The Long Beach, California, native won two Nationwide Series races and finished in the top 10 in points for six consecutive years, according to his website. The Long Beach, Calif., native, who was affectionately known as "LEFturn" and had the nickname stenciled above his driver's side window, leaves behind a 5-year-old son, Charlie. Story highlights NASCAR veteran Jason Leffler had just returned to dirt-track racing 
 
 He died Wednesday in a crash at a New Jersey dirt track 
 
 NASCAR calls Leffler a "fierce competitor" who will be missed 
 
 "Lost a good guy tonight," racer Bobby Labonte tweets 
 
 A violent crash on a dirt track in New Jersey has claimed the life of race car driver Jason Leffler, a NASCAR veteran lauded by fellow racers as a fierce and versatile competitor. A statement from NASCAR said the sanctioning body "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." Jason was a terrific guy who always had time for everyone. Leffler raced in the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 and the Brickyard 400 in 2001, 2003-05 and '08. JUST WATCHED Remembering NASCAR's Jason Leffler Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Remembering NASCAR's Jason Leffler 04:35 
 
 Leffler was on the fourth turn of the preliminary heat when his car left the banked dirt track and flipped several times down the front straightaway, the South Jersey Times newspaper reported , citing witnesses.
– NASCAR driver Jason Leffler, 37, died yesterday in a racing crash, CNN reports. Leffler was driving in "Night of Wings," a New Jersey sprint car race not sponsored by NASCAR. His car flipped multiple times and hit a wall twice, a witness tells USA Today. He'd been in second place. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. "For more than a decade, Jason was a fierce competitor in our sport and he will be missed," NASCAR said in a statement.