| Time is Ticking, Racers Setting Up For Governor's Cup | By Jane Smith
 As the excitement builds for this weekend's upcoming Governor's Cup race at New Smyrna Speedway for the fans, it is also building for the drivers who will come to try and get their name engraved on a golden plate for the prestigious Cup trophy. Long late night hours will go into setting up the car and checking every inch of her so she can be the best that she can be. Governor Jeb Bush will throw the green flag and then it is up to Lady Luck and the Racing Gods who will shine the brightest.
Throughout the history of the Governor's Cup, many names have come to challenge for that little golden plate that adorns the Cup. This year will be no exception to the names that we all know in Florida racing. This is only the tip of the iceberg that fans will see.
Points leader for not only the Racecar Engineering Sunbelt Super Late Model Series and the Florida Pro Series Dick "King of the Short Tracks" Anderson will be one to look at closely. Anderson has won all but two of the Sunbelt Series races and all of the Florida Pro races. It seems to make no difference whether he is in his #92 or #00 car, he dominates the field. Once he gets to the lead, unless he has a mechanical problem or flat tire, the lead is his for the win. Anderson's son, Wayne, is also suppose to be on hand for the Cup race. Wayne drives in the AllPro Series and some ASA races. Watch for both Andersons to jump to the front.
James Powell, coming off his first road course win, will also definitely be a serious contender for the Cup along with the 2000 Points Super Late Model Champion of New Smyrna Speedway David Rogers. Rogers won the Cup in 1997 and is definitely on the road for a second win. Along with Powell and Rogers is Mike Bresnahan, leading Rookie of the Year in the Sunbelt series. Bresnahan has become more and more of a Super Late Model contender with each race he has gotten under his belt.
Mike Fritts, whether he is in the Super Late Model or the #112 Open Wheel Modified, will definitely drive the tires right off the car for a win. Driving the #27x, Fritts is ready for that one win every Super Late Model driver dreams of. Jeff Sloan, driver of the #31, was the points leader for the Southern Pro Trucks when the series dissolved. Being cut out of that Points Championship has made Sloan hungry for a big win. Both Fritts and Sloan are good candidates to go to the front on Saturday.
You can bet your bottom dollar that Morgan Hoover, driver of the #39, and Bruce Lawrence, driver of the #16 along with Jeff Emery and the #12e, will give their all for the fans and their crews. They do not always have the best of luck it seems but they do have talent and if Lady Luck will shine their way, they could have the win.
Jimmy Cope, the 2000 winner, also will be in the field this year. Cope has not raced this year as much but you can bet that he will give it his all once he feels that asphalt surface under his wheels. Along with Cope will be Daniel Keene, Sr. making another appearance behind the wheel. Also Jack Cook, driver of the #96 and a favorite of the kids at New Smyrna Speedway, will come back to join in the festivities of this year's Cup race. Cook was the 1996 winner.
Some "young lions" will also be in the field and cannot be underrated. B.J. McLeod has dreamed of winning the Cup but Lady Luck has not been good to him in the past. Coming off a run in the Southern All Stars series, watch out for B.J. and his #78 to go to the front. Along with McLeod will be Justin Drawdy, driver of the #30rr, who is hungry to win this for his crew- chief Pete Orr. Orr was the winner in 1993 and 1994 and Drawdy has high hopes to follow in Pete's steps. Drawdy had an extremely good run in the 2000 Snowball Derby at Five Flags in Pensacola, Florida.
Travis Kittleson in the #88 Bob Steele Super Late has just finished his first year in the ASA series. Kittleson was the 2000 Super Late Model Champion at Orlando SpeedWorld and certainly will be one to watch. Along with Kittleson is Brian Finney and Barry Willoughby, both up and coming drivers. Finney also runs for Bob Steele Chevy and he definitely can make that #80 work for him. Barry Willoughby, the #74 Pennzoil Super Late, has had two good finishes in the last two Sunbelt races at Cordele, Georgia and Sebring, Florida. Watch for the #88, #80 and #74 of the "Young Lions" to lead the way.
This is only a sample of what you will see at this year's Governor's Cup. Along with these drivers you will also see Lee Collins and his #89; Eric Black, another "Young Lion" in his #10; Michael Williams and the ever favorite South Forty #40 Super Late; Bill Pratt; Jonny Kay; Jeff Scoffield; Mike Good; Jonathan Brown; Mike Franklin, Jr. and on and on..
This year's list of Who's Who is never ending for the run for the Golden Cup trophy. With new stands and reserved seating and the new media center, fans will not be disappointed. On Friday night, fans can go grandstand side and watch practice which is from 5 P.M. to 10 P.M. Then on Saturday, pit gates open at noon and the race is on for set up and qualifying.
Jane Smith
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