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Southern Short Track Stock Car Racing

2001 NEWS ARCHIVE

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Wednesday, May 2, 2001

TURNER CELEBRATES HIS BIRTHDAY EARLY

By Robin Smith Meiser

Chris "Big Fish" Turner gave himself several early birthday presents on April 28 in the second segment of the Budweiser Open Wheel Modified Six Pack Series at Charlotte County Speedway. Turner of Naples turned 36 on April 30 and the first present he gave himself was taking the fastest qualifying time of 15.33, at CCS for the 50-lap race. After splitting a cylinder in his engine, Turner missed the March segment of the series that was won by current champion and points leader Wayne "Rocket Man" Jefferson of Pinellas Park. Jefferson admitted as much as he admires his newfound friend, Turner, that he wishes he could have missed the April race as well as he knew Turner had the car to beat in the second segment

The second early birthday present current K&S Transport Open Wheel Modified division points leader Turner gave himself was pulling the Number One pill for the pole position of the race starting alongside the 2000 division champion, Chris Dean of Buckingham. Jefferson started directly behind him and when Turner jumped out to the lead from the start of the race, the Rocket Man followed behind, leaving Dean running in third trying to hold off the challenge of another racing buddy of Turner's, fellow Neopolitan Scott Kleiber.

Turner and Kleiber have raced together since 1993 when both raced in the street stock division at Charlotte County Speedway. Turner actually began racing in 1979 at the old Collier County Speedway in Naples, moving up into the hobby stock division until the track closed in 1985.

Turner then moved to Michigan for five months where he and fellow driver, David Taylor, became pit crew members and temporary roommates to ASA driver Butch Miller. It was there that Turner had the opportunity to work under Kevin Hamlin who was then Miller's crew chief and now is the crew chief on Richard Childress Racing's #29 of Kevin Harvick's which was piloted by Dale Earnhardt, Sr. prior to his death in February. Deciding Michigan was way too cold for the Florida boy, Turner came home to become "a big fish in a small pond" which is how he got his racing moniker.

In 1999, Turner was the first driver and only driver to ever take dual championships at the Speedway in both the Budweiser Six Pack Series and the Oldies 95 Open Wheel Modified division. He made his main sponsor Oldies 95, a Clear Channel radio station in Fort Myers, very happy that year. Turner, Oldies 95 and Action Automatic Door have one of the longest running partnerships at CCS. He is also sponsored by Southern Equipment and Repair; Collier Machine and the best engine builder Turner knows, Nevin Hoefert; as well as his employer, Kidds Quality Carpet Cleaning.

This past year, Turner made a new friend in the racing world thanks to Kidds One day, he noticed the name "John Burton" on his manifest for the day and as he pulled into the driveway he saw a NASCAR bumper sticker on the vehicle parked in the driveway. The amiable Turner, who can talk to anyone about just about anything struck up a conversation with Mr. Burton, who turned out to be the father of Winston Cup drivers Jeff and Ward Burton.

They soon developed a "fast" friendship and spent quite a bit of time together during Burton's winter stay in Southwest Florida. Turner even brought him to the track and let him take a spin around the Speedway in his beloved open wheel and Burton got to do what he loves best turn a wrench on a race car. Turner has even accompanied Burton to NASCAR races at Las Vegas, Richmond, Martinsville and Homestead.

Chris Turner


As the laps wound down in the caution-marred race, Turner continued his dominance lapping cars continuously. When the checkered flag flew, Turner crossed the line first with Jefferson, Dean and Kleiber following behind, giving himself the ultimate early birthday present. He pulled into the pits where his girl friend, Patty Lewin, waited for him along with his crew members Kester Gaylord and Brian Boose.

Unfortunately, his crew chief Gatorade All Pro Crew Chief of the Year Adam Heckleman was not there to share in the celebration as he was in another Charlotte-North Carolina where is working with an All-Pro rookie driver. In the interim, Todd Anderson brother of limited late model driver Richie Anderson, is filling in for Heckleman. Earlier in his career, Clarence "The Chassis Man" Fedor was his crew chief and Turner feels blessed to have had three such great crew chiefs to guide him. Turner readily admits he would much rather be off doing public relations type duties and leaving the racecar to his crew while at the track. However, he is no slouch when it comes to working on it at the shop and has plenty of hands on experience.

Like most other local track drivers, the greatest gift Turner could have gotten for his birthday would be for a major sponsor or even a few more smaller sponsors to come along to help him with his low budget race team. Maybe someone will come along and make his birthday wish come true.

-Robin Smith Meiser


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