During opening night festivities here at Ransomville Speedway May 4, many veteran fans may have wondered which driver was piloting the No. 1R entry in the Mighty Taco 358 Modified division and was among the very strong 31 cars that raced here on that evening.

While the car number may have been somewhat unfamiliar, the name of the man behind the wheel is certainly not. That driver was Jeff McGinnis. The McGinnis family name has been a prominent one at Ransomville Speedway for many decades. The name of McGinnis and Ransomville Speedway have been synonymous with one another and this association is as strong today as ever before.

After sporting the very familiar traditional McGinnis family No. 20 machine for so many seasons, McGinnis now drives this year for a new team owned by Jerry and Rochelle Skurski. Thus the change of number assignments to 1R.

“I guess you could say that my family has been coming to Ransomville Speedway for a long time and we’re having fun because if it’s not fun we wouldn’t be doing it,” said Jeff. “Once on the track, it doesn’t make any difference if I’m in the No. 1R or the No. 20. The goal is still to win.”

Jeff, 38, of Ransomville, has been coming to this Niagara County based dirt oval since he was very young watching and assisting his dad, the now retired Don McGinnis.

“I remember coming to see my dad race when I was real young and I started working on his car at our home even before I was old enough to get in the pits,” said Jeff. “I’ve learned a lot about racing from him.”

Don McGinnis had much success during his driving years at Ransomville. In a career that spanned from the 1970’s to the mid 1990’s, the elder McGinnis won many races and crowned his career by capturing both the 1975 Late Model and 1994, 358 Modified championships at Ransomville.

Soon it would be time for Jeff to apply his talents behind the wheel of a race car. Sporting the No. 20, long associated with his family, Jeff entered the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman class in 1997, driving the first two seasons for car owner Dick Blake. Then it was time to move on to a family financed machine provided by Jeff’s parents, Don and Suzi McGinnis.

During his time in the Sportsman class Jeff won many races including the two most prestigious races contested in this division each season at Ransomville, the Grelak Mechanical Nationals and the DIRT.car Sportsman Tour event. He capped his Sportsman racing in 2006, winning the Ransomville Speedway season points championship. He was top five in Sportsman points each year he campaigned in the division.

“We had pretty good success in the Sportsman and we felt that I had accomplished everything there was to accomplish in that class so we moved on to the 358 Modifieds,” said Jeff. “I’ve been in the 358 Modifieds since 2007 and have driven for my family every year except 2010 when I drove Pete Cosco’s car.

In 2007, right off the bat, Jeff secured his biggest moment in his 358 Modified career when he captured the Lucas Oil Series 358 Modified title that year. The Lucas Oil Series was a regional traveling series comprised of races at Ransomville, Genesee, Merrittville, Humberstone and Ohsweken Speedways.

Now in 2012, Jeff has hooked up with the Skurski camp and will compete in the team’s Morrison Performance, Teo chassis car weekly at Ransomville along with a limited slate of appearance at other tracks.

“I talked to the Skurski’s over the winter and decided to join their team for this season,” remarked Jeff. “I like the way they operate a team plus this is a much better financial situation for me and my family to handle. I think it will work out well. I also like to race one night a week to allow for more family time as well.”

Sponsorship for the Skurski teams is provided by Stirling Lubricants, Pink Carburetors, Dan’s Collision, Niagara Lock and Key, Morrison Performance, Island Prescription Center, Richard’s Motor Service, Kelly’s Country Store, Anchor Marine, Honey’s and Joe Calarco.

Much support for Jeff’s racing career not only comes from his parents but also Jeff’s wife Patty and children Cody (age 13) and Michelle (21). Jeff’s sister Juli Anstett offers support. Ransomville race director Jeff Anstett is Jeff’s brother-in-law.

Other team members include: Jerry, Spark and Victor Skurski, Tim Hayes, Mike Emmons, Tim Jeffery and John Salerno.

“I know that there is a lot of good competition here this year at Ransomville and it will be tough but we will learn and grow as a team and that’s important,” said Jeff.