Northpinellas: Jefferson sets Sunshine track's Modified mark

Only days before the annual 50-lap Open Wheel Modified Championship race at Sunshine Speedway, Pinellas Park's Wayne Jefferson knew he had the talent, experience and knowledge to win the big event.

The driver lacked just one thing -- a car.

Chris Robbins of Indian Rocks Beach had all the skills to win, plus a car and sponsors. But the driver had something else Jefferson didn't have -- open heart surgery.

Jefferson drove for him Saturday night -- and won. Hopefully for Robbins, an airline pilot, he will be able to get back behind the wheel in September, but it could be October or even November.

Watching his car "raced by someone else was really hard," Robbins said. "I was really nervous. When he passed the No. 20 (John Gerstner of Tampa), I jumped out of my seat. It's difficult to sit and watch."

With only minimal practice in Robbins' No. 88 and the car's new tires, which take a little time to break in, Jefferson decided to take a chance and set a fast qualifying time.

He did just that and established a track record of 13.906 seconds around the quarter mile, breaking the previous mark of 13.996 set by Pinellas Park's Chet Senokossoff, who was driving No. 6 in the race.

The top 13 qualifiers drew numbers to start. Jefferson has to rely on talent to compete because he is only average in the luck department. He drew the seventh spot.

Gerstner jumped out to an early lead, but after a restart of the first lap due to a crash, Jefferson took over the second spot from No. 51 Mike Hinegardner of Seminole. Senokossoff followed. Ten laps later was when Robbins jumped out of his seat.

"I lost my front brakes early in the race," Gerstner said. "Then, it would take me four or five laps to get going. All the restarts didn't help."

The eight-plus restarts in the 50 event, in which only 15 of the original 24 starters finished, didn't do anything to slow Jefferson. At times, Senokossoff closed the gap, but Jefferson opened it again.

Following the Senokossoff were No. 7 Darren Jackson of Lakeland, Gerstner and No. 28 Phillip Kessler of Brooksville. Points leader Allyn Summers, No. 56 of Odessa, was 14th.

"That was one of the greatest nights of racing," Robbins said. "So many people worked to put the No. 88 out there. It really feels good."

In addition to winning the big race and setting a record, Jefferson used something of which he has often had little -- patience.

The new and improved Wayne Jefferson avoided risky passing through holes in traffic that can disappear in the blink of an eye. On top of money and a big trophy, he earned respect.

"I exercised patience," Jefferson said. "It was awesome. This race meant a lot to me. My mom and dad were in the grandstands.

"We drove down here from Tennessee just to see him race tonight," Jefferson's father, Bill Saye, said as the driver's mother, Vicki, looked on.

"You can see what he can do when he has money behind him, but he doesn't have any sponsors," Saye said. "He really needs sponsors. He deserves sponsors."

Jefferson said he would return to the track this Saturday for the 50-lap Super Late Model race. In addition, he said he will have his own new Modified ready to run in 2-3 weeks, and it will have plenty of space for sponsors.

Robbins, meanwhile, is awaiting his return to racing.

"I have the highest regard of the fans, officials and drivers at Sunshine Speedway," Robbins said. "I want to thank them for all the cards, letters and encouragement after I had my quadruple bypass surgery. Without that, I wouldn't have made such a fast recovery."

NOTES: After an incident in the Mini Stock heat, track officials said No. 1 Jay Zolciak of Pinellas Park walked into the general area near No. 72 Danny Smith's pit, exchanged some words and got into a fight.

Promoter and general manager Frank Hill said Smith was fined $250 for fighting and Zolciak $50 for inciting a riot. Neither, however, was suspended and both were allowed to race in the feature. Smith was fourth and Zolciak sixth.

Eric Chuhta, No. 12 of Largo, picked up the feature victory in the Mini Stock class, turning back No. 10 Mike Birk Jr. of Pinellas Park, a young driver who is coming on strong, and No. 22 Macky Mongold of Largo.

Points leader Joey Catarelli finished seventh.

Art "The Master" Calkins, No. 11 of St. Petersburg, was tops in the 20-lap Figure 8 race.

He was chased most closely by Pinellas Park drivers Joey Catarelli and J.R. Meyer. Ron Davis of Pinellas Park remains the points leader.

In Outlaw Late Model division, No. 56 Robby McAuliffe of Pinellas Park boosted his points lead with a feature win over No. 69 Tim Henault of Safety Harbor and No. 20 Steve Lone of Clearwater.

Mike Hill, No. 22 of St. Petersburg, prevailed in the Street Stock feature by outlasting No. 82 Jimmy Kruse of St. Petersburg and No. 77 Brian Rogers of Tampa.

Roger Welch, No. 98 of St. Petersburg, narrowed the gap with points leader Harold Ashley of Gulfport by finishing sixth to Ashley's eighth-place performance.

In amateur Enduros, No. 98 Randy Spicer won, followed by No. 9 Jody Butler, No. 81 Mike Crooks, No. 52 Ray LaForce and No. 58 Ashley Larson.

St. Petersburg's Scott Charles, who retired a couple of years ago after capturing the Street Stock season championship to raise his young daughter, was back at Sunshine.

Charles served as part of the pit crew for No. 13 Mike "Captain America" Leacock's Open Wheel Modified car.

Charles plans on returning to racing but not just yet. His daughter is only 12, and he said he'd rather spend his extra money on a boat for them to go fishing.

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