5/8/2012
Five Flags Speedway
Defending Champ Jones Looks to Bounce Back After Rough Modifieds Opener
By Chuck Corder
Todd Jones readily admits Lady Luck was in on his side last year en route to his Modifieds track championship.
After striking an untimely chord in the 50-lap season opener last month, Jones hopes she’ll be back in the passenger seat Friday at Five Flags Speedway.
Jones will try to make amends for that 12th-place finish when a full field of Modifieds return with a 25-lap feature this week at Pensacola's high banks.
It highlights an all-local flavor with the Sportsmen battling it out in a 35 lapper with Super Stocks (25 laps) and Bombers (20 laps) rounding things out.
The grandstands open at 5 p.m. Friday and admission is as follows: $15 adults, $14 seniors, $12 military/students (ages 12 thru 17), $5 children ages 6 to 11 and free for kids under 6. The pits open at 3 p.m. and passes are $25.
“All year long we missed a couple chances at some wrecks,� Jones fondly recalled. “No failures, no faulty tires, no bad luck. The worst night we ran was on the last night and we still won the championship.�
Not that the season finale didn’t come free of any anxious moments.
Jones held a slim lead over Gerald Wilkerson coming into the last race. While Jones struggled with his car’s handling all night, Wilkerson was battling for the lead early.
Jones was able to right his No. 54 Modified just in time and steer his way to his first Five Flags track title.
“It was poor timing on our part, but due to come,� he said. “You gotta expect that. If I’m gonna have a bad run, I hope it’s right out of the gate.
“If not, though, we’ll take it as comes. You never know what the racing gods are going to give you.�
He hopes to put on a show for the veteran fans and those coming out for the first time.
“We’re ready to go,� Jones said. “We’re taking a simple approach and try to survive and run as good as we can run. There’s no magic to it.
“It takes a lotta luck, a lotta prep, but most times it’s just having a decent finish. I’d like to say there’s more to it, but really it’s not.�
Modifieds Top 5 in Points
Donnie Hamrac 61
Jake Moore 56
Scotter Grice 54
Korey Ruble 53
Mike Maddox 48
