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Many drivers addicted to life in the fast laneBy BOB BOYLE
© St. Petersburg Times, Speed is addictive for most race car drivers. Once they start, the addicts want more and more to go faster and faster until there's nothing else they can do but quit, level off or wind up in the hospital. Jimmy Thompson of Pinellas Park spent much of his youth and most of his adult life heavily addicted to speed. The need for speed has seeped into every cell in his body. Without it, life means less to the Sunshine Speedway driver. Thompson is not alone. At dragstrips and short tracks, there are hundreds of similar stories in the area and thousands across the country. "I've raced every class (of short track racing), and I've won in every class I've ever driven," Thompson said. "Now, I want to drive a (Winged) Sprint Car." On May 26, Thompson won the 50-lap Late Model feature. That's quite an achievement considering he's raced few times in the series that boasts some tough competition. When the next event rolled around, Thompson was nowhere to be found. He was too preoccupied with his obsession. "I forgot," Thompson admitted Saturday night. "I promised Dave (Pletcher) I'd go with him that night (to a Sprint Car race). By the time I remembered, it was two days before the (Late Model) race, and I didn't want to let Dave down." Pletcher, who owns the record for Late Model feature wins at Sunshine, switched to Sprints in 2000. "There's no comparison," Pletcher said. According to announcer Bill Green, from the fall of the green flag to the wave of the checkered, the 25-lap race lasted nine minutes and 45 seconds. There are some good reasons: The drivers are real pros who can avoid trouble, and they're incredibly fast. Tampa's Keith Butler, who was second, set a track record lap time of 12.06 seconds, which is about two seconds faster around the quarter mile than most Late Models. Dude Teate of Leesburg started 12th next to Butler, weaved his way through traffic and held off Butler for the win. Matt Mercer was a fast third. While the fans got their fix, the race did nothing to satisfy Thompson's craving. After the event, his eyes were wider, pupils dilated, and he flashed a broad smile. "Dave (who finished fourth) has been trying to get me a (Sprint car) ride," Thompson said, "but nothing so far." NOTES: As has been the case for the past couple of years, Sunshine Speedway will be closed the first Saturday in July. Action will resume July 14 for the big School Bus Figure 8, which is the track's most popular and successful event. Get there early if you want a seat. The primary reason the speedway closes for the first week in July is NASCAR's decision to run the Firecracker 400 on the same night, which results in sharply reduced attendance at the state's local short tracks. It also gives personnel a badly needed summer break. In Open Wheel Modifieds, No. 51 Mike Hinegardner of Seminole started on the outside pole and claimed the win ahead of No. 30 Shane Grigsby of Pinellas Park and No. 56 Allyn Summers of Odessa. In the Figure 8 class, St. Petersburg's Charlie Meyer returned to the winner's circle by beating out No. 17 Bobby "Zebbo" Moctezuma of Largo and No. 15 Joey Catarelli of Pinellas Park. The 30-lap race was cut to 10 laps because of rain. Meyer was the leader of the formerly infamous Meyers Gang, which battled the Miller-family team throughout the 1980s. It was the Meyer's Fords vs. the Miller's Chevys, and a weekly grudge match that terrorized many younger drivers but thrilled fans. Charlie and No. 21 J.R. Meyer of Pinellas Park returned to Sunshine this season after missing most of the last decade. In Outlaw Late Models, No. 69 Tim Henault of Safety Harbor prevailed over No. 2 Robert Crisp of Clearwater, who started next to him in the second row, and No. 7 Troy Johnson of Pinellas Park. Robby McAuliffe was fourth, which was enough to take over the points lead from fellow Pinellas Park resident Ed Kidd, who was seventh. Pinellas Park's Mike Birk Jr. overtook Mini Stock leader Chris Thornton of Clearwater when the two were working to get around a lap car midway through the feature. Catarelli was third. Craig Robinson of Pinellas Park grabbed the victory in Street Stocks, with No. 7 Jeff Haven of Clearwater second and No. 1 Dan Rieger of St. Petersburg third. Rieger's finish moved him from third in points to second after former points leader Harold Ashley of Gulfport came in 21st. Roger Welch of St. Petersburg, who was fifth in the feature, took over the top points spot.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
