Jason Leffler (lost footage of fatal 410 Sprint Car accident; 2013): Difference between revisions

From The Lost Media Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
No edit summary
 
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown)
Line 6: Line 6:
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>  
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>  
}}
}}
On 12th June 2013, NASCAR driver Jason Leffler was competing in a 410 Sprint Car race at Bridgeport Speedway when his vehicle suffered a front suspension failure. The resulting crash into the wall, as well as the car flipping several times, resulted in Leffler passing away from a blunt force neck injury. It is believed '''footage of the accident was captured, with one Reddit user claiming they had two videos of the crash'''.
On 12th June 2013, NASCAR driver Jason Leffler was competing in a 410 Sprint Car race at Bridgeport Speedway when his vehicle suffered a front suspension failure. The resulting crash into the wall, as well as the car flipping several times, resulted in Leffler passing away from a blunt-force neck injury. It is believed '''footage of the accident was captured, with one Reddit user claiming they had two videos of the crash'''.


==Background==
==Background==
Jason Leffler entered the 410 Sprint Cars event that headlined the Night of Wings 2013 show at Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey.<ref name="night">[https://fullyinjected.com/410-sprint-cars-headline-night-of-wings-2013-at-bridgeport-speedway-on-june-12/ ''Fully Injected'' detailing the event and its qualifying format.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref> As per the Night of Wings qualifying format, Leffler was drawn into a heat race group that help to determine the qualifying order.<ref name="night"/> During the time trials stage, Leffler posted the ninth fastest speed out of 29 competitors.<ref>[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=25617 ''Ultimate Racing History'' detailing the time trial results prior to the heat race.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref> He was therefore set to compete in a heat race that would give him the opportunity to qualify for the main race.<ref name="night"/>
Jason Leffler entered the 410 Sprint Cars event that headlined the Night of Wings 2013 show at Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey.<ref name="night">[https://fullyinjected.com/410-sprint-cars-headline-night-of-wings-2013-at-bridgeport-speedway-on-june-12/ ''Fully Injected'' detailing the event and its qualifying format.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref> As per the Night of Wings qualifying format, Leffler was drawn into a heat race group that help to determine the qualifying order.<ref name="night"/> During the time trials stage, Leffler posted the ninth fastest speed out of 29 competitors.<ref>[http://ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=25617 ''Ultimate Racing History'' detailing the time trial results prior to the heat race.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref> He was therefore set to compete in a heat race that would give him the opportunity to qualify for the main race.<ref name="night"/>


During the heat race, Leffler was running second on the fifth lap of the event.<ref name="usa">[https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2013/06/21/jason-leffler-driver-death-nascar/2447211/ ''USA Today'' reporting on the race and the fatal crash.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref><ref name="crash">[http://the-fastlane.co.uk/cpdb/crashphotos_view.php?editid1=2229 ''The Crash Photos Database'' summarising the accident and providing photos of it.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref> Suddenly, the front suspension of his vehicle failed as a torsion arm got lodged between the right front wheel and its front steering arm.<ref name="espn">[https://www.espn.co.uk/racing/nascar/story/_/id/9411043/jason-leffler-fatal-crash-caused-mechanical-problem-authorities-say ''ESPN'' reporting on the cause of the fatal accident.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref><ref name="usa"/><ref name="crash"/> This caused him to lose control of the car, as its steering locked up.<ref name="usa"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="crash"/> The car then crashed left side-on into an outside concrete wall at Turn 4, before flipping over and eventually landing on its wheels.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="usa"/><ref name="espn"/> While it is not known how fast Leffler was going at the time of the component failure, drivers generally reached an average speed of 135mph, and a top speed of 150 mph on the straights.<ref name="usa"/><ref name="espn"/>   
During the heat race, Leffler was running second on the fifth lap of the event.<ref name="usa">[https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2013/06/21/jason-leffler-driver-death-nascar/2447211/ ''USA Today'' reporting on the race and the fatal crash.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref><ref name="crash">[http://the-fastlane.co.uk/cpdb/crashphotos_view.php?editid1=2229 ''The Crash Photos Database'' summarising the accident and providing photos of it.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref> Suddenly, the front suspension of his vehicle failed as a torsion arm got lodged between the right front wheel and its front steering arm.<ref name="espn">[https://espn.co.uk/racing/nascar/story/_/id/9411043/jason-leffler-fatal-crash-caused-mechanical-problem-authorities-say ''ESPN'' reporting on the cause of the fatal accident.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref><ref name="usa"/><ref name="crash"/> This caused him to lose control of the car, as its steering locked up.<ref name="usa"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="crash"/> The car then crashed left side-on into an outside concrete wall at Turn 4, before flipping over and eventually landing on its wheels.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="usa"/><ref name="espn"/> While it is not known how fast Leffler was going at the time of the component failure, drivers generally reached an average speed of 135mph, and a top speed of 150 mph on the straights.<ref name="usa"/><ref name="espn"/>   


While Leffler did wear a restraint that protected him from frontal impacts, it was not designed to protect drivers against side-on crashes.<ref>[https://www.espn.co.uk/racing/nascar/nationwide/story/_/id/9407098/experts-headrest-saved-jason-leffler ''ESPN'' reporting on the lack of restraint protection that caused Leffler's death.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref><ref name="withheld">[https://tb98nj.wordpress.com/2017/01/28/withheld-racing-footage/ ''Influential Moments in Racing'' detailing possible footage of the accident.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref> Ultimately, this proved fatal as Leffler suffered a blunt force neck and backbone injury.<ref name="usa"/><ref name="crash"/> Medics tried resuscitating him after he lost consciousness and was not breathing, but it was to no avail.<ref name="crash"/> He was transferred to the Crozer-Chester Medical Center, but passed away from his injuries 30 minutes after the accident, aged 37.<ref name="usa"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="crash"/> A NASCAR driver who had competed in the Cup Series since 2001, Leffler had also achieved two wins in the Busch Series, and a victory in the Craftsman Truck Series.<ref name="usa"/><ref name="espn"/> His resilient personality and grit also made him a popular and respected individual among fellow racers in the three national NASCAR series.<ref name="usa"/> The race itself was immediately red-flagged following the crash, and out of respect for Leffler, the other events held that weekend were cancelled.<ref name="crash"/> Additionally, full restraints for racing are now mandatory in New Jersey.<ref name="withheld"/>
While Leffler did wear a restraint that protected him from frontal impacts, it was not designed to protect drivers against side-on crashes.<ref>[https://espn.co.uk/racing/nascar/nationwide/story/_/id/9407098/experts-headrest-saved-jason-leffler ''ESPN'' reporting on the lack of restraint protection that caused Leffler's death.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref><ref name="withheld">[https://tb98nj.wordpress.com/2017/01/28/withheld-racing-footage/ ''Influential Moments in Racing'' detailing possible footage of the accident.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref> Ultimately, this proved fatal as Leffler suffered a blunt force neck and backbone injury.<ref name="usa"/><ref name="crash"/> Medics tried resuscitating him after he lost consciousness and was not breathing, but it was to no avail.<ref name="crash"/> He was transferred to the Crozer-Chester Medical Center but passed away from his injuries 30 minutes after the accident, aged 37.<ref name="usa"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="crash"/> A NASCAR driver who had competed in the Cup Series since 2001, Leffler had also achieved two wins in the Busch Series, and a victory in the Craftsman Truck Series.<ref name="usa"/><ref name="espn"/> His resilient personality and grit also made him a popular and respected individual among fellow racers in the three national NASCAR series.<ref name="usa"/> The race itself was immediately red-flagged following the crash, and out of respect for Leffler, the other events held that weekend were cancelled.<ref name="crash"/> Additionally, full restraints for racing are now mandatory in New Jersey.<ref name="withheld"/>


==Availability==
==Availability==
While photos and footage of the aftermath are publicly available,<ref name="crash"/> no video of the crash has ever resurfaced.<ref name="withheld"/> It is known that a spectator recorded parts of the race, which ends a lap prior to the impact.<ref name="withheld"/> However, it is unknown whether they were still filming by the time the crash occurred.<ref name="withheld"/> Additionally, one Reddit user claimed they were in possession of two different videos of the crash.<ref name="reddit">[https://www.reddit.com/r/NASCAR/comments/1g9ebd/jason_leffler_video/ r/NASCAR where a user discusses possessing two videos of the crash.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref> Out of respect for Leffler's family, they decided against posting it online.<ref name="reddit"/>
While photos and footage of the aftermath are publicly available,<ref name="crash"/> no video of the crash has ever resurfaced.<ref name="withheld"/> It is known that a spectator recorded parts of the race, which ends a lap prior to the impact.<ref name="withheld"/> However, it is unknown whether they were still filming by the time the crash occurred.<ref name="withheld"/> Additionally, one Reddit user claimed they were in possession of two different videos of the crash.<ref name="reddit">[https://reddit.com/r/NASCAR/comments/1g9ebd/jason_leffler_video/ r/NASCAR where a user discusses possessing two videos of the crash.] Retrieved 25 Apr '22</ref> Out of respect for Leffler's family, they decided against posting it online.<ref name="reddit"/>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Line 131: Line 131:
{{reflist}}  
{{reflist}}  


[[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]  
[[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]
<no-comment-streams />

Latest revision as of 21:42, 14 February 2023

Nsfl.png


This article has been tagged as NSFL due to its discussion of a fatal motor racing accident.



Jasonleffler1.jpg

Jason Leffler.

Status: Lost

On 12th June 2013, NASCAR driver Jason Leffler was competing in a 410 Sprint Car race at Bridgeport Speedway when his vehicle suffered a front suspension failure. The resulting crash into the wall, as well as the car flipping several times, resulted in Leffler passing away from a blunt-force neck injury. It is believed footage of the accident was captured, with one Reddit user claiming they had two videos of the crash.

Background

Jason Leffler entered the 410 Sprint Cars event that headlined the Night of Wings 2013 show at Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey.[1] As per the Night of Wings qualifying format, Leffler was drawn into a heat race group that help to determine the qualifying order.[1] During the time trials stage, Leffler posted the ninth fastest speed out of 29 competitors.[2] He was therefore set to compete in a heat race that would give him the opportunity to qualify for the main race.[1]

During the heat race, Leffler was running second on the fifth lap of the event.[3][4] Suddenly, the front suspension of his vehicle failed as a torsion arm got lodged between the right front wheel and its front steering arm.[5][3][4] This caused him to lose control of the car, as its steering locked up.[3][5][4] The car then crashed left side-on into an outside concrete wall at Turn 4, before flipping over and eventually landing on its wheels.[4][3][5] While it is not known how fast Leffler was going at the time of the component failure, drivers generally reached an average speed of 135mph, and a top speed of 150 mph on the straights.[3][5]

While Leffler did wear a restraint that protected him from frontal impacts, it was not designed to protect drivers against side-on crashes.[6][7] Ultimately, this proved fatal as Leffler suffered a blunt force neck and backbone injury.[3][4] Medics tried resuscitating him after he lost consciousness and was not breathing, but it was to no avail.[4] He was transferred to the Crozer-Chester Medical Center but passed away from his injuries 30 minutes after the accident, aged 37.[3][5][4] A NASCAR driver who had competed in the Cup Series since 2001, Leffler had also achieved two wins in the Busch Series, and a victory in the Craftsman Truck Series.[3][5] His resilient personality and grit also made him a popular and respected individual among fellow racers in the three national NASCAR series.[3] The race itself was immediately red-flagged following the crash, and out of respect for Leffler, the other events held that weekend were cancelled.[4] Additionally, full restraints for racing are now mandatory in New Jersey.[7]

Availability

While photos and footage of the aftermath are publicly available,[4] no video of the crash has ever resurfaced.[7] It is known that a spectator recorded parts of the race, which ends a lap prior to the impact.[7] However, it is unknown whether they were still filming by the time the crash occurred.[7] Additionally, one Reddit user claimed they were in possession of two different videos of the crash.[8] Out of respect for Leffler's family, they decided against posting it online.[8]

Gallery

Videos

TomoNews US' animated reconstruction of the crash.

Footage of the time trials that occurred earlier in the day.

Black Flags Matter video on Leffler.

Image

See Also

References