OvalRacin Message Board

RIP: J Leffler/ Dirt Speedway/USAC/ Midget/ Chili Bowl

Posted by K Seals on June 12, 2013, 9:05 pm

NASCAR driver Jason Leffler died after an accident Wednesday night at a dirt car event at Bridgeport Speedway.

The 37-year-old Leffler, a two-time winner on the Nationwide Series, was pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m., New Jersey State Police said.

Bridgeport Speedway is a 5/8-mile, high-banked dirt oval.

Leffler finished last Sunday at Pocono in his first NASCAR Sprint Cup start of the year.

The Long Beach, Calif.-native started his racing career in open wheel on dirt tracks. He won three straight USAC Midget titles (1997-1999) and the 1998 Silver Crown championship and dabbled in IndyCars before fellow open wheeler Tony Stewart recruited Leffler to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in 1999. He ran the full 2000 Nationwide season for JGR before he was hired to compete in the Sprint Cup Series for Chip Ganassi in 2001.

Leffler competed in NASCAR’s top three series over the last dozen years. He had two career NNS wins and one truck victory.

Re: RIP: J Leffler/ Dirt Speedway/USAC/ Midget/ Chili Bowl

Posted by mychal on June 13, 2013, 9:56 am, in reply to " RIP: J Leffler/ Dirt Speedway/USAC/ Midget/ Chili Bowl"

From the pictures that I've seen...
The car looks intact,the wings pretty mangled.
It appears the cage held up,doesn't look as if there's a mark on it...
You never know,
Years ago I was at Ascot,in the heyday of the CRA.
Clark Templeman did a quick snap roll going down the back chute.
Didn't seem that bad...racing resumed,typical great Ascot non winged show.
The next morning in the L.A. Times I read whete Templeman had passed away from the accident.
...Godspeed to a great racer.

Re: RIP: J Leffler/ Dirt Speedway/USAC/ Midget/ Chili Bowl

Posted by Ken on June 13, 2013, 1:38 pm, in reply to "Re: RIP: J Leffler/ Dirt Speedway/USAC/ Midget/ Chili Bowl"

Here's a story with more info.

http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2013/06/nascar_driver_jason_lefflers_fatal_crash_being_investigated_by_nj_state_police.html

Seems like he was racing alone in second place when he crashed into the 4th turn wall. Steering failure perhaps?

Loved watching Jason wheel a Silver Crown car at Phoenix. RIP Jason....

Re: RIP: J Leffler/ Dirt Speedway/USAC/ Midget/ Chili Bowl

Posted by dick m on June 13, 2013, 9:25 am, in reply to " RIP: J Leffler/ Dirt Speedway/USAC/ Midget/ Chili Bowl"

Jason was a great open wheel driver, his car con-troll was as good as it got. I saw him take a Silver Crown car from near the back and put it in
the top 5 before the car or tires gave out. It was an impressive run in a car so old it had a solid front axle RIP your talent will be missed

Re: RIP: J Leffler/ Dirt Speedway/USAC/ Midget/ Chili Bowl

Posted by jamesh on June 14, 2013, 8:21 pm, in reply to "Re: RIP: J Leffler/ Dirt Speedway/USAC/ Midget/ Chili Bowl"

Our thoughts and prayers for everyone involved.

Especially, his family and his little 5 year old boy Charlie.
Our hearts go out to them all.

God Bless Everybody
James Hodgdon

« Back to index

[ OvalRacin Message Board ]