Photo source: JasonLeffler.com

A dispatch on NASCAR.com says the fatal accident occurred on a five-eighths mile high-banked dirt track. Mr. Leffler, 37, was a Long Beach, CA native. His website says he began racing at age 12, held 4 USAC championships, was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, spent 12 years in NASCAR with 56 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts and 294 career Nationwide Series starts

"NASCAR extends its thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to the family of Jason Leffler who passed away earlier this evening," NASCAR said in statement. "For more than a decade, Jason was a fierce competitor in our sport and he will be missed."

[NASCAR.com text by David Caraviello]: ...Leffler made his first NASCAR start this season in Sunday's Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway, where he finished 43rd. Although he competed at NASCAR’s top level for both Joe Gibbs Racing and Chip Ganassi, his best years came on the Nationwide tour, where he finished inside the top 10 in points five times. He won Nationwide races for owners Gene Haas and Todd Braun, and also won a Camping World Truck Series event in 2003 for Jim Smith.

But Leffler's roots were in the USAC ranks, where he won three midget titles to go along with a silver crown championship. He returned to those roots this season, competing most of the year in a winged sprint car.

In describing his plans for the 2013 season, Mr. Leffler's website said:

[JasonLeffler.com text]...For the 2013 season, Jason Leffler will be going back to his grass roots in the open wheel world...

While Jason has raced in several series, including USAC, silver crown and NASCAR, this is his first season in a winged sprint car. "I've got a lot of learning to do. It's cool to be able to race 3 times a week and figure things out. I’m really looking forward to racing at the historic places in PA and racing some of the best sprint car drivers out there"

Leffler and Buch Racing went to Florida in February to kick off the year, hitting Volusia and Ocala Speedways. They will be following the All Star Circuit and local tracks around PA, living the true outlaw style hitting as many races as they can. "I'm ready to get going and really looking forward to some real racing again."

In recent years, Mr. Leffler resided in Huntersville, NC. He leaves behind a young son, Charlie.