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| Middleton's syllabus packed with school, racing | by Jeremy Troiano, Jay Middleton Racing
LAKE CITY, Fla. -- With the holidays behind them and classes in full swing, most college students are already thinking ahead to Spring Break. But Jay Middleton isn't your typical college student. The Business Administration major at Santa Fe Community College in Florida is juggling his studies with a racing career that includes hitting all of the major Super Late Model events in the Southeastern United States.
Sometimes this presents a bit of a conflict, but it's nothing that Middleton and his teachers can't usually work out.
"On the first day of classes, I tell my teachers that I'm a racecar driver and that there are going to be times that I'll have to miss class," said Middleton. "It's a little difficult to work around the racing schedule, but my teachers are very willing to try and help. I have two online classes that I'm taking right now too and that helps make things a lot easier."
Next up on Middleton's motorsports syllabus is the 2005 SpeedFest on January 27th-29th at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida. Middleton has plenty of seat time at the track, running everything from two-barrel Late Models to Super Late Models to an ASA National Tour machine at the track.
But there is one thing missing from his field trips to the track that is only two hours from his shop.
"I've run at Lakeland a lot, but I haven't won there yet," said Middleton. "I really like the track, but I haven't had much luck there. We've had a bunch of good runs, but my best finish there is a third. Two years ago, I was running second in the Florida State Championships and had just passed Wayne (Anderson) with only 25 laps to go when the distributor wire came off. I had to pull in to fix that and it ruined the race for us.
"I've got caught in other people's troubles a few times too. The track is not very forgiving and it's the fastest track that the Late Models race at, so it can get pretty wild."
SpeedFest will include some of the best short track drivers in the country. Entries are expected from the CRA Super Series, USRA, PASS, Sunbelt Series, Southern All Stars Series and a few other places. Still, Middleton isn't concerned about his chances of pulling out that elusive first win.
"There will be a bunch of good cars there," said Middleton. "But we also don't go to the track unless we know that we can win. If I can finish, I know that I'll be in the top five. It's all about survival. At the end of the Florida State Championship last year, there were only eight cars left on the lead lap. If you last, you'll finish well at Lakeland."
Next up after SpeedFest, will be the Pete Orr Memorial at New Smyrna Speedway (FL). Normally, the race, which is only a week before Speedweeks starts, would be valuable to gain a handle on the track before the biggest race of the year rolls into town. But the event, held in honor of Florida racing fixture who passed away in 2002, has an even greater value for Middleton.
"Last year, I was the first recipient of the Pete Orr Memorial Sportsman Award," explains Middleton. "It goes to someone who is a good racer and a good person off the track and I was really proud to have won it. That makes this race very special to me."
Middleton's young career only overlapped a few times with Orr's.
"We only had one race that we were both in," said Middleton. "But he helped me a few times that I met him. He gave me advice a few years ago when we were at Sebring. He was a really good guy."
The Pete Orr Memorial is scheduled for February 5th.
If you would like more information on Jay Middleton and his future racing plans, contact Jeremy Troiano at (704) 726-6849 and stay tuned for a new JayMiddleton.com coming soon.
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