You read that headline right – Jerry Coons, Jr.!

With our plan to get some serious coverage going at Ocala Speedway to kick off SpeedWeeks this year, and how much we’re looking forward to the USAC show, we reached out to one of the big dogs on the USAC porch, Hoffman Racing and driver Jerry Coons, Jr. If you’re not a big USAC follower, well Jerry Coons, Jr. has won just about everything that USAC has to offer.

Hoffman Racing has had some of the best drivers in their cars over the years, including the likes of Dave Steele, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Tracy Hines, JJ Yeley, Kasey Kahne, Kenny Irwin Jr, Rich Vogler, Dave Darland, Johnny Parsons Jr., Tim Richmond, Jay Drake, Brian Tyler, Robbie Stanley, Eric Gordon, Steve Butler , Jerry Coons Jr., Ryan Newman, and on and on. With 76 National Sprint Car wins and 9 National Championships, Hoffman Racing has won more National races and championships than any other team in USAC sprint car history.

Ladies and gentlemen, the man named “Midget Driver of the Decade,” the one and only Jerry Coons, Jr.!

You had an excellent 2010, finishing in the top five in all of the major USAC divisions and you also did a heck of a lot of winning. What would you say was your best single race that you drove in 2010 and why?

I would have to say that the USAC Silver Crown race in Toledo, Ohio was my best race in 2010. It was mine and my team’s first pavement win, and it was a 150 lap race. I led a lot of laps that day, with Cody Swanson on my rear bumper and I could not make a mistake.

Hoffman Racing and Jerry Coons Jr. may be known for their exploits on dirt, but they can get the job done on pavement as well.

You’ll be starting off the 2011 season at Ocala Speedway down here in Florida with USAC. Given this is USAC’s first foray into racing at Ocala Speedway, as a driver how will you prepare for this race?

I will probably do my homework online and take a look at the track with stuff like Google Earth to get an idea of the shape and layout of the track. Other than that, there’s not too much to prepare for really.

From looking at photos, videos and such, are there tracks you run now that might be similar to Ocala Speedway, that you can draw from, setup wise?

Well, the nice thing for me is that I have Rob Hoffman doing the setups for me. So the pressure is all on him! I know that when we unload, he will have a good setup on the car and we will just make some adjustments after hot laps. Hopefully we’ll make the right ones to keep up with the race track!

How have you enjoyed your past racing down here in Florida?

We had a good run last year over at East Bay, well…after the 1st night that is. I haven’t raced a whole lot down in Florida though.

Hoffman Racing has a long and storied list of famous drivers in USAC, including Florida’s very own Dave Steele. Does driving for Hoffman Racing come with extra pressure to perform?

At first it really did. I can remember seeing them on TV, and even when I first came to Indy, I would see their hauler and think how cool it would be to be dragging my helmet bag to their trailer. Then when you get the call, you think, you better watch what you ask for. This team is used to winning. If you don’t win, you get fired. Fortunately I have been able to win for them and get them a championship. We really get along great and have a good time together. But this is still a performance based job, so no matter how good of friends we have become, I still have a job to do. So there is always pressure to win with these guys.

From a pure driving stand point, which is more fun to drive – Midget, Sprint Car or Silver Crown? Pavement or dirt?

Driving dirt in any of the cars is more fun. There are some pavement tracks that I do enjoy racing, but I love the dirt. Midgets are still my favorite to drive out of all of the cars, and I think that’s because I have been driving them for so long. But there are some places in a sprint car that really can’t compare to anything else.

The iconic Hoffman Racing entry, wheeled by Jerry Coons Jr.

Will you be bringing the family down with you to take in the tourist attractions while you are down here in Florida?

We will just be returning from a racing trip in New Zealand the Monday before, so unfortunately not. I was already there once this year, returning three days before the Chili Bowl. I had another opportunity to go and I talked my wife into going and taking our son Cale.

Is there one race you want to win super really very bad and just haven’t yet?

I would say a Silver Crown race on one of the dirt miles, like Indy State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Fairgrounds or Du Quoin, IL Fairgrounds. I have won at Manzanita and Eldora, and even on the pavement, which I didn’t think would happen! One year I ran 2nd at all three dirt miles. I’m not real picky at which track it is, I just want to win one of them!

Let’s say I’m looking for a sprint car or midget driving school, who should I call?

Me. I haven’t got everything put together, but I have already been working with some drivers in their own car. I want to work with people that maybe haven’t driven before, but also want to help the people that may have been racing for a few years, but need some quality coaching to get them to the next level. I want to provide more personalized attention to their needs.

Here's a sneak peak of the Hoffman Racing entry for 2011.

You know Jerry, my wife always leaves my kitchen counters a mess and I need a good multi-purpose cleaner and degreaser that I can also use on my engine parts. Might you know of a good one?

Well, there is this stuff out there called Mean Green- it’s great! Believe me, when we cook in our house, we make a mess! And I do as much work on my street cars as I can. I like to keep things clean and this product works wonders!

Hoffman Racing fans are so hardcore they have tattoos of the car...

So there you have it folks, the one and only Jerry Coons Jr.! Be sure to stop by the Hoffman Racing hauler at Ocala Speedway during the USAC show and tell him you read his interview right here!