Jason Charles Leffler(September 16, 1975 – June 12, 2013) was an American professionalopen-wheelandstock car racingdriver. Leffler began racing in the open-wheel ranks, competing in the2000 Indianapolis 500before moving to primarilyNASCARcompetition. He died from injuries sustained in a410 sprint car raceatBridgeport SpeedwayinBridgeport, New Jersey.
Jason Leffler | |||||||
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Born | Jason Charles Leffler September 16, 1975 Long Beach, California,U.S. | ||||||
Died | June 12, 2013 Bridgeport, New Jersey,U.S. | (aged 37)||||||
Cause of death | Blunt force neck injury from racing accident | ||||||
Height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) | ||||||
Weight | 130 lb (59 kg) | ||||||
Achievements | 1997, 1998, 1999USAC National Midget SeriesChampion 1998USAC Silver Crown SeriesChampion 2002Hoosier HundredWinner 1999, 2005Turkey Night Grand PrixWinner 1997 Belleville Midget Nationals Winner | ||||||
Awards | National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fameinductee (2003) West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame(2015) USAC Hall of Fame inductee (2018) | ||||||
NASCARCup Seriescareer | |||||||
73 races run over 9 years | |||||||
2013position | 52nd | ||||||
Best finish | 37th (2001) | ||||||
First race | 2001Daytona 500(Daytona) | ||||||
Last race | 2013Party in the Poconos 400(Pocono) | ||||||
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NASCARXfinity Seriescareer | |||||||
294 races run over 12 years | |||||||
Best finish | 3rd (2007) | ||||||
First race | 1999Kroger 200(IRP) | ||||||
Last race | 2012Great Clips 200(Phoenix) | ||||||
First win | 2004Federated Auto Parts 300(Nashville) | ||||||
Last win | 2007Kroger 200(IRP) | ||||||
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NASCARCraftsman Truck Seriescareer | |||||||
56 races run over 7 years | |||||||
Best finish | 4th (2002) | ||||||
First race | 2000Power Stroke 200(IRP) | ||||||
Last race | 2012Ford EcoBoost 200(Homestead) | ||||||
First win | 2003MBNA Armed Forces Family 200(Dover) | ||||||
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IndyCar Seriescareer | |||||||
3 races run over 2 years | |||||||
Best finish | 30th (2000) | ||||||
First race | 1999Transworld Diversified Services 200(Disney) | ||||||
Last race | 2000 Indianapolis 500(Indy) | ||||||
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Racing career
editOpen wheel career
editLeffler began his career racingmidget carsin theUSACseries, 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.[1]He won theHut Hundredand Belleville Nationals in 1997, and theTurkey Night Grand Prixand Copper Classic in 1999.[1]He won his second Turkey Night Grand Prix in 2005.
Roger Penskemet Leffler at the 1998 Hut 100. Leffler's success also caught the attention ofJoe Gibbs Racing,a team which had previously signedTony Stewartfrom the USAC ranks. Leffler joined the team in 1999 and made four starts in theBusch Seriesduring the season with moderate success. At the same time, he also started a race in theIndy Racing LeagueatWalt Disney World Speedwayin the No. 5Treadway Racingmachine, but finished last after crashing early in the race.
Leffler made his first, and only, start in theIndianapolis 500in 2000. This effort was put forth by Treadway Racing with backing fromRoger Penske'sUnited Auto group. Leffler qualified in the 17th position, which was also where he finished.
NASCAR career
editDuring the 2000 season, Leffler drove full-time for the No. 18MBNAsponsored Joe Gibbs Racing team in the Busch Series. He finished twentieth in the final standings, earned three pole positions during the year, and finished second atPhoenix.He also made two IRL starts, among them a start for Treadway in theIndianapolis 500where he started and finished seventeenth. After that season he moved up to the Winston Cup Series to become the driver of the #01 Cingular Wireless Dodge forChip Ganassi Racingas the permanent replacement forKenny Irwin Jr.,who was killed in a practice crash while driving for the same team at New Hampshire in 2000. Leffler's car retained sponsorship fromBellSouththrough itsCingular Wirelessproperty, and with Ganassi's purchase of a stake inFelix Sabates' former team came a switch in manufacturer as Leffler became one of several drivers to driveDodge Intrepidsin the brand's return to NASCAR. It was a controversial decision, as Leffler performed poorly the season prior in excellent Joe Gibbs equipment in the Busch series. During his inaugural Cup season, he had only one top 10 finish and four failures to qualify. He was, however, the inaugural pole setter at Kansas Speedway. After his 37th-place finish in the 2001 championship, Ganassi replaced him withJimmy Spencerfor the 2002 season and remade Leffler's former car into the #41 Target Dodge.
Leffler joinedUltra Motorsportsin 2002 to drive the #2Carquest/Team ASEDodge Ramin place of the departedScott Riggsand had great success early on with the team. In his first year, he tied a single seasonCraftsman Truck Seriesrecord by scoring eight pole positions, and qualified no worse than eighth at any race during the season. Despite not winning a race, he had six second-place finishes and a fourth-place finish in the championship. He also won theNight Before the 500midget race and got to drive Ultra's #7 car in the final two races of the Cup Series season after the team firedCasey Atwood.Leffler finally broke through in2003when he scored his first career victory atDover.
Despite the success, Leffler ended up losing his ride at Ultra in a controversial fashion.Haas CNC Racing,which was fielding its first full-time Cup Series team, had fired its driverJack Spragueafter theTropicana 400.Team owner Gene Haas namedJohn Andrettias his replacement, but he was unavailable for theBrickyard 400due to a prior commitment withDale Earnhardt, Inc.Haas approached Leffler to drive the #0NetZeroPontiac Grand Prixin the race and he agreed to do so. Ultra, which had warned Leffler that such a move would be in violation of his contract, responded by firing him.
Leffler made ten starts in the #0, becoming the permanent driver after theSirius Satellite Radio at the Glen.The team then signedWard Burtonaway fromBill Davis Racingto take over the car, and he joined the team before the season was over to get a head start. Leffler was moved to the #00Haas Automationcar in the Busch Series for the remainder of 2003, with the idea that he would remain there for 2004. AtNashville Superspeedwayin 2004, Leffler scored his first careerBusch Seriesvictory. He also was involved in a controversial finish at the Winn-Dixie 250; he was penalized by NASCAR for "over-aggressive driving" on the final lap, that sawMichael Waltripget spun, and thenDale Earnhardt Jr.get wrecked, both by Leffler. He was running third in the points when the team released him from his contract. He ended up finishing twelfth in the championship despite missing the last seven races.
Shortly after his dismissal, Leffler signed a deal to re-join Joe Gibbs Racing for 2005, taking over a newly created Cup team sponsored byFedEx.The No. 11 Chevrolet was regularly outside of the top 35 in points, meaning that it was not guaranteed a starting spot for all races; Leffler was unable to qualify for theCoca-Cola 600because of it. He was replaced byTerry Labontefor the two road-course races and, eventually, was fired from JGR after nineteen starts in which he failed to record a top ten finish. He was replaced by a mix of Labonte and JGR developmental driversJ. J. YeleyandDenny Hamlin,the latter of whom took over the car full-time the following season.
While racing with Gibbs, Leffler briefly raced with Braun Racing in the Busch Series, a team that had lost their regular driver,Shane Hmiel,to a drug suspension. After leaving Gibbs, Leffler joined Braun Racing on a full-time basis for the remainder of the season. Leffler had scored four top ten finishes with Braun in nine starts for the team.
For the 2006 season, Leffler was signed to return toBraun Racingto drive the No. 32 Chevrolet. The team carried sponsorships fromLucas Oil,Fraternal Order of Eagles,andABF U-Pack Moving.The No. 32 team became the No. 38 team with sponsorship from Great Clips after it merged withAkins Motorsports.Jason also attempted to qualify for the second to last race of the chase atPhoenixin the No. 71 forBraun Racingbut failed to qualify. He also owned the 2006 USAC Silver Crown championship team.[2]
During the 2007 season, Leffler won the pole for theWinn-Dixie 250atDaytona International Speedway.He finished ninth. Leffler would makeNASCARhistory on July 28, 2007 as he passedGreg Bifflewith two laps remaining to win the Busch SeriesKroger 200atO'Reilly Raceway Park.The win marked the first race victory for aToyota Camryin Busch Series competition, and the first win for a foreign manufacturer in a top-tierNASCARseries sinceAl Kellerwon in a Jaguar in 1954. The win also marked Leffler's second careerBusch Serieswin and first win since the 2004 season. Leffler would finish the 2007 season 3rd in the points standings, the highest of the Busch regulars. Leffler returned to Sprint Cup in 2008 for a few races in the No. 70 Haas CNC Chevy while driving full-time for Braun Racing's No. 38 Toyota Camry in the Nationwide Series.
In 2009 at the July Daytona race weekend, it was announced that the No. 38Toyotacar would be shared withKasey Kahnefor the2010 NASCAR Nationwide Seriesseason. Leffler still drove full-time, as he would pilot the No. 10 Toyota in races Kahne was in the No. 38. On September 25, 2010, Braun Racing's Nationwide operations were acquired by Turner Motorsports. Leffler continued driving full-time in the Great Clips No. 38 for TMS in 2010 and 2011 with select races in the No. 10 and 30. In late 2011 he was informed that he was free to pursue other opportunities for the 2012 season. During the second-to-last race of the2011 NASCAR Nationwide Seriesseason atPhoenix International Raceway,Leffler was racing withElliott Sadler,who was 17 points back of first place in the standings coming into the race, andAric Almirolafor 10th when Leffler bumped into the rear bumper of Sadler in turn 3 turning Sadler around and collecting himself, Almirola,Jeremy Clements,andMorgan Shepherd.The wreck ended up costing Sadler the championship as Sadler lost the championship by 45 points toRicky Stenhouse Jr.Leffler in his interview took full responsibility for what happened between him and Sadler saying that it was his own fault.[3]
On January 9, 2012,Kyle Busch Motorsportsannounced that Leffler would drive the No. 18 truck for fourteen races with sponsorship fromDollar General.[4]However, strings of bad luck and poor finishes plagued the team, and Leffler was released on August 14.[5]
Leffler also returned to the Cup Series in 2012, driving forRobinson-Blakeney RacingatWatkins Glen International,[6]and forHumphrey Smith RacingatMichigan International Speedway.[7]
Leffler made a single Cup Series start in 2013, driving Humphrey Smith Racing's No. 19Toyota CamryatPocono Racewayin early June, three days before his death; hestarted and parked,finishing 43rd in the event.[8]
Death
editOn June 12, 2013, at 8:30 PM, Leffler was involved in a crash during a 410sprint carheat raceat the5⁄8-mile (1.0 km)Bridgeport SpeedwayinLogan Township, New Jersey.[9]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.[10]
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 toCrozer-Chester Medical Centerin Chester, Pennsylvania,[11]where he was pronounced dead at 9:00 PMEDT,30 minutes after the accident.[12]An autopsy report stated that the cause of death was a severeblunt forceneck and spine injury.[13]
After his death, many drivers and racing associations such asNASCARandIndyCarmade statements on the death and gave their condolences. NASCAR drivers competing in the2013 Quicken Loans 400had special stickers placed on their cars in honor of Leffler. Denny Hamlin, who replaced Leffler in theNo. 11 FedEx Toyotain late 2005 had his car repainted to resemble Leffler's livery.[14]
Personal life
editLeffler 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 shared his life with live-in girlfriend Julianna Patterson; they resided inNorth Carolinaand were engaged at the time of his death.[citation needed]
Career awards
editLeffler was inducted into theNational Midget Auto Racing Hall of Famein 2003.[1]He had 19 USAC national championship midget car wins at that time.[2]He was inducted in the USAC Hall of Fame in 2018.[2]He also had six USAC Silver Crown wins.[2]
Motorsports career results
editAmerican open-wheel racing
edit(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position) (Races initalicsindicate fastest lap)
IndyCar Series
editIndyCar Seriesresults | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Chassis | No. | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Rank | Points | Ref | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1999 | Treadway Racing | G-Force | 5 | Oldsmobile | WDW 28 |
PHX | CLT | INDY | TXS | PPIR | ATL | DOV | PP2 | LVS | TX2 | 48th | 2 | [15] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2000 | 55 | WDW | PHX | LVS 15 |
30th | 28 | [16] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
50 | INDY 17 |
TXS | PPIR | ATL | KTY | TX2 |
Indianapolis 500
editYear | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | G-Force | Oldsmobile | 17 | 17 | Treadway Racing |
NASCAR
edit(key) (Bold– Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics– Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Sprint Cup Series
editDaytona 500
editYear | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dodge | 15 | 34 |
2005 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 40 | 36 |
Nationwide Series
editCamping World Truck Series
edit1Ineligible for series points
ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series
edit(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 Seriesresults | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | ABMSC | 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 | ATL 5 |
87th | 205 | [46] | |||||||||||||||||
2000 | DAY | SLM | AND | CLT | KIL | FRS | MCH | POC | TOL | KEN | BLN | POC | WIN | ISF | KEN | DSF | SLM | CLT 31 |
TAL | ATL | 124th | 100 | [47] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abc"Biography".WorthyOfHonor.National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 22,2018.
- ^abcd"Wayne County Speedway".USAC National Midgets.October 10, 2020. Event occurs at 19:08.FloRacing.
- ^"Elliott Sadler's title hopes dashed with late-race crash".Archived fromthe originalon November 14, 2011.RetrievedNovember 12,2011.
- ^"Leffler joins Kyle Busch's truck team".Fox Sports.January 9, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon January 13, 2012.Retrieved2012-01-10.
- ^Pistone, Pete (August 14, 2012)."Jason Leffler out at Kyle Busch Motorsports".Eye on NASCAR.CBS Sports. Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2012.Retrieved2012-08-15.
- ^Marquart, Chris (August 11, 2012)."Watkins Glen Notebook: Montoya will start first in Finger Lakes 355 at The Glen".Finger Lakes Times.Geneva, NY.Retrieved2012-08-15.
- ^Pistone, Pete (August 14, 2012)."Michigan entry list features 45 drivers".Eye on NASCAR.CBS Sports. Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2012.Retrieved2012-08-15.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Results".Racing-Reference.USA Today Sports Media Group.Retrieved2013-06-13.
- ^"Leffler remembered as friend, teammate, father".Yahoo! Sports.Associated Press.June 13, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 16 June 2013.Retrieved13 June2013.
- ^Gluck, Jeff (June 21, 2013)."Police say mechanical failure caused Leffler's crash".USA Today.Retrieved2013-06-25.
- ^
- Utter, Jim (June 13, 2013)."NASCAR driver Jason Leffler dies after accident in dirt car event".WCNC-TV.Charlotte, North Carolina. Archived fromthe originalon June 15, 2013.Retrieved13 June2013.
- Ryan, Nate; Jeff Gluck (June 13, 2013)."NASCAR's Jason Leffler dead after dirt track crash".USA Today.Tysons Corner, Virginia.Retrieved2013-06-14.
- Boren, Cindy (June 13, 2013)."NASCAR driver Jason Leffler killed in race".The Washington Post.Washington, DC.Retrieved2013-06-14.
- ^
- "Leffler Dies After Accident in Dirt Car Event".ABC News.13 June 2013.Retrieved13 June2013.
- "NASCAR driver Jason Leffler dies from injuries sustained in crash".UPI.12 June 2013.Retrieved13 June2013.
- ^Gluck, Jeff (June 14, 2013)."Autopsy reveals Jason Leffler's cause of death".USA Today.Tysons Corner, Virginia.Retrieved2013-06-14.
- ^"No. 11 car a tribute to Jason Leffler".ESPN.Associated Press. June 2013.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 1999 Pep Boys Indy Racing League Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedAugust 6,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2000 Indy Racing Northern Lights Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedAugust 6,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2001 NASCAR Winton Cup Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2002 NASCAR Winton Cup Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2003 NASCAR Winton Cup Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 1999 NASCAR Busch Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2000 NASCAR Busch Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2003 NASCAR Busch Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2004 NASCAR Busch Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2005 NASCAR Busch Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 1999 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
- ^"Jason Leffler – 2000 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedApril 4,2023.
External links
edit- Jason Lefflerdriver statistics at Racing-Reference