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RIP: Jason Leffler

MBMiller25MBMiller25 Posts: 6,057 ✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Not many people will know who Jason is, but he was a very versatile race car driver, who drove Nationwide, Cup and Indy cars, along with being a USAC champion. He died last night in a Sprint Car race. He was a super nice guy, whom I had gotten to know as my 5 year old daughter and his 5 year old son shared the same preschool. He was a really devoted dad to Charlie!

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  • Nascar360Nascar360 Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    www.jasonleffler.com

    Jason "Lefturn" Leffler

    Hometown : Long Beach, CA
    Resides : Huntersville, NC
    Born: September 16th, 1975
    Marital Status : Single
    Son : Charlie Dean Leffler
    Quick Facts

    • Began Racing at age 12
    • 4 USAC championships
    • National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
    • 12 years in NASCAR
    • 56 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts
    • 294 career Nationwide Series start


    The History Of JASON LEFFLER

    Jason can thank an impressive open-wheel career for over a decade of success in NASCAR. The Long Beach, CA native became the third driver to win three consecutive USAC midget championships (1997-99). He also claimed the USAC Silver Crown title in 1998, as well as victories in prestigious races such as the Hut 100, Night Before the 500, Belleville Midget Nationals, Turkey Night Grand Prix and Copper World Classic. Jason's induction into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2003 sealed his title as one of the most successful short-track drivers in the country.

    Leffler then followed the dream of many openwheelers and moved to the NASCAR Nationwide Series full time in 2000. Later that year Jason also had the opportunity to race in the famous Indianapolis 500, with an impressive 17th place finish.

    Jason joined Joe Gibbs Racing full time in 2000, where he earned three poles and four top 10s before moving to Chip Ganassi Racing and the Sprint Cup Series in 2001, where he won the pole for inaugural race at Kansas.

    Leffler joined the Camping World Truck Series in 2002 and tied a single-season record with eight poles and qualified no worse than eighth all year. He finished second six times, ended up fourth in the championship and went on to win his first Truck race in 2003 at Dover. A year later, Leffler broke through in the Nationwide Series at Nashville, leading 61 laps for his first victory.

    He's been a staple in NASCAR ever since.

    Leffler joined Braun Racing (now Turner Motorsports) midway through the 2005 season. All too- talented, Leffler has made 296 starts in the Nationwide Series, with two victories, 42 top fives, 107 top 10s and eight poles. He's finished in the top 10 in points for six consecutive years and gave Toyota its first Nationwide victory in July 2007 at Lucas Oil Raceway. Jason Leffler has decided to go back to the dirt.

    In 2013 he will return to open wheeled racing, following over a decade long, successful career in NASCAR. Teaming up with Tom Buch Racing, they plan on running 50-65 sprint car races nationwide. Jason is excited to get back to the grass roots of racing to connect with fans and old rivalries.

    Jason has had an impressive career in openwheeled racing. He is one of three drivers able to claim 3 consecutive USAC midget championships,1997-1999. In the last decade, he took the USAC Silver crown title as well as victories in prestigious races such as the Hut 100, Night Before the 500, Belleville Midget Nationals, Turkey Night Grand Prix, Hoosier 100 and Copper World Classic. In 2000, Json even had the opportunity to race in the Indianapolis 500, with an impressive 17th place finish.

    He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2003, sealing his title as one of the most successful short-track drivers in the country.

    www.jasonleffler.com
  • cpamikecpamike Posts: 5,566 ✭✭✭
    Very sad indeed. Here is a picture of him and his son Charlie. RIP Jason Leffler. image

    image
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep."

    "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

    Collecting:
    Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
  • mccardguy1mccardguy1 Posts: 1,509 ✭✭✭
    I read this about this today and was saddened to hear of his passing. With all the safety advances that have been made in racing it has become easy to assume that this type of thing does not happen any more. This is certainly a sad occurance but a reality in the racing circuit.
    I am on a budget and I am not afraid to use it!!
  • RavensFanRavensFan Posts: 36
    Jason was a very nice guy. Someone like you and me. Took the time to talk to his fans. Never had a big head like other people in sports. I got the opportunity of meeting him a few times at a couple different race tracks. When you spoke to him, he didn't rush the conversation and was very interested in what you had to say. He wasn't the greatest driver, but he was a awesome guy. My condolences to Charlie Dean (his son) and the rest of his family. He was a true gentleman!!! RIP Jason, you will be missed.
    Been collecting on and off from 1982. Football is my favorite, although, I do like baseball. Always looking for 1984 Topps and 1989 Score Football PSA 10's.
  • kingnascarkingnascar Posts: 636 ✭✭✭
    Several years ago, I met Jason when JGR unveiled the FedEx car in Memphis and they picked him as the driver. I got to speak with him for a couple of minutes. He was very nice and gracious.
    He will be missed. Prayers and thoughts are with his family, especially his son.

    Unfortunately, this is a reminder that auto racing is still a dangerous sport.

    Logan

    Kingnascar's PSA Sets
    Kingnascar's PSADNA Sets
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