“It was just typical racing at Martinsville,” said Leffler after the race.  “We got spun out on lap 73 and that really hurt us.  We were a little tight in the center and on exit, but were making gains before we got caught up in the big wreck with five laps to go.  It was a tough day for us, but I’ll be back at the truck and Texas and we’ll try to get a good finish there.”

Leffler strapped in for qualifying on Saturday and paced the Virginia short-track with a lap of 20.035 seconds at a speed of 94.515 miles per hour which was good for eighth place on the starting grid.  With track position so important at a track like Martinsville, qualifying within the top-10 was a notable goal for the team.

Leffler knew going into the 200-lap race that two of the keys to being successful were to stay out of trouble and keep his truck in one piece.  At the drop of the green flag, Leffler showed patience as he moved into sixth position by lap 14.  “We’re tight in the center and on exit,” said Leffler to the crew on lap 21, just before the event’s first caution waved for a wreck in turn two.  Leffler took the opportunity to hit pit road for fuel and a track bar adjustment, returning to the track in seventh position.

On the restart, Leffler was forced out of the groove when the No. 09 rooted him out of the way.  Leffler dove back into the preferred low-line and avoided the next three caution flags but wasn’t as lucky on lap 73 when he was spun in turn two.  Leffler hit pit road for two right side tires, a track bar adjustment and fuel, returning to the track in 32nd position. 

After the spin, Leffler had his work cut out for him as he was mired back in lap traffic.  Despite being caught at the tail of the field, Leffler showed great patience and poise as he methodically worked his way past the slower trucks lap after lap.  “It’s turning really good now,” said Leffler to the crew on lap 91.  By lap 106, Leffler at the RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota were back in the top-20.

“You’re doing a good job, bud,” said Crew Chief Jamie “JJ” Jones.  “Your lap times are better than the leader when you are clear of traffic.”  Leffler replied, “Track position is everything.  That really hurt us.  We’ll get a good finish though.”

Leffler continued to pick his way through the field and worked back into the top-10 on lap 171.  Just twelve laps later, Leffler’s forward movement was put to a halt when he cut a tire while racing with the No. 6 on lap 183.  Leffler hit pit road for four fresh tires and fuel, returning to the track at the tail end of the longest line in 27th position.  Just four laps after the race resumed, Leffler was coming out of turn four when a multi-truck wreck blocked the race track.  With nowhere to go, Leffler piled into the nine-truck wreck, causing significant damage to the No. 1 Toyota. 

“This is not the way I wanted this to end,” said Leffler after he drove his Toyota to pit road and waited out the 17 minute long red flag for track clean up.  After the red flag was lifted, the crew changed right side tires and performed damage repair before returning Leffler to the track in 26th position.  In the final shootout to the checkered flag, Leffler picked up three spots to claim 23rd in his third truck race at Martinsville.

Leffler will hand the reigns of the No. 1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota over to Brandon Whitt as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the running of the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 on Saturday, October 27th.  Live television coverage from the 1.54-mile paved oval will be provided by SPEED at 12:30 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live from MRN Radio.  Leffler will return to the wheel at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, November 2nd.