Brad Leighton, born June 12, 1962 in Center Harbor

Center Harbor, New Hampshire

Center Harbor is a town located in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 1,096, a number which multiplies severalfold during the summer months. It is situated between Lake Winnipesaukee and Squam Lake.- History :Center Harbor...

, New Hampshire

New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...

, is a former 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...

 driver. He competed in five career 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...

 events in his career.

Leighton made his career debut at New Hampshire International Speedway

New Hampshire International Speedway

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...

 in May 1997, running the #5 Chevy owned by Terry Labonte

Terry Labonte

Terrance Lee Labonte is a semi-retired NASCAR driver who occasionally drives in the Sprint Cup Series when called upon and is a two-time Winston Cup and IROC champion. He currently drives the #32 U.S. Chrome Ford for FAS Lane Racing. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had...

. He started the race in 30th and only managed to move to 27th by the end of the day after a late crash. However, Leighton did lead one lap—an impressive stat in his first career start.

In 1999, Leighton made four more starts, all for BACE Motorsports

BACE Motorsports

BACE Motorsports is a former championship-winning NASCAR team. It was owned by entrepreneur Bill Baumgardner, who also founded Staff America. Baumgardner was inspired to start his own team after Staff America was a sponsor in the Busch Series for two years...

. In his season debut, he finished 34th at Nazareth Speedway

Nazareth Speedway

Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing track in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania which operated from 1910 to 2004. The track is often associated with local drivers Mario and Michael Andretti. It was associated with Frankie Schneider in its earlier dirt track history....

 despite fatigue. He was last at Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen International

Watkins Glen International is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. The facility is owned by International Speedway Corporation...

 due to transmission failure, 37th at Milwaukee

Milwaukee Mile

The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....

 and 36th at IRP. Not only was Milwaukee the only race he finished in 1999, it was the site of his best career start, at 23rd.

Leighton's poor results, however, led to his lack of a ride for 2000, and he has not raced in the NASCAR Busch Series/Nationwide Series since. He however had had a productive career in the Busch North Series, winning back-to-back championships in 1999 and 2000.

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