It Was A Jason Boyd Night | By Jane Smith May 18 will be a night to remember not only because it was the tenth annual Dick Joslin Memorial race but because the same driver won both the Dick Joslin and Jerry Joslin Memorial 50 lap race.
Jason Boyd, driving the #15 Racecar Engineering Super Late Model car gave Eddie King definitely one night to remember. King in his black #16 Super Late took the lead in the 50 lap Jerry Joslin race but it was side by side racing for a number of laps that finally gave Boyd the lead. This was some of the best racing fans have seen for a long time. Side by side action, no cutting down or up by either driver. Just good, clean racing.
Eric Black from Vero Beach was doing a fine job in his #10 Super Late Model. Black had the #40 South Forty Super Late of Michael Williams on his tail most of the race even taking a few good "hello" knocks and keeping control of his car. But one "hello" too many and Black went into the wall and not very happy. A few good hand shakes were made at the #40 as the cars went around under caution.
B.J. McLeod was doing double duty this weekend with Friday night at Orlando and Saturday night at DeSoto. It looked like McLeod still had his monkey following him as he was late getting on to the track but after starting in the rear, he took a sixth place finish. Mack Hanbury, the #45 Super Late Model that does not get out often enough, did one fantastic job of racing with the "big boys". Hanbury had the pole and stayed up front until he and Mike Good tangled and both were sent to the rear.
The Jerry Joslin race was a race of many stars and many friends of Jerry. Some expected Super Lates were not there since DeSoto had a Pro Late Model race scheduled for the following night but it was still one night of close, clean racing.
The Dick Joslin race was also full of stars and one surprise star, Wayne Reutimann of the TBARA Winged Sprints, was definitely welcomed. Mike Fitch also was in the field along with Jason Boyd, Andy Safotti, Darren Gould, Jim "Hoot" Flynn, Jerry Symons just to name a few. Jason Boyd set fast time for this event with Mike Fitch on the outside of Boyd. Seeing those two together, you knew there would definitely be some racing.
Jason Boyd took the lead right off the bat. Fitch definitely gave him something to think about until Fitch's car began overheating and he had to pull into the pits. But Fitch did not give up and did return to the race only to end up in the infield watching the race. This left Boyd basically without a racing partner.
Darren Gould made a very good showing in his #67 that has not seen that much track time since being built. And the #00 of Reutimann, well he did great as usual. The black #1 of Andy Safotti, which is the old #74 of Barry Willoughby, showed the stuff that Barry had when he was in that modified. Andy made the previous owner very proud and Andy definitely looks good in a modified. Definitely fits his driving.
All in all, I think that Dick and Jerry Joslin were smiling Friday night as they looked down on their friends paying respect and love to two departed family members. The racing was good, the crowd was good and the stars did twinkle and Jason Boyd did a very good job of showing that clean racing is the best.
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