Cherish Every Moment: I'll Miss You, Jason Leffler

Jason Leffler and I. May 25, 2011

Hanging on my bedroom wall are numerous pictures of me with various NASCAR drivers that I have met over the last few years. The pictures signify moments in my life when I got to meet some of the greatest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Sure, some of those meetings lasted less than a minute, but those precious seconds will always mean a lot to me. I have my favorite drivers, but I enjoy meeting any driver I can. Why? Because you just never know what could happen to them on down the road. Then you’ll be left wishing you had taken the time to meet that driver you thought you would get a chance to meet next time.

I look at one particular photo hanging on my wall, and I can’t help but fight back the tears. Amongst the multiple photos of me with the same drivers is one that I will forever cherish.

Hanging on my wall is one single photo of me with Jason Leffler.

The photo was taken on May 25, 2011 at the NASCAR Speedpark at Concord Mills in Concord, NC. It was pure luck that I even had the opportunity to meet Leffler that day. My best friend Jordan and I took off to Charlotte early that Wednesday afternoon. When we arrived in Concord, we stopped at Concord Mills to first meet Brad Keselowski then we wandered on inside the mall. I saw signs about something going on at the Speedpark so we went to it. Turns out, numerous Nationwide Series, Camping World Truck Series, and K&N Pro Series drivers were there to race go-karts. I stayed for all of the event, enjoying watching the drivers having a good time.

I had been a fan of Leffler for a few years, but when I saw Leffler there I suddenly became too afraid to even say hi to him. Jordan stopped him as he walked by to ask him if he would take a photo with me. I could barely manage to say anything more than “hi” when he stopped to talk for a few seconds. In the photo, it’s easy to tell both Leffler and I were trying not to laugh. Just before she took the photo, Jordan told him “She really likes your hair!”, which almost made us both laugh. After the photo was taken, I thanked Leffler for taking the photo with me and wished him luck for the upcoming race that weekend.

While that meeting with Leffler is definitely one I’ll never forget, it is just one of very few memories I have of him. My best—and favorite—memory of seeing him race is the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway in August 2007. I don’t remember too many details about the race other than the battle for the lead Leffler had with eventual race winner Kasey Kahne. At the time, I had no idea who Leffler was, but the way he raced so hard that night made me instantly become a fan. That race was the first race my papaw Frank ever went to with me. I remember Frank and I both being on our feet those last few laps of the race as we cheered Leffler on.

Wednesday night, when it was confirmed that Leffler had passed away after injuries he sustained during a crash in a sprint car at Bridgeport Speedway, I was devastated. I didn’t know Leffler personally, but I had always liked him. His death has left an obvious void in the NASCAR community.

Everyone in the racing community (not just NASCAR) was left saying goodbye to a fierce competitor who crossed life’s finish line way too soon. The void left behind will never be filled, but just as with any family, the NASCAR community will all lean on each other as we all try to make sense of the loss of a competitor.

I only met Leffler that one time in 2011, and that photo hanging on my wall will always be a treasured memory. The other photos I have with other drivers are also cherished just as much. I’ve spent a lot of money going to races and taking road trips just to meet drivers. I regret not one penny I have spent in creating such wonderful memories.

It is unbelievably tough to say goodbye. While I’m no more than a fan, I’ve mourned Leffler’s death right alongside so many others the past couple days. Fellow fans have leaned on each other for support as much as the drivers have probably leaned on each other since Wednesday night. The NASCAR community became a family to support each other in coping with Leffler's passing. 

Every NASCAR fan should make the most of every opportunity they have to meet a driver, whether that driver is their favorite or not. That driver could go on to become the next champion in a surprising change of events much like Brad Keselwoski did in 2012. The driver could go on to add their name to the list of Daytona 500 champions in a surprise win much like Trevor Bayne did in 2011. Or that driver could become one of the few who loses their life doing something they love.

We all know the risks every driver takes when they strap themselves into their cars on race day, but none of us ever want to believe it can happen. It is the sad reality of the sport so many people love. No matter what, cherish every moment you have meeting one of your racing heroes because you just never know when they’ll be crossing the finish line for the last time in their life.

Godspeed, Jason Leffler. You will be missed by so many. And I’ll always cherish those few seconds I was able to meet you two years ago.