He’s back. We’ve kinda heard this song and dance from Jeff Choquette a few times where he will step away from the asphalt short track world for family and business reasons, but he always makes a big splash when he comes back into the mix.
Now the 36-year-old West Palm Beach, Florida driver has announced a limited 2024 schedule that will include the upcoming ASA STARS National Tour Clyde Hart Memorial 200 at New Smyrna Speedway (FL). Also included in the schedule is the Blizzard Series at Five Flags Speedway this summer with Jett Motorsports.
We just want to still be able to have fun and hopefully compete at a high level,” said Choquette. “This field is deep with some of the best drivers in the country. People tell me it’s like riding a bike, well practice may be like riding a bike, but racing is different. We are excited for the opportunity.”
Perhaps the ASA STARS National Tour came along just a little too late for Choquette. A few years back he was touring pretty hard and would have been a strong competitor. Now Choquette will get a taste of the series for the first time in a race, the Clyde Hart Memorial 200, that he’s won four times before.
“You know, I cut my teeth at New Smyrna,” said Choquette. “Guys like me and Stephen (Nasse) consider this our home track. It has a familiar feeling. I think most of us humans are creatures of habit. And New Smyrna has been like that for me. A habit etched into my mind.”
Choquette is a three-time ASA Southern Super Series winner, including a victory at New Smyrna Speedway in 2019.
In addition to the Clyde Hart wins, Choquette has the most Super Late Model wins of any active driver at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing with 17. He’s also won three Florida Governor’s Cups and three Pete Orr Memorial 100’s.
The timing is right for Choquette, but also the team is right. He won some big races for Jett Motorsports such as the Winchester 400 in 2018.
“It’s good to be able to go back to two tracks that we’ve had a lot of time and a lot of success at. That’s a little bit of the reason why I was looking forward to doing this deal besides doing it with the team that I’m used to racing with.”
The ASA STARS Tour / ASA Southern Super Series Clyde Hart Memorial 200 will take place on Tuesday, February 13th at 7:30 pm. There will be an optional practice the day before and chances to race before the night of the main event at the World Series. Visit NewSmyrnaSpeedway.or for more information.
