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With Support of Jetts and VanDoorn, Choquette Once Again Becoming Late Model Force

By Chuck Corder

It wasn’t long ago that Jeff Choquette saw his better days behind a late model steering wheel vanishing in his rearview mirror.

Late model racing, these days especially, seems to be a young man’s game.

When Choquette, 29, amicably parted ways with the Adrian Carriers Team a few years ago, he assumed life’s next chapter meant overseeing the family’s land development business.

But after a year-and-a-half away from the sport, the West Palm Beach native got an unexpected call in April. The Jacksonville-based Jett Racing Team, owned by the father-son duo of Pat and Kurt Jett, had a scheduling issue with its then-driver and needed a replacement pronto.

“Pat (Jett) called me up, and asked what I was doing, if I wanted to go race,� Choquette recalled. “I told him, ‘Heck, yeah!’ To get in equipment like (the Jetts), it's unheard of. I was ecstatic.�

Choquette quickly proved he’s still quite the hotshoe despite 18 months away from racing. Since May, he has tallied three podium finishes in three races at Five Flags Speedway, including winning a doubleheader in the Jett’s Pro Late Model in June.

With his new lease on short-track life firmly ensconced, Choquette returns in the Jett Racing No. 9 to the famed half-mile asphalt oval this Friday night for another set of Allen Turner Hyundai Pro Late Model twin 50 lappers.

“Pro races nowadays, the local drivers are always the toughest competition,� Choquete said. “They know the track’s ins and outs. To be able to win and keep up with a lotta those kids when I’m almost 30, it’s still cool.

“Anytime, you can win in Pensacola, it’s special. So many fans come out and they really get into the races, which is so excited to see. Five Flags puts on a top-notch show.�

And Pensacola’s high banks has another spectacular night planned Friday when the Faith Chapel Super Stocks (30 laps), The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen (30) and the Butler U-Pull-It Bombers (25) join the PLMs for a Labor Day weekend extravaganza.

The gates open at 4 p.m. and admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, military and students; $5 for children ages 6-11; and free for kids 5 and under.

Californian Derek Thorn, a past winner at Five Flags Speedway, had been guiding the Jetts’ late model program. But when a scheduling conflict arose, the Jetts knew just who to call.

Choquette, who finished runner-up to champion Erik Jones at the 45th annual Snowball Derby in 2012, came aboard with Jett Racing midway through the season and reminded short-track racing fans that he still has a lot of talent left in the tank.

He finished runner-up to Harrison Burton in the second Deep South Crane Blizzard Series race of the season in May at Five Flags. Then, Choquette topped that by sweeping the Allen Turner Hyundai PLM twin 50s earlier this summer.

“I had no doubts in the car,� Choquette said. “I had some doubts in myself. It’s easy in practice to go fast. What separates everybody is when we get out there and start racing.

“Until you run that first race, you’re not really used to things that go on during the race — somebody getting into you, what that feels like, and a handful of other things that go on. You’ve gotta learn to ride that bike again.�

With the Jett Team’s invaluable resources at his disposal, Choquette also has one of short-track’s brightest minds assisting with what has been a relatively smooth transition.

Butch VanDoorn, the man behind the chassis and construction of the Jett No. 9, has long been one of late model’s finest and most-respected crew chiefs. His guidance with not only the team, but specifically the driver has given Choquette an upper hand against his rivals.

“Who else better working on the car than one of the guys that designed it,� Choquette said. “I just needed somebody there to bounce ideas off of. Being out for a year and a half, the (late model) technology changes quickly. When they told me Butch was onboard, all my worries went away.�

Choquette, who comes from a passionate racing family, started in go-karts at age 8. He was racing late models on dirt by 13 before finally reaching asphalt at 17.

With Choquette behind the wheel of both the Pro Late Model and Super Late Model, the Jetts main focus seems to be getting its SLM program in tune for the 49th annual Snowball Derby come December.

However, if Choquette continues on his current path of PLM greatness, the Jetts haven’t ruled out the possibility of running the Snowflake 100, as well.

“Between the Jetts and me, they don’t go (to Five Flags) to run second and neither do I,� Choquette said. “We’re there to win. Have fun also, but everybody there wants to stand in Victory Lane. That’s what makes it fun for all of us.

“I always told myself I never wanted to be one of those washed-up old racers, so this year has been extremely satisfying.�

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