Catchfence

MOORESVILLE, NC (November 2, 2009) – You just can’t go to Texas without thinking of a good, old-fashioned duel. In next weekend’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, that is exactly what Kasey Kahne and Jason Leffler will provide – a “great” duel of sorts, though as teammates, when they take on 41 other competitors. Both drivers will carry matching Great Clips paint schemes – Leffler in Braun Racing’s No. 38 Toyota and Kahne in the No. 10 Toyota.

As previously announced, Kahne will re-join Great Clips’ driver lineup in 2010 for a total of eight races. In flashback-like fashion, Kahne will again be behind the wheel of the No. 38 Great Clips car, the car in which he essentially started his NASCAR career and piloted for two years (2003-2005) under the Akins Motorsports / Stringer Motorsports banner. Leffler, who took over Kahne’s role as a Great Clips driver in 2006, will drive the No. 38 in the remaining 27 races to round out a full schedule. In the eight races that Kahne will be behind the wheel of the No. 38, Leffler will drive Braun Racing’s No. 10 Camry.

From 2003-2005, Kahne and Great Clips reached momentous milestones including capturing Kahne’s first Nationwide Series victory in 2003 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It was also Great Clips’ first win as primary sponsor. In 2005, Kahne captured his second career win at Texas Motor Speedway before leaving Stringer Motorsports the following year to allow more time for his Sprint Cup Series efforts.

In 2006, Stringer Motorsports merged with Braun Racing, a move which put Jason Leffler behind the wheel of the No. 38 Camry. In 2007, Leffler gave Great Clips another win when he took the checkered flag at O’Reilly Raceway Park. The victory was a highly publicized one, as it was a first for Toyota in the Nationwide Series. Leffler has represented Great Clips on the track since that time and is currently having his best season-to-date from a performance standpoint.

Kahne is nostalgic in remembering his times with Great Clips as his sponsor, and is proud to be carrying their colors once again.

“I’m really looking forward to climbing back in that familiar Great Clips car,” said Kahne. “It’s awesome to be able to partner up with Great Clips again after all this time. I got my start with them as my sponsor from 2003-2005, and that’s something I have never forgotten. My last win with Great Clips was at Texas Motor Speedway back in 2005, and I’d love nothing more to repeat that performance and do it all over again!”

Leffler agrees that it will be a lot of fun to have two Great Clips cars on the track.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun to have two Great Clips cars on the race track. I know it’s something that all of the Great Clips franchisees and employees are really excited about. Kasey is a good friend, so it will be fun to work together throughout the weekend!”

Terri Miller, Vice President of Marketing, Great Clips, Inc., speaks for everyone associated with the company as she expresses her excitement to have both Kahne and Leffler on the track together.

“We are very excited to see both Great Clips drivers on the race track, in matching cars at the upcoming race at Texas Motor Speedway,” said Miller. “Jason Leffler and Kasey Kahne are both extremely talented drivers and we are very proud to have them both as representatives of our brand. Having both talents on the track at once gives us a great shot at a trip victory lane. We think “the duel” will bring a lot of excitement to all of our franchisees and racing fans.”

- Braun Racing Press Release