Jeff Jolly Racing

   JEFF JOLLY #2

Birthdate:                       January 16, 1984

Occupation:                   Financial Advisor

Marital Status:              Single

Nicknames:                    Deuces Wild, Jolly Time

Pets:                                "Jack"  (Dog)

Favorite Driver:             Rusty Wallace

Favorite Active Driver:  Brian Vickers

Hometown:                      Wallingford, CT

Favorite TV Show:            24

Non-Racing Hobbys:        Golf, Hiking, Investing

Jeff Jolly began his racing career at a young age, racing slot cars across the country.  In 1995 he won the NECC championship, and began focusing his sights on stock cars.  By age 16 Jeff was a regular face in the Stafford paddock area, helping out the #8 Late Model team of Chuck Zentarski.  It was there that he and his crew cheif, Tim D'amico, first teamed up. 

In 2002 at age 18, Jeff competed in his first DARE stock race at Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT, driving the #86 Rent a Racecar Chevrolet.  Although the result was less than he expected (he finished 25th after having a power steering failure) he was hooked, and raced 6 more races that year, finishing as high as 18th.  He continued driving the #86 for Rent a Racecar in 2003 for a total of 6 races that season.

Jeff decided to take a year off in 2004, and devote his time to fielding a full time DARE stock team in 2005. In 2005 he formed a team that fielded one car, the #28 Class Act Cleaning Service Chevrolet.  His best finish that season was a 13th place run.  Before the end of the season, Jolly sold the car, and officially formed Jeff Jolly Racing, which competed in the final two races of 2005, with a new car and crew.  It was here that Jolly was reunited with Tim D'amico, who came on as the teams crew chief. The combination proved successful, they won a heat race in only their second start as a new team.

2006 was a landmark season for the team.  With more new crew members added, and coming off a stong showing in the final two races of 2005, the team looked poised for success.  It was not long before that success became a reality.  During Spring Sizzler weekend the team ran 12th, Jeff's best finish as a driver.  Within weeks, new new combination was running strong and on the 4th of July the team was able to win another heat race, and in the same night, Jeff won his very first feature.  Then, just weeks later, the team won their second race of the season, and qualified for the Paradiso-Muska All Star Race where they finished 8th.  They also finished 8th overall in points that year, Jeff's first ever top 10 points finish.

The momentum from 2006 was not lost on 2007, despite engine trouble in preseason testing, Jeff was able to win the season opening race, the Spring Sizzler, his biggest win to date.  He lead the point standings on and off for the first quarter of the season, and just five weeks after his win on Spring Sizzler weekend, he won again.  This made him the first driver to win twice in 2007 and again qualified him for the Paradiso-Muska Shootout.  Jeff finished the season 6th in points. 

In preparation for the 2008 season, and to sharpen his skills Jeff began racing performance go-karts.  It did not take him long to dominate the go-kart circuit winning races over the likes of Brit Andersen and former Late Model driver Ryan Libby. In February, Jeff won the league championship, the first championship of his career, and in December, he won his second consecutive go-karting championship, and in March 2009, he did the hat-trick, winning his third strait Willy D's Karting Championship.

The time on the go-kart track paid off, as Jeff won once in 2008, had his best points finish (5th) of his career, and was on top of the point standings for the majority of the season before surrendering the lead to eventual Champion Norm Sears.

2009 was a tough season with Jeff and the team scoring only 1 win, and finishing 11th in points, the first time in 3 years he was not in the top 10.

After the struggles of the 2009 season, Jeff decided to part ways with Smokey's Racing, to persue the opportunity to drive the Fluckiger/Davis Racing Ford Thunderbird.  The new team with include members of both JJR and Fluckiger/Davis Racing.  F/D Racing won the 2007 and 2008 DARE stock Championship with Norm Sears. Already by the third race of 2010 the team had already recorded one win and was leading the point standings. With a little luck and perserverence Jeff and his new team intend to continue that success and finish the season off as the 2010 Champions.