Jason Leffler

Jason Charles Leffler (September 16, 1975 – June 12, 2013), nicknamed "LEFturn", was an American professional open-wheel and stock car racing driver. Leffler began racing in the open-wheel ranks, competing in the 2000 Indianapolis 500 before moving to primarily NASCAR competition. He died from injuries sustained in a 410 sprint car race at Bridgeport Speedway in Bridgeport, New Jersey.

Racing career

Open wheel career Leffler began his career racing midget cars in the USAC series, where he won three consecutive midget championships from 1997 and 1999, as well as the Silver Crown series championship in 1998. He was the third driver to win three consecutive midget car championships. He won the Hut Hundred and Belleville Nationals in 1997, and the Turkey Night Grand Prix and Copper Classic in 1999.

On January 9, 2012, Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that Leffler would drive the No. 18 truck for fourteen races with sponsorship from Dollar General. However, strings of bad luck and poor finishes plagued the team, and Leffler was released on August 14.

Leffler also returned to the Cup Series in 2012, driving for Robinson-Blakeney Racing at Watkins Glen International, and for Humphrey Smith Racing at Michigan International Speedway.

Leffler made a single Cup Series start in 2013, driving Humphrey Smith Racing's No. 19 Toyota Camry at Pocono Raceway in early June, three days before his death; he started and parked, finishing 43rd in the event.

Death On June 12, 2013, at 8:30 PM, Leffler was involved in a crash during a 410 sprint car heat race at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park in Logan Township, New Jersey. Running second with a few laps left, his car suffered a front suspension failure, causing it to crash into a wall and flip several times.

Leffler instantly lost consciousness in the accident. When it was found that Leffler was not breathing, the rest of the race was cancelled and victory lane ceremonies did not take place. He was transported by ambulance to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at 9:00 PM EDT, thirty minutes after the accident. An autopsy report stated that the cause of death was a severe blunt force neck and spine injury.

After his death, many drivers and racing associations such as NASCAR and IndyCar made statements on the death and gave their condolences. NASCAR drivers competing in the 2013 Quicken Loans 400 had special stickers placed on their cars in honor of Leffler. Denny Hamlin, who replaced Leffler in the No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet in late 2005 had his car repainted to resemble Leffler's livery. It was one of the first driver memorial throwbacks during a season.

Personal life Leffler was the son of Charles and Patricia Leffler. Leffler had a son with Alison East, Charlie Dean, who was five years old at the time of his father's death. He was a native of Long Beach, California. He shared his life with live-in girlfriend Julianna Patterson; they resided in North Carolina.

Career awards Leffler was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2003. He also had six USAC Silver Crown wins.

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Indianapolis 500 Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team 2000 G-Force Oldsmobile 17 17 Treadway Racing

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Sprint Cup Series NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Pts Ref 2001 Chip Ganassi Racing 01 Dodge DAY34 CAR33 LVS28 ATL32 DAR39 BRIDNQ TEX17 MARDNQ TAL20 CAL18 RCH26 CLT30 DOV13 MCH19 POC41 DAY24 CHI24 NHA27 POC21 IND26 GLN MCH24 BRI30 DAR43 RCH28 DOVDNQ KAN28 CLT43 MAR37 TAL15 PHO41 CAR30 HOM10 ATLDNQ NHA30 37th 2413 04 SONDNQ 2002 Ultra Motorsports 7 Dodge DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL CAR PHO31 HOM35 63rd 128 2003 Haas CNC Racing 0 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX TAL MAR CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND33 GLN MCH35 BRI26 DAR26 RCH28 NHA27 DOV25 TALDNQ KAN30 CLT35 MAR27 ATL PHO CAR HOM 47th 764 2004 60 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND43 GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO DAR HOM 88th 34 2005 Joe Gibbs Racing 11 Chevy DAY36 CAL37 LVS22 ATL25 BRI38 MAR12 TEX36 PHO29 TAL26 DAR38 RCH25 CLTDNQ DOV20 POC40 MCH20 SON DAY18 CHI20 NHA24 POC24 IND33 GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 38th 1538 2006 Braun Racing 71 Chevy DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHODNQ HOM NA - 2008 Haas CNC Racing 70 Chevy DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOVDNQ POC40 MCHDNQ SON NHA DAY CHI27 IND32 POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 59th 192 2010 Braun Racing 32 Toyota DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATLDNQ RCH43 NHA DOV 70th 68 Prism Motorsports 66 Toyota KANDNQ CAL43 CLTDNQ MAR TAL TEX PHODNQ HOM 2012 Robinson-Blakeney Racing 49 Toyota DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX KAN RCH TAL DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON KEN DAY NHA IND POC GLN35 BRI31 ATL38 RCH CHIDNQ NHADNQ DOVDNQ TAL CLT KAN MAR TEX 71st 01 Humphrey Smith Racing 19 Ford MCH43 91 Chevy PHO43 Toyota HOMDNQ 2013 19 DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX KAN RCH TAL DAR CLT DOV POC43 MCH SON KEN DAY NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHA DOV KAN CLT TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 52nd 1

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 2001 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 15 34 2005 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 40 36

Nationwide Series NASCAR Nationwide Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Pts Ref 1999 Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR TEX NSV BRI TAL CAL NHA RCH NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB PPR GTY IRP41 MCH BRI DAR RCH22 DOVDNQ CLT CAR24 MEM20 PHO HOM 74th 331 2000 DAY20 CAR19 LVS28 ATLDNQ DAR37 BRI25 TEX22 NSV21 TAL28 CAL39 RCH35 NHA24 CLT21 DOV28 SBO32 MYB7 GLN28 MLW15 NZH15 PPR24 GTY15 IRP4 MCH41 BRI36 DAR28 RCH15 DOV10 CLT36 CAR30 MEM16 PHO2 HOM12 20th 2956 2003 Haas CNC Racing 00 Chevy DAY CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX TAL NSH CAL RCH GTY NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN16 CLT11 MEM ATL22 PHO11 CAR22 HOM4 52nd 739 2004 DAY8 CAR32 LVS22 DAR14 BRI32 TEX6 NSH9 TAL5 CAL34 GTY6 RCH11 NZH7 CLT4 DOV14 NSH1* KEN7 MLW15 DAY13 CHI7 NHA3 PPR3 IRP3 MCH7 BRI17 CAL10 RCH4 DOV4 KAN CLT MEM ATL PHO DAR HOM 12th 3661 2005 Braun Racing 32 Chevy DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL NSH BRI TEX PHO TAL DAR RCH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY9 CHI23 NHA29 PPR GTY18 IRP GLN MCH14 BRI20 CAL7 RCH5 DOV3 KAN19 CLT6 MEM24 TEX8 PHO7 HOM27 30th 1829 2006 DAY6 CAL22 MXC17 LVS11 ATL6 BRI32 TEX17 NSH35 PHO22* 13th 3554 38 TAL18 RCH24 DAR10 CLT18 DOV34 NSH43 KEN40 MLW4 DAY18 CHI19 NHA14 MAR8 GTY33 IRP19 GLN35 MCH13 BRI5 CAL24 RCH20 DOV5 KAN31 CLT28 MEM34 TEX43 PHO14 HOM19 2007 Toyota DAY22 CAL38 MXC6 LVS37 ATL41 BRI34 NSH4 TEX13 PHO18 TAL35 RCH37 DAR6 CLT31 DOV11 NSH3 KEN14 MLW3 NHA12 DAY9 CHI33 GTY4 IRP1 CGV26 GLN27 MCH12 BRI2* CAL14 RCH11 DOV30 KAN21 CLT19 MEM5 TEX12 PHO8 HOM14 3rd 3996 2008 DAY19 CAL11 LVS39 ATL8 BRI6 NSH13 TEX9 PHO14 MXC21 TAL4 RCH16 DAR9 CLT32 DOV27 NSH26 KEN16 MLW10 NHA32 DAY23 CHI27 GTY4 IRP16 CGV7 GLN8 MCH8 BRI15 CAL26 RCH30 DOV7 KAN8 CLT18 MEM12 TEX17 PHO25 HOM4 9th 4086 2009 DAY33 CAL11 LVS4 BRI10 TEX13 NSH6 PHO2 TAL6 RCH10 DAR2 CLT6 DOV8 NSH5 KEN6 MLW10 NHA10 DAY19 CHI4 GTY14 IRP8 IOW3 GLN15 MCH11 BRI6 CGV29 ATL20 RCH32 DOV6 KAN11 CAL30 CLT32 MEM3 TEX3 PHO27 HOM18 4th 4540 2010 10 DAY33 BRI9 DAR5 DOV5 CLT7 BRI2 ATL7 9th 3941 38 CAL14 LVS12 NSH39 PHO19 TEX12 TAL41 RCH16 NSH34 KEN33 ROA8 NHA14 DAY14 CHI5 GTY23 IRP30 IOW3 GLN35 MCH34 CGV21 RCH14 Turner Motorsports DOV8 KAN10 CAL37 CLT15 GTY4 TEX6 PHO33 10 HOM10 2011 30 Chevy DAY6 BRI8 TEX15 DAR9 BRI7 ATL9 DOV19 CLT11 6th 1028 38 PHO11 LVS9 CAL11 TAL15 NSH15 RCH10 DOV11 IOW33 CLT21 CHI5 MCH10 ROA20 DAY2 KEN13 NHA30 NSH18 IRP6 IOW13 GLN18 CGV9 RCH29 CHI12 KAN13 TEX15 PHO26 HOM12 2012 30 DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX RCH TAL DAR IOW CLT DOV MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW8 GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO12 HOM 120th 01

Camping World Truck Series NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Pts Ref 2000 Ultra Motorsports 5 Ford DAY HOM PHO MMR MAR PIR GTY MEM PPR EVG TEX KEN GLN MLW NHA NZH MCH IRP29 NSV CIC RCH DOV TEX CAL 103rd 76 2002 Ultra Motorsports 2 Dodge DAY11 DAR30 MAR6 GTY2 PIR2* DOV9 TEX27 MEM4 MLW2 KAN4 KEN5 NHA27 MCH2 IRP2 NSH28 RCH12* TEX8 SBO9 LVS5 CAL2 PHO16 HOM3 4th 3156 2003 DAY30 DAR6 MMR7 MAR11 CLT21 DOV1 TEX27 MEM6 MLW2 KAN7 KEN5 GTW2 MCH4 IRP15 NSH24 BRI9 RCH NHA CAL LVS SBO TEX MAR PHO HOM 16th 2209 2004 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports 47 Chevy DAY ATL MAR MFD CLT DOV TEX MEM MLW KAN KEN GTW MCH IRP NSH BRI RCH NHA LVS CAL TEX MAR PHO DAR24 HOM 95th 91 2007 Red Horse Racing 1 Toyota DAY CAL ATL MAR KAN CLT MFD DOV TEX MCH MLW MEM KEN IRP NSH BRI GTW NHA LVS TAL4 MAR23 ATL TEX9 PHO4 HOM5 41st 707 2009 Stringer Motorsports 90 Toyota DAY CAL ATL MAR KAN CLT DOV TEX MCH MLW29 MEM KEN IRP NSH BRI CHI IOW GTW NHA LVS MAR TAL TEX PHO HOM 99th 76 2012 Kyle Busch Motorsports 18 Toyota DAY36 MAR8 CAR34 KAN18 CLT4 DOV TEX6 KEN8 IOW6 CHI8 POC MCH BRI ATL IOW KEN LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO 23rd 294 Hillman Racing 27 Chevy HOM19

Ineligible for series points

ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Pts Ref 1999 Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Pontiac DAY ATL SLM AND CLT MCH POC TOL SBS BLN POC KIL FRS FLM ISF WIN DSF SLM CLT TAL ATL5 87th 205 2000 DAY SLM AND CLT KIL FRS MCH POC TOL KEN BLN POC WIN ISF KEN DSF SLM CLT31 TAL ATL 124th 100