Stephen Leicht
Encyclopedia
Stephen Leicht is an American
stock car driver. He is currently a free agent
. He has over 150 feature event wins in quarter midgets
and go-karts
.
as a result of the accident, and was kept out of racing for six months.
At the age of 12, he began racing stock cars, and got his GED
to focus full-time on racing, and was named Motorsports Magazine's Rising Star of the Year in 2000. At the age of 15, he ran his first full year in the American Racing Association, and was named Rookie of the Year.
crew chief Howie Lettow. Leicht collected five wins en route to winning the national championship in the American Speed Association Late Model series
for WalTom Racing. He won both races that he attempted in the American StockCar League. He finished first or second in thirteen of sixteen events that entered between the two series. He started eighth in his Busch series debut at Memphis Motorsports Park
, and finished thirteenth. He ran another race at Phoenix
, starting seventeenth and finishing nineteenth.
In 2006, Leicht ran ARCA RE/MAX Series
events for Yates Racing and WalTom Racing. He earned his first career ARCA series win in his second career start at Nashville Superspeedway
in April. http://www.arcaracing.com/content/view/2962/2/. He also made four Busch series starts in 2006, posting two top-ten qualifying efforts. On July 23, he made his first Nextel Cup
start in the Pennsylvania 500
at Pocono Raceway
, qualifying 36th and finishing 33rd, one lap behind.
In 2007, Leicht ran the full NASCAR
Busch Series
(now Nationwide Series) schedule. He won his first race at Kentucky Speedway
and finished 7th in the final drivers points ranking. At the end of the season, Robert Yates Racing released Leicht from his contract because of sponsorship and finance issues. 2008 saw Leicht land a part-time stint in Richard Childress
's #21 Nationwide car, sharing driving duties with Bobby Labonte
. Leicht ran 4 races with a best finish of 7th at Phoenix International Raceway
. However, after Talladega, a lack of sponsorship sidelined Leicht until Texas in the fall, where he finished 18th.
In 2009, Stephen Leicht will drive the #29 Holiday Inn
/Holiday Inn Express
Chevrolet Impala
in 13 races. Leicht was originally slated to run 23, but his races were nearly halved by the addition of Clint Bowyer
as co-driver. He ran nine total races and had six top-ten finishes. He was released from RCR at then end of the year and signed to attempt 29 races for D'Hondt Humphrey Motorsports in the #91 car in 2010, but was released after two races.
Leicht will compete in his first NASCAR race since 2009 (and his first Sprint Cup start since 2006) in Tommy Baldwin Racing
's #36 Golden Corral Chevrolet, while Blaney pilots the team's second car, the #35 Pepsi Max
Chevrolet, meaning Leicht will be guaranteed a start while Blaney would have to qualify on time. Blaney finished 19th while Leicht finished 24th despite running in the top 10 most of the race.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stock car driver. He is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He has over 150 feature event wins in quarter midgets
Quarter Midget racing
Quarter Midget racing is a form of automobile racing. The cars are approximately one quarter the size of a full size midget car. The adult size midget being raced during the start of quarter midget racing, used an oval track of one fifth of a mile in length. The childs quarter midget track is one...
and go-karts
Kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
.
Early racing career
When he was seven years old, he began racing quarter midgets, and began advancing into go-karts. At the age of 11, Leicht was participating in the Go Kart Nationals, when he collided with the flag stand and was sent flying from his racecar. He suffered a burst spleenSpleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
as a result of the accident, and was kept out of racing for six months.
At the age of 12, he began racing stock cars, and got his GED
GED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
to focus full-time on racing, and was named Motorsports Magazine's Rising Star of the Year in 2000. At the age of 15, he ran his first full year in the American Racing Association, and was named Rookie of the Year.
NASCAR & ARCA career
In 2005, he moved to Wisconsin to work with veteran American Speed AssociationAmerican Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
crew chief Howie Lettow. Leicht collected five wins en route to winning the national championship in the American Speed Association Late Model series
ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series is a nationally touring American stock car racing series. Founded by Ron Varney in 2003 as the "USPRO Cup Series" , it was renamed "ASA Late Model Series in when it was purchased by the American Speed Association in 2004...
for WalTom Racing. He won both races that he attempted in the American StockCar League. He finished first or second in thirteen of sixteen events that entered between the two series. He started eighth in his Busch series debut at Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
, and finished thirteenth. He ran another race at Phoenix
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
, starting seventeenth and finishing nineteenth.
In 2006, Leicht ran ARCA RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
events for Yates Racing and WalTom Racing. He earned his first career ARCA series win in his second career start at Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in...
in April. http://www.arcaracing.com/content/view/2962/2/. He also made four Busch series starts in 2006, posting two top-ten qualifying efforts. On July 23, he made his first Nextel Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
start in the Pennsylvania 500
Pennsylvania 500
The Good Sam RV Insurance 500 is the second of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the other being the Pocono 500...
at Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
, qualifying 36th and finishing 33rd, one lap behind.
In 2007, Leicht ran the full NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
(now Nationwide Series) schedule. He won his first race at Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned...
and finished 7th in the final drivers points ranking. At the end of the season, Robert Yates Racing released Leicht from his contract because of sponsorship and finance issues. 2008 saw Leicht land a part-time stint in Richard Childress
Richard Childress
Richard Childress is a former NASCAR driver and the current team owner of Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. As a business entrepreneur, Childress became one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina...
's #21 Nationwide car, sharing driving duties with Bobby Labonte
Bobby Labonte
Robert Alan "Bobby" Labonte is an American race car driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He currently drives the #47 Kroger/Clorox/Kimberly-Clark/Kingsford/Reese Towpower Hitches Toyota Camry for JTG Daugherty Racing. He currently resides in Trinity, North Carolina. He is married to his wife...
. Leicht ran 4 races with a best finish of 7th at Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
. However, after Talladega, a lack of sponsorship sidelined Leicht until Texas in the fall, where he finished 18th.
In 2009, Stephen Leicht will drive the #29 Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
/Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express is a mid-priced hotel chain within the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands. As an "express" hotel, their focus is on offering limited services and a reasonable price. Standard amenities lean toward the convenient and practical which cater to business travelers and...
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
in 13 races. Leicht was originally slated to run 23, but his races were nearly halved by the addition of Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #15 5 Hour Energy Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series for Michael Waltrip Racing. Early in his career, he drove for Richard Childress Racing. He won the 2008 Nationwide Series championship....
as co-driver. He ran nine total races and had six top-ten finishes. He was released from RCR at then end of the year and signed to attempt 29 races for D'Hondt Humphrey Motorsports in the #91 car in 2010, but was released after two races.
Leicht will compete in his first NASCAR race since 2009 (and his first Sprint Cup start since 2006) in Tommy Baldwin Racing
Tommy Baldwin Racing
Tommy Baldwin Racing is a NASCAR team based in Mooresville North Carolina. The team is owned by former crew chief Tommy Baldwin Jr., son of late modified driver Tom Baldwin...
's #36 Golden Corral Chevrolet, while Blaney pilots the team's second car, the #35 Pepsi Max
Pepsi Max
Pepsi Max is a low-calorie, sugar-free cola, marketed by PepsiCo as an alternative to Pepsi and Diet Pepsi.It differs from Pepsi in that it contains aspartame, potassium benzoate, acesulfame potassium, calcium disodium EDTA and panax ginseng extract while it does not contain high fructose corn...
Chevrolet, meaning Leicht will be guaranteed a start while Blaney would have to qualify on time. Blaney finished 19th while Leicht finished 24th despite running in the top 10 most of the race.