Former NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series driver Jason Leffler, 37, has died from injuries sustained in a racing accident during a dirt sprint car race at Bridgeport Speedway in Bridgeport, New Jersey on Wednesday night. According to a story published by the Associated Press, Leffler hit the wall and had to be removed from his car. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital. NASCAR has yet to issue a press release on the matter, but did post the following status update on its Facebook page shortly after 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday:
NASCAR extends its thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to the family of Jason Leffler who passed away earlier this evening. For more than a decade, Jason was a fierce competitor in our sport and he will be missed.
Leffler, originally from Long Beach, California made 423 combined starts in NASCAR's top three touring series (Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Trucks). He won two Nationwide races and one Truck series event. He last competed full time in NASCAR in 2011. He had spent much of 2013 racing sprint cars, but did race in the Sprint Cup series at Pocono Raceway on June 9.
- Lee Bailie
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images for NASCAR
