| Saturday, September 22, 2001 | |
| 2001 - Whose Name Will Be on the Cup? | By Jane Smith
 Florida has two prestigious races each year, the first is the Governor's Cup held at New Smyrna Speedway, the second is the Snowball Derby held at Five Flags in Pensacola, Florida. On October 13, drivers from all over the state and possibly out-of-state will come and unite at New Smyrna Speedway with one goal in mind, to have their name engraved on the Cup trophy for all to see. But this year will be very special for not only the drivers but the fans as the Governor himself will be the Grand Marshall and race starter.
Governor Haydon Burns in l965 commissoned the Governor's Cup race in honor of Al Keller, a longtime promoter of Florida stock car racing. In 1965 at Golden Gate Speedway it was Wayne Reutimann's name engraved on the gold plate that adorns the Cup trophy. In the thirty one years since the race was commissioned it has been run at several different tracks but in l988 Clyde Hart brought the Cup back to what it was at New Smyrna Speedway and that is where it has been run for the last thirteen years.
Some of the bigger names who have come to Florida to run this 200 lap event have been Bobby Allison in 1965, Dick Trickle in 1978, 1979 1981, and 1982; Mike Eddy in 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1983; Mike Miller in 1979; and Joe Nemechek in 1988. Dick Anderson first appeared in a Cup race in 1971 taking 4th place that year In 1976, Leroy Porter took 3rd place with David Rogers in sixth place and the list of names goes on and on.
Since the Governor's Cup has been held at New Smynra Speedway, it has seen Dick Anderson win in 1988 and 1989; Bobby Gill in 1990, 1991 and 1992; Pete Orr in 1993 and 1994; David Russell in 1995; Jack Cook in 1996; David Rogers in 1997; Billy Bigley in 1998; Wayne Anderson in 1999 and Jimmy Cope in 2000. The question now is, "Who will be the next name engraved on the Cup for 2001?"
In years past, the Governor's Cup was not an easy race to get into. Tickets had to be bought a month in advance if you wanted to see this prestigious race and all the stars. The Governor at that time was always invited to come but as it goes, Governors have alot of commitments. But in 1998, when the race was sponsored by Race Rock and shown on the Fox and Sunshine Networks, it was Eddie Cheaver that threw the green flag and served as the Grand Marshall for the race.
As Bill Posey, State Representative for the 18th District, told me, "this is the only race that his wife has ever really liked and actually wanted to attend." This is the premiere race, the one, the big kahuna. And this year it will have the Governor throwing the green flag on some of the best racers that Florida has to offer.
Jane Smith
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