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“Ollie “Josh” Jenkins was a big man but physical size doesn’t always matter.
Sometimes it’s the affairs of the heart that define someone's legacy. “Josh”
Jenkins had the heart to go along with his size.
“I’m sure everyone who knew Josh has a favorite story or memory.
Mine goes back to high school when Josh was a talented athlete. He could
“dunk” a basketball back in the day when it wasn’t allowed in a game and he
was a great football player as well. At our High School, there was always a
“Homecoming” game with a Homecoming Queen and her court. The football team
members also had their “girlfriends” escorted to the field at half-time as a
part of the “Homcoming Court”. Josh’s girlfriend at the time was Dianne
Wiles (later to be Mrs. Josh Jenkins) and she lived near my Aunt off White
Rock Road in Winston-Salem, NC. My Aunt was always trying to fix me up with
Dianne but valuing my life and limb was always very important to me. I mean
why would I risk the ire of the great football player (who was considerably
bigger and stronger than me) to satisfy what could have only been my Aunt’s
perverse wish to have someone beat the snot out of me. Against my better
judgment, I finally agreed to “escort” Dianne at half-time of the
“Homecoming” game and despite knees knocking in fear, we got through the
game and even though Josh and I lost “track” for a while after High School,
we later became good friends again through the sport we enjoyed together.
Modified Racing. Sorry to ramble but somewhere in this story, I’m trying to
make a point. In life we should keep our families and friends close and in
death we should honor their memories. Remember the good times for they will
always outnumber the bad and I can guarantee you one thing. This is the way
Josh lived and I’m pretty sure the would be honored that the “Josh Jenkins
Memorial 125” is going to be a lasting legacy to what Josh did to benefit
Modified racing in the South. And by-the-way! It is my honor to be able to
be a small part of being able to work with Charles and Chad Kepley and their
staff to put together this event to show their admiration and respect for
Josh Jenkins”.
The winner of the “Josh Jenkins Memorial 125” earns a guaranteed
starting spot in the 7th Annual “North-South Shootout” scheduled for
November 6 & 7 at Concord Speedway in Concord, NC. As a point race for the
American Speed Association (ASA) sanctioned Southern Modified Race Tour, a
solid field of Southern Modifieds is expected to compete against several
“invaders” from the North including Jamie Tomaino, Charlie and Carl
Pasteryak, Ronnie Silk and Tony Hanbury. The Southern contingent is headed
by the 2008 North-South Shootout” winner, Burt Myers along with past SMART
Champion, Jay Foley, George Brunnhoelzl, III, Jason Myers, Greg Butcher,
Scott Rigney and more in an entry list that continues to grow.
Reserved tickets and prepaid pit passes are available at a savings
if purchased before February 25th.
Pit Pass information is available by logging on to
www.northsouthshootout.com or by calling 508-847-0565 or
336-250-4383.
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