RIP Jason Leffler

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/jason-leffler-dies-after-sprint-car-wreck-bridgeport-speedway-061213

BRIDGEPORT, N.J. (AP)

NASCAR driver Jason Leffler died after an accident Wednesday night in a heat race at a dirt car event at Bridgeport Speedway.

Co-host brought this to my attention today. I saw the wreckage yesterday. It's pretty hard to tell what's what, but still had hope it wasn't fatal.

[EDIT - Here's the TL:DR version of what I said below: Some of the things we love have risk, but they enrich our lives. We all accept risk as we pass through this world. ]

It was. just heard about the death on NPR and went looking for this. It is an Autoweek column by Steven Cole Smith. It is the best thing I've ever seen written about racing deaths. He penned it after Tyler Morr, age 12, died at our county's local dirt circle.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120524/MOTORSPORTS/120529900

A caged stock car hitting a wall at an oval track on a Saturday night? That happens dozens of times at hundreds of tracks across the country. Almost always, the safety equipment does it job. Almost always, the drivers walk away. And once in a while, they don’t. And we have a tragedy. And when the driver is 12 . . . Critics, and count on plenty, will criticize the Morr family for allowing their child to race a real car at a real track. Supporters, and count on plenty—though they won’t get nearly the ink and air time of the critics—will say that Tyler could have died playing football or baseball, or crossing the street. They’ll say that he died “doing what he loved,” which has likely been used to comfort the bereaved since the first caveman died while hunting a saber-toothed tiger. And the hunt, or the races, will go on “because that’s what he would have wanted.” This Saturday night, there will be a race at Auburndale Speedway in Tyler’s honor. They will pass the hat. If I was home instead of at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I’d be there, and I’d probably tow a race car down and compete. Because I reconciled a long time ago that the only sport I care about can be so cruel, so unfair. I decline to apologize or justify. You get it or you don’t. I prefer the company of those who do.

I worked with Leffler a few years back. Good guy.

Sad that he left a 5 year old son behind. Winged 410 sprint cars have to be one of the ultimate rushes in motorsports to drive, but I could never see myself in one, they scare the crap outta me.

Winged sprint cars are absolutely terrifying machines. I saw whatever the "minor league" outlaw series is last year at the local dirt track. Those things are insane.

I have been watching all three of NASCAR's top series over the last 2 years and have been used to hearing Leffler's name on the broadcast pretty regularly in the Nationwide and truck series. I do not know his history very well but it is always sad news to hear about any racer dying. That includes types of racing that I do not like.

I hate to hear about his little boy. I hope one day he understands his father's passion for motorsports and (I hate using the old saying) died doing what he loved.