After a crash in a 410 sprint car race at Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey on Wednesday night, Jason Leffler, a versatile driver who tried at least one full season in each of NASCAR’s three national series and won championships in open-wheel divisions, passed away.
Shortly after 9 p.m., Leffler, 37, was declared deceased, according to the New Jersey State Police. Around 8:30 p.m., Leffler struck a wall and needed to be freed from the automobile, according to Sgt. Adam Grossman, who spoke with USA TODAY Sports. After being taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, he was declared deceased.
Leffler’s car flipped multiple times on the front straightaway of the program’s first heat race at the 0.625-mile, high-banked dirt oval, according to eyewitness Chris Taitt, 40, of West Deptford, N.J. Taitt stated Leffler’s car hit the wall twice and “then it was flopping all over.”
The racecourse said the remaining races were canceled after state police showed up.
Leffler completed eight laps on Sunday at Pocono Raceway, ending his 73-race Sprint Cup Series career in last place. He was the winner of one Camping World Truck Series victory and two Nationwide Series victories.
Charlie, the 5-year-old son of the Long Beach, California, native, who went by the loving moniker “LEFturn” and had it painted above his driver’s side window, is left behind.
Beginning his career as an open-wheel sensation, Leffler captured three USAC Midget titles in a row from 1997 to 1999. In 2000, he acquired a Nationwide Series contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, following in the footsteps of former USAC star Tony Stewart.
Leffler joined Chip Ganassi Racing in the premier Cup Series of NASCAR during his rookie season, when he finished 20th in points with three pole positions and four top 10 finishes. After missing out on five of the 36 races in 2001, he was out of the race for just one year.
Leffler won his first NASCAR national series race at Dover International Speedway in 2003 after spending two years in the Camping World Truck Series. He started playing in the Cup once more, starting ten races for Haas CNC Racing in that year.
He won his maiden Nationwide Series race in 2004 and finished 17th out of 27 appearances with Haas CNC.
That gave him a retry at the Cup in 2005 when Joe Gibbs Racing added a third vehicle, sponsored by FedEx. However, Leffler’s season was short-lived as the team let him go after 21 races, at which point he was 35th in points and had not qualified for the Coca-Cola 600. Late in the season, Denny Hamlin took over the No. 11 vehicle.
Leffler competed in Nationwide full-time from 2006 to 2011, winning his last national series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 2007 after finishing third in points for the first time in his career.
Over the previous six seasons, he made 11 Sprint Cup starts.
NASCAR “extends its thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies to the family of Jason Leffler who passed away earlier this evening,” according to a statement from the governing body. Jason was a fierce competitor in our sport for over ten years, and he will be missed.”
Doug Boles, chief operating officer of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, released a statement saying, “We are very saddened at the passing of Jason Leffler.” “He demonstrated his talent by competing in both the Brickyard 400 and the Indianapolis 500, making him one of the most adaptable race drivers in America. Wonderful man, Jason always made time for everyone. We send our sincere condolences to his entire family, the team, and the supporters.”
Leffler competed in the Brickyard 400 in 2001, 2003–05, and 2008, as well as the Indianapolis 500 in 2000.
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