And Leffler also had a sense of humor that bordered on the mischievous. He also loved interacting with fans, not because he had to due to sponsor mandates, but rather because – even though he was shy at times – he still liked to describe himself as a “people person.”ĭuring one of the many times I interviewed him over the years, Leffler said he learned early on that when he met someone for the first time as a stranger, he made sure they parted as newly-made friends. Likewise, he had a big heart, always willing to help a fellow racer. Standing just 5-foot 3 inches, Leffler was a little guy in stature but was one of the most competitive drivers you’d ever want to meet. But he had to do what he had to do to support himself and Charlie. He knew sprint cars were often described as rolling death traps, not having near as much in terms of safety features as in NASCAR. If he had his druthers, he likely also would have chosen to remain in NASCAR, with its outstanding achievements in safety that have resulted in no drivers being killed since Dale Earnhardt in the February 2001 Daytona 500.īut Leffler was a pragmatist, as well. Sure, it was a violent, horrible way to die, but if Leffler had a choice of how he’d leave this world, being behind the wheel would most likely be the way he would have wanted. ![]() And as much of a cliché as it sounds, Leffler was a man who loved what he did and he went out in just that fashion. Sadly, all those figured in Leffler’s death. Sure, he knew the danger and risks of the open-wheel rides: their propensity to flip over, the ease in which cars broke apart mechanically, and how any race had the potential to end in either victory or injury – or worse. That’s how he wound up back where he began his racing career in, sprint cars. He would either be in competitive equipment or he would go find another series where he would. Sure, he probably could have gotten a ride in a so-called “start-and-park” Cup or NNS or Truck team, but that wasn’t Leffler’s style. Nicknamed “LefTurn,” Leffler had gone back to his first love of sprint car racing when he couldn’t secure a full-time ride on any of the NASCAR’s premier series. ![]() Leffler was 37 at the time of his death and left behind a young son, Charlie, who idolized his dad, his hero, his best friend. The former NASCAR driver – he raced across all three series: Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Trucks – was killed Jin a horrific crash during a sprint car race at Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey. It’s hard to believe but Thursday marks one year since the racing world lost Jason Leffler.
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