kentucky Speedway When: Sunday, 1 p.m. (ET) When: Saturday, 2 p.m. (ET) When: June 27, 8 p.m. (ET) TV: TNT TV: ABC TV: SPEED 2012 Winner: Jimmie Johnson 2012 Winner: Joey Logano 2012 Winner: James Buescher NOTEBOOK On Father’s Day, Sprint Cup drivers celebrate Jason Leffler dies after inspiration and assistance from their dads accident in dirt car race For many a Sprint Cup race driver, the race track is as appropriate a place as any to celebrate Father’s Day. Among them are drivers who spent the early years of their driv- ing careers racing with lots of Dad’s assistance. Ryan Newman’s father, Greg, was a big part of his career as he rose through the USAC ranks on his way to a NASCAR career. “Whether it’s Father’s Day or not, Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR it’s special to have that relationship Jason Leffler with my dad, and at the same time, Michael Waltrip Michael Racing Waltrip Although he never won in NASCAR’s elite Sprint True Speed Communication True to have that relationship with my Cup Series, Jason Leffler was a winner in nearly daughters, and I guess maybe be able Greg Newman (left) with his son, Sprint Martin Truex (left) with his son, Sprint Cup everything else he ever drove and was popular with to share it to them a little bit more, Cup driver Ryan Newman. driver Martin Truex Jr. fans, fellow drivers and those in the media. Leffler, especially on Father’s Day,” he said. “Auto racing is definitely something that takes the whole fam- 37, died Wednesday night from injuries suffered in For Newman, racing on Father’s Day has produced some of ily to reach the top levels, and me and Kyle have our dad, Tom, a sprint car crash at Bridgeport Speedway, a high- the more memorable moments of his career. to thank for everything.” banked dirt track in New Jersey. The first came in 1999 in a USAC Midget race at Salem Tony Stewart said he, too, reached the elite levels of NASCAR Leffler was a native of Long Beach, Calif., and Speedway in Indiana, a challenging, often treacherous track through a total family effort, but it was his dad, Nelson rose through the open-wheel short-track ranks to Newman describes as one that separates the men from the boys. Stewart, who led the way. win three straight USAC Midget titles from 1997 The other was in 2004 at Michigan International Speedway, “My father was kind of the ringleader,” Stewart said. “He was to 1999 racing against tough competitors, includ- the track where he’ll race this Sunday. the one who made all the decisions on what we did and didn’t do.” ing future NASCAR stars Tony Stewart and Ryan “Before I got in the race car, I said: ‘The only thing I’m going Unlike a lot of NASCAR racing fathers, Martin Truex Jr.’s Newman. He also won a USAC Silver Crown to try to get you is this victory, and there’s no guarantee to it, father was an accomplished racer before his son ever turned a championship in 1998. but know that I’m trying,’ ” Newman said. “And that’s enough lap on a race track. Leffler first came to NASCAR in 1999 to drive in for my dad, because he’s a racer.” “That’s the only reason I ever got into racing,” Truex Jr. the series now known as Nationwide for Joe Gibbs Newman said his relationship with his father extends far said. “Watching him race the Modified at Wall Stadium (Wall Racing. He drove for several teams in NASCAR, beyond the race track. Township, N.J.) was my first memory of racing in general. As making 73 starts in Sprint Cup, including his first He said his father is “somebody who has taught me a large I grew up, that’s all I ever wanted to do was race, because my of 2013 last Sunday at Pocono Raceway, 294 in percentage of everything that I’ve known, and at the same time dad did it.” Nationwide and 56 in the Camping World Truck given me the attitude and the personality that I have. Whether Truex Jr. said one of his most enduring memories of his Series. you like it or not, it’s who I am.” father’s racing was from a NASCAR Busch North Series race He also raced in the Indy Racing League and Kurt Busch said he and his brother Kyle would have never he didn’t even attend. ran the Indianapolis 500 in 2000, finishing 17th. made it from the beginner tracks in Las Vegas to NASCAR’s “The most special one of all was probably watching him win Leffler got his first major NASCAR vic- elite divisions without the help and guidance of their father, at New Hampshire in ’94 on TV,” he said. “I was in school, so I tory in a Truck race at Dover International Tom Busch. couldn’t go to the race. Seeing it on TV, watching him win his first Speedway in 2003, then picked up the first of “It’s been such a family effort over the years that we owe race on live television was incredible on TNN back in the day. his two Nationwide Series victories at Nashville everything to our dad,” Kurt Busch said. “Tom has been there “Darrell Waltrip was one of the commentators, I think; Buddy Superspeedway in 2004. In 2007, he delivered all the steps of the way, from the first go-kart to Legends cars Baker was on, and that was one of the coolest moments for me Toyota its first NASCAR victory in a race at to Modifieds, you name it. as a kid, watching my dad win on the big stage.” Indianapolis Raceway Park, where he had been a frequent competitor in USAC competition. Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Chief Operating Labonte, Allmendinger ride swap should give JTG Daugherty new direction Officer J. Douglas Boles summed up Leffler’s NASCAR fans must wonder whether it’s Bobby Labonte’s driving or son,” team co-owner Brad Daugherty said in a team career in a statement released late Wednesday: his race cars that have caused his Sprint Cup career to take turns for release. “He continues to do a tremendous job for us. the worse in recent years. Bobby has given us his ideas for improving the prod- “We are very saddened at the passing of Jason In 2000, driving the No. 18 car for Joe Gibbs Racing, Labonte, now uct, and we believe A.J. will do the same.” Leffler,” Boles said. “He was one of the most age 49, was the Sprint Cup champion. In 2003, he won two races, push- Allmendinger said in the same release that he Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR versatile race drivers in America, showing his ing his career total to 21. In 2006, he moved to Richard Petty’s team, believes he can help the struggling team. Bobby Labonte talent by competing in the Indianapolis 500 and hoping to help bring that outfit back to prominence. He started strong, “I have raced for Phoenix Racing some this year and feel confident the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor with three top-five and eight top-10 finishes in ’06. Since then, he’s had I’ll be able to provide JTG Daugherty Racing with a good compari- Speedway during his career. He also displayed the just two top-five finishes, and none since the 2011 Daytona 500. son,” said Allmendinger. skills that would help him reach the top levels of Some answers to the Labonte question could come this weekend Phoenix Racing announced on Tuesday that it would put Labonte the sport by winning four USAC national series as he and A.J. Allmendinger have essentially switched rides for the in the No. 51 Chevrolet. Labonte, who will make his 705th Cup start titles while winning on tracks throughout the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway. this weekend, said in a release that his focus is still on helping JTG Last week, Labonte’s team, JTG Daugherty Racing, announced that it Daugherty improve its performance. Midwest. Jason was a terrific guy who always had was putting Allmendinger in its No. 47 Toyota for five races, beginning “They have given me a great opportunity to help this team grow,” time for everyone. Our deepest sympathies are this week at Michigan, with Labonte tentatively set to return afterward. he said. “It’s where my focus has been since racing with the team in extended to his entire family, team and fans.” “Bobby Labonte wanted to help our team grow and develop when 2011. I want to see this team get better and will do what I need to do Leffler’s survivors include a young son, Charlie he signed on with our organization at the beginning of the 2011 sea- to make that happen.” Dean..