Santa Rosa County represented strong at the NASCAR K&N East Friday night at Five Flags Speedway. Todd Jones competed in the Super Stock feature, while Shanna Ard and Jim Pokrant, both from Milton, competed in the Sportsmen feature.
Jones, who said he’s been racing for 25 years, said it’s a combination of the car, motor, and friendship to get ahead. Jones said he’s been in bigger races than the one Friday, but he came to Pensacola because of the experience. “I race for fun and relaxation,” said the 2011 Modified track champion. Jones said he and his crew built his car body because he felt it would have a better aerodynamic package than what he could buy.
Pokrant also put his hands to his ’84 Monte Carlo featuring a Blue Angel paint scheme. According to Pokrant, he fabricated the roof, trunk lid, doors, and panels. Pokrant said he’s been racing since 1983. “I started at Southern,” Southern Raceway in Milton, “and I’ve been here since ’97,” he said. Pokrant said he’s crashed numerous times. “I’ve never been upside down or on fire and I don’t want to know what either one is like,” he said.
Ard, before taking third Friday, said his biggest achievement was finishing 14 in the 2010 Snowflake 100. His wife, Kristy, three-year-old son, River, and daughters Triniti and Destini, ten and nine years old, respectively as well as his mother, Joyce Ard, joined him in the pit.
“It’s a big thing for us to come out here with the kids,” Joyce said. She said when she was young, she wanted to race, but found out at 21 she wasn’t allowed, because she’s a woman. Joyce Ard said she’s the mother of four racers now: Dustin Ard, Chris Cotto, Carrie Cotto Nowling, as well as Shanna Ard. “They lived my dream of racing. I’m okay with that.”
Jones placed fourth in his division while Ard edged Pokrant for third and fourth respectively. Five Flags’ next event is scheduled for Jun 27 featuring the modified, pro truck, sportsman, and bomber classes as well as the youth bike race, Future Racers of America.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Local racers burn rubber at Five Flags