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Jason Leffler won the pole for the Sears 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway in 2003 with a track record speed of 178.037 mph. Leffler died Wednesday night after a crash at a dirt track in New Jersey.

(Citizen Patriot file photo)

JACKSON, MI -- The death of NASCAR driver Jason Leffler in a sprint car accident in New Jersey on Wednesday night has saddened the racing community.

That includes Michigan International Speedway, set to host NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series races this weekend in Brooklyn.

“The Michigan International Speedway family is thinking of Jason Leffler, his family, fans and those close to him," MIS President Roger Curtis said in a statement. "We host an event this weekend with heavy hearts, knowing that a loved racer has left us too soon."

Leffler was killed while driving in a heat race at Bridgeport Speedway, a 5/8-mile dirt track in Swedesboro, N.J. Leffler, 37, leaves behind a 5-year-old son.

Leffler was not expected to race at MIS this weekend. He made his only Sprint Cup Series start of the season last week at Pocono Raceway, finishing 43rd.

Leffler was more widely known in the Nationwide Series, where he had two victories and finished in the top 10 in the points standings five straight seasons from 2007-11. He made nine of his 15 career starts at MIS in the Nationwide Series, including his first in August 2000 when he finished 41st and his last in June 2011 when he finished 10th. His best finish at MIS in the Nationwide Series was seventh in August 2004.

He also made four Sprint Cup Series starts at MIS with a best finish of 19th in June 2001.

He drove in two Camping World Truck Series races at the two-mile oval, finishing second in July 2002 and fourth after starting on the pole in July 2003.