By Torri Godsey
Writers Note: I have been doing this writing thing for nine years now. Yet I have never had an interview like this one. When Jeff Curl said he would do the interview, I was really excited to have a very local guy. Knowing this is a really busy time for drivers and crews, I simply emailed my questions to Jeff, giving him his leisure time to get back to me. When Curl emailed me his answers, well he pretty much did his own article. His answers were very much a sign of a driver confident in his abilities and a person who is very secure and happy with the place he is in his life.
Fairbury is home to one of the oldest tracks in Illinois. It is also home to some of the most talented drivers in the state. Modified driver Jeff Curl just happens to be one of those drivers. According to Curl, being a hometown driver is only an advantage over the guys who are not Fairbury regulars. On any given night at Fairbury, many different drivers can win.
Jeff Curl remembers going to Dairy Queen with his Grandparents as a child and watching the cars pass by toward the pits at the Fairbury American Legion Speedway. By the year 2000, Curl asked another hometown driver, Eric Vaughan if he could help work on his modified. The next few years Curl soaked in all the knowledge he could from Vaughan and Vaughan’s engine builder, Gerry Brandt. Two years later, Vaughan sold Curl his modified and Brandt built an engine. In April 2002, Curl made his racing debut at Farmer City. Four years later, Curl gave his hometown fans at Fairbury a feature win.
The number 12 driver also got a nickname that season. A Pontiac radio show reviewing the weeks racing action, said Curl snuck up on the other competitors after his first feature win. They also said that Curl did a good job staying out of controversy and quietly went about his own business. The name “The Quiet One” came out and it stuck. Anyone who knows Curl, knows he isn’t always quiet and sometimes the Quiet One becomes the Quiet Riot, but “that’s just racing to win” says Curl.
One of Curl’s favorite racing memories is of course his first feature win, June 24th 2006. Starting outside the front row, Curl battled with another Fairbury favorite, McKay Wenger to take the victory. During Curl’s victory lap, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. That victory photo included his Grandpa, brother Matt Curl, and Gerry Brandt. Another favorite memory came in 2008 also at Fairbury. After coming from 7th to win, Curl was soaked from a water cooler shower in the pits, race suit and all.
2011 sees some excitement coming for Curl fans. The 12 chassis will now be a Bob Pierce Race car. This season also sees Curl team up with fellow modified driver, Jay Ledford. Curl will be driving his own equipment but they will be sharing information to help both drivers be more successful. Curl has announced his first race this season will be March 25th at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO. His Friday nights will be split between Lincoln and Kankakee (if Farmer City does not open) and of course Fairbury on Saturdays. You can also count on seeing the 12 car in 14 of the UMP Modified National races. By the end of the season, Curl hopes to be in the top 50 of UMP points.
For this hometown favorite, racing is not the only reason his hometown cheers for him. Curl has helped coach Prairie Central boys baseball and basketball the past decade. He was a 1996 Prairie Central graduate who played golf, baseball, and basketball all four years of high school. He later played baseball at Quincy University. Curl enjoys giving back to his hometown school.
The late model class sometimes over shadows the modified class. Luckily for us close to Fairbury, we have some really talented drivers in both classes. Jeff Curl is defiantly one of the good guys to watch either at the track or on the sidelines.
The Curl Race party is also coming up on March 5th at The Walton Centre in Fairbury, Illinois. $10 donation at the door, 12 and younger is free. Longhorn Smokehouse will provide a dinner at 5pm. Auction starts at 7pm, followed by Central Illinois Hottest Country Band, Still Kick’n.
Jeff Curl would like to thank his sponsors:
Pontiac RV – Pontiac, IL
Longhorn Smokehouse – Bloomington, IL
DMI Technology Group – Bloomington, IL
Friedman Racing Engines – Forrest, IL
Aftershock Racing Decals – Fairbury, IL
Faithful Friends Christian Daycare – Fairbury, IL
Dyers Top Rods – Forrest, IL
Grandma & Grandpa Wharton
Bridget, Katy, Tyler, Ellie, Mom and Dad
Crew: Steve Curl – Father, Matt Curl And Greg Curl-Brothers, Ryan Shiflett, Dan Kukuck, and Derek Kessinger
Barkley Motorsports
Brandt Tuning
Pro Tire & Automotive
Mario’s Pizza
Crane Trucking
J&J Investments & Machine
Augie
Galloway Tree Service