Jason Leffler, left, and Bobby Labonte have endured their fair share of hardships this season. Credit: Autostock

Gibbs says struggles won't last over long haul

RICHMOND, Va. -- Joe Gibbs may have given more questions than he gave answers when he was asked about struggling driver Jason Leffler's future Saturday at Richmond International Raceway.

"Obviously, you get concerned," he said. "You have a huge sponsor there and we're in it for the long haul. We signed Jason for the long haul and we are certainly going to go after it with Jason and try to get everything done we can there."

	Joe Gibbs
	Inside the Numbers Joe Gibbs Racing in 2005 Driver Races Win T5 T10 B. Labonte 10 0 0 1 J. Leffler 10 0 0 0 T. Stewart 10 0 2 5 Early troubleLabonte caught up in Jeff Green's spin at Texas Engine troublesStewart's day ends after his engine expires at TMS Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

Still, Gibbs said failure is not an option.

"It always boils down to performance," Gibbs said. "It's gotta be a performance thing. We've got to be successful there.

"I think what we're focused on more right now is everybody together trying to get that team where it should be. It's a first-year team. It shows you how hard this sport is. He's been caught up in a lot of stuff.

"We didn't dream we'd be that far down with him and struggling like we are."

Leffler has struggled mightily in his first season behind the wheel of the high-profile No. 11 Chevrolet. He sits 36th in the Nextel Cup standings heading into Saturday night's event.

His best finish of the year has been 12th at Martinsville last month. In the four races since that event, Leffler has averaged a 33rd-place finish.

Leffler has a three-year deal to drive the No. 11 Chevrolet. At Texas last month, JGR president J.D. Gibbs dispelled published reports that suggest Leffler was on his way out in favor of Ward Burton.

"We've seen other teams in other years kind of be down, now they're running back at the front," Gibbs said. "But it shows you how tough it is."

On the subject of his other struggling Cup driver, Bobby Labonte, Gibbs said his situation is due more to bad luck than anything else.

"Most of the time, honestly, it's not been his fault, he's been caught in something else. It's been unbelievable, really.

Labonte sits 33rd in the Nextel Cup standings with one top-10 finish (a sixth at Phoenix) and three DNFs.

Gibbs is confident the No. 18 team will find the solution.

"I really have confidence that Bobby will bounce back from these things. I think you're going to see him go right back to the front. I feel that way."