Jimmy White Jr. is glad he didn't give up racing

Six years ago Saturday, Jimmy White Jr. was lifted into a helicopter and rushed to Stony Brook Hospital. Burns covered 75 percent of his body. Through the flight, the surgeries and the images of that night replaying in his head, one thought remained on his mind.

"No matter what happened," he said, "I wasn't going to quit racing."

The recent success he has had at the track is proof that his decision to get back behind the wheel was the right one. White, of Southampton, has won two Blunderbust main events, three Grand Enduro races and one Demolition Derby this season.

"Not many people have six wins and six trophies in six weeks," White said. "If somebody told me that was going to happen, I would have laughed at them."

During a Demolition Derby on July 5, 2008, the fuel tank on White's car ruptured, spewing gas all over him and the vehicle. Within seconds, the hood went on fire. White escaped, parts of his body in flames, and began to roll on the ground. "I never really panicked," he said. "But I was in so much shock that I almost didn't even feel anything. There are guys who have been doing this for 30 years and they tell me that was the scariest night of demos they've ever had in their life."

White, who was 19 at the time, spent 16 nights in the burn unit. He said he had multiple surgeries and skin grafts, and more than 700 staples put in his right leg. But he was back on the track later that season, taking second place in his first demo.

Now 25, he's enjoying the best stretch of his racing career. "There are so many hands that go into this," he said. "It's not a one-person team here, it's 20 guys that come together, putting their heart and soul in it, to make the car what it is."

To White, the best part of winning is seeing his daughter, Madison, come down to victory lane. Only 2 years old, she's the newest racing fan in the White family.

"She doesn't play with Barbie dolls, she goes for the Hot Wheels and racetrack," White said. "And every Sunday after we win a race, I put the trophies on the table. When I wake up the next morning, they are in her toy chest."Modified Standings

Through June 28

1. Howie Brode, East Islip 197

2. Tom Rogers Jr., Riverhead 170

3. Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn. 160

4. David Sapienza, Riverhead 151

5. Timmy Solomito, Islip 147

Saturday

Featured racing starts at 6 p.m.: fireworks, eight-cylinder demolition derby, 50-lap Cromarty Cup modifieds (time trials), figure eights, chargers, blunderbusts, legends