NASCAR driver Jason Leffler killed in New Jersey sprint car race crash

The NASCAR world is mourning the death of driver Jason Leffler, who was killed Wednesday night (Thursday, PHL time) in a crash in a dirt car event at the 5/8-mile, high-banked Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway oval.

Leffler, 37, was a two-time winner on the Nationwide Series. He was pronounced dead at 9:02 pm ET, according to New Jersey State Police.

According to various media reports, Leffler was driving a sprint car at the speedway's "Night of Wings," when it flipped on the track's front stretch. He was extracted from the wreck by rescue personnel and airlifted from the track in a helicopter.

The rest of the night's racing was cancelled by track promoters. - Reuters