Jerry Joslin would have been very pleased Friday night at Orlando SpeedWorld to see how many of his friends turned out for a night of modified and super late model racing to honor him and his father. This special night brought friends together once again and once again, it was hard to believe that we lost Jerry just a year ago. Many of his friends still remember that smiling face at the track and all his bright, shiny Dodge trucks.

They say sometimes you never know how many friends you have until it is too late but the Joslins were lucky because they knew they had friends. That was evident when you looked at the faces behind some of the open wheel modifieds and super late models. Brad May made his first appearance in the no. 99 mod for this special race along with the no. 8l of Ricky Wood who set fast time and had the pole for the 50 lap modified race. Then there was Jason Boyd in the famous 2x, Bill Gunn in the always fast and exciting no. l3. and DeWayne Dempsey, our multi talented SARA driver. Justin Henderson, our Port St. Lucie no. 16 driver, also came for this very special 50 lap race. And the field goes on and on for the Dick Joslin Memorial.

Ricky Wood took the lead from the very first flag having set on the pole. Brad May did a great job of running in second until he lost his transmission and was forced to retire from the race. This left Jamie Burrows, Jason Boyd, Bill Gunn and DeWayne Dempsey in the top five, all trying to take the second spot and catching Wood. But, Wood was hooked up and the no. 81 went to Victory Circle after a few well controlled donuts in front of the grandstands with Jason Boyd second, DeWayne Dempsey third and Bill Gunn fourth.

The 50 lap Super Late Model Jerry Joslin Memorial race saw B.J. McLeod with fast time and Lee Collins, former SARA Modified driver and one of the DeSoto Speedway regulars, on the front row. David Rogers. fan favorite driver at New Smyrna Speedway, came for Jerry along with Barry Willoughby, Brian Finney, Ronnie Roach, Travis Kittleson, Ricky Wood, Mike Good, Rusty Ebersole and a number of other Super Lates.

Lee Collins jumped out to the lead over B.J. and held it up until the very last few laps when B.J. was able to get around Collins, taking the lead and winning by about 7 car lengths. All in all, the race had only a few cautions and no major damage to any of the cars. Barry Willoughby and David Rogers seem to have a few problems with bumping and going around but both cars finished the race with no damage and in good spirits.

Collins gave B.J. a very good run for the win and B.J. tried everything to get around Collins but Collins was too strong on green lap racing. But with the last caution and restart, B.J. was finally able to pass Collins and take the lead and win. But all in all, a very good race for Jerry Joslin run in his honor by his friends. Lee Collins took second, Bill Pratt had third, Brian Finney fourth and Ronnie Roach fifth.

Next big race for Orlando SpeedWorld and New Smyrna Speedway will be the second Clyde Hart Memorial 125 on June 30 at New Smyrna Speedway.

Jane Smith

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