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| Wayne Anderson Wins Pete Orr Memorial 125 at New Smyrna | 
by Jane Smith
Samsula, Fla - On a day full of sadness for Central Florida with the loss of the Columbia Shuttle and all seven aboard and the loss of Charles "Pete" Orr in November 2002, thirty six Super Late Model drivers made their way to New Smyrna Speedway for the first Annual Daytona News Journal Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 125 on Saturday, February 1st.
After two prior postponements from frigid weather, fans were greeted with sunny skies and cool weather. Only sadness darkened the skies.
Justin Drawdy of Ft. Pierce, FL set fast time for the thirty six car field. But in tech, Drawdy drew a number 3 pill which inverted the top three putting James Powell of Astor, FL on the pole with Wayne Anderson of Wildwood, FL on the outside.
Drivers were introduced on the frontstretch to the eager awaiting fans, Pete Orr's wife Terri and her children Bobby and Liza Orr had their pictures taken with each of the thirty six drivers and their cars. Bobby Orr climbed the flagstand to throw the green and Terri and Liza proudly did "start your engines." The first Annual Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 125 was on it's way.
Polesitter James Powell took the lead on the green but not for long as Wayne Anderson powered his Pro Stocks sponsored #84 to the front. Anderson held that lead for the entire race.
The first of seven cautions came out for Jim "Hoot" Flynn and Jay Middleton on lap 4.
Middleton had to pit for some minor repairs and rejoined the race but lost the fifth place position.
On the restart it was Anderson, Powell, Justin Drawdy, Barry Willoughby, and David Froelich.
Lap 22 saw the second caution when Bruce Lawrence II and Marty Zehr tangled in turns 3 and 4. Both were okay, the cars were done for the night. At the same time, Aric Almirola spun on the frontstretch doing a 180 and avoiding the hard pit wall.
After giving Anderson a chase for 42 laps, Powell broke causing the yellow to fly again as he slowly made his way around the track into the pits. B.J. McLeod also took his car into the pits during the caution ending his hopes for the night and the win for his friend Pete.
 David Rogers was on the move, coming from the middle of the pack taking the sixth position away from Bobby Beauchemin of Davey, FL.
Suddenly on lap 63, Rogers brought out the yellow for what appeared to be a tire that had gone down and put him into the turn 4 wall. Rogers was fine but the car was done.
On the restart, it was Wayne Anderson, Justin Drawdy, Barry Willoughby, Jack Cook and David Froelich. Froelich picked up a piece of debris from Rogers caution causing his tire to go down and forcing him to pit for a new tire giving his fifth place position to Bobby Beauchemin.
Beauchemin has his hands full of Travis Kittleson in the #30 Bob Steele Chevrolet. Kittleson looked high and low but Beauchemin was able to block any moves.
Lap after lap they play "cat and mouse". Jack Cook, who was running fourth, was off the pace and forced to retire to the pits also giving Beauchemin fourth and Kittleson fifth place positions.
Caution 5 and 6 are thrown for spins but does not stop Anderson in his lead for the win and does not help Drawdy reel in Anderson. Only one more caution will dampen the race as Brad Barkis goes hard into the turn 3-4 wall on lap 105. Barkis, who normally runs a Late Model, had done a good job thru the race and stayed out of trouble.
On lap 110, Kittleson moved pass Beauchemin taking over the fourth position with the winner of the Red Eye 100 on January 4, Mike Good, going with Kittleson for fifth. Beauchemin settled in the sixth place position.
The last fifteen laps saw Anderson lead the way with Justin Drawdy, Barry Willoughby, Travis Kittleson and Mike Good in the top five.
In Victory Lane Anderson gave back the trophy to the track for the Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 125. "This trophy belongs with the Governor's Cup and should be displayed for the fans," said an excited Anderson. "It feels great to be back at New Smyrna Speedway and to be in Victory Lane."
Anderson now leads the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series points as he was the winner of the first race in 2003.
The Open Wheel Modifieds saw Dave Savicki and Mike Fritts do battle for the win. Although Fritts came in first at the checkers, it was decided that he jumped a restart and was penalized one position giving Savicki the win. Andy Saffiotti, Chad Pierce and #2 filled out the top five.
A huge Sportsman field took the green with Brett Bultemeier leading from flag to flag. Following Bultemeier to the checkers was James Skinner, Chris Pedulat, Earl Beckner, Bill Love, Paul Colgan, Dale Clouser, and Ron Lufcy. Barbara Pierce, well known in the Florida racing community for her driving, debuted her new Sportsman coming in tenth for her first run in 2003. Fans were very excited to see Barbara behind the wheel again.
Larry Osteen lead the way for the Late Model division to the checkers over Bobby Orr, Mike Murphy, Kenny Crites, and Donald Hess.
Before the Super Stocks even got a lap down, two cars were in the turn 1 wall. The #22 and #3 of Jeff Colburn. Both drivers were fine but not happy with each other. On the restart, Billy Cuddy held the point and took the checkers leading from flag to flag over Charlie Collins, Ron Whaley, Lee Wagner, and Joe Evans in the top five.
Robbie Yoakam, Mini Stock Champion at Citrus County Speedway, lead the way for the Mini Stock win. Chris Hooker, also from Citrus County Speedway, experienced some bad luck with a blown engine causing Dick Laszlo to hit the wall but continue racing. Following Yoakam to the checkered was Wayne Clark, Chris Jones, Rex Christensen, Chad Carpenter, and Dick Laszlo.
Jim Leslie did a great job of leading the Strictly Stocks from flag to flag with James Smith, Ted Edmundson, #27 and #88 in the top five.
Next Friday night, February 7, the World Series of Asplaht Stock Car Racing opens for 9 straight nights of non-stop racing action. Super Late Models, NASCAR Tour Type/SK Mods, Late Models, IMCA/FL Mods, Mini Stock, Sportsman, Super Stock and guest appearances by TBARA Winged Sprints, STARRS, Allison Legacy, and FASTRUCKS during the nine nights. Racing begins each night at 7:30 p.m. For full schedule, please go to www.newsmyrnaspeedway.com.
OFFICIAL RESULTS - 125 LAPS - PETE ORR MEMORIAL
ORANGE BLOSSOM 125
1. Wayne Anderson, Wildwood, FL
2. Justin Drawdy, Ft. Pierce, FL
3. Barry Willoughby, Port St. Lucie, FL
4. Travis Kittleson, Merritt Island, FL
5. Mike Good, Clermont, FL
6. Bobby Beauchemin, Davey, FL
7. Eric Black, Vero Beach, FL
8. Daryl Shelnut, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
9. Larry Osteen, Clermont, FL
10. Michael Williams, Mims, FL
11. Fain Skinner, Live Oaks, FL
12. Mac Johnson, Gainesville, FL
13. Thomas Haselmayer, Brooksville, FL
14. Chad Pierce, Orlando, FL
15. David Froelich, Loxahatchee, FL
16. Brock Oglesby, Ocala, FL
17. Jim Flynn, Orlando, FL
18. Mike Finn, Boca Raton, FL
19. David Baxley, Anthony, FL
20. Jonny Kay, Deer Field Beach, FL
21. Bruce Lawrence, Sorento, FL
22. Brad Barkis, Ft. Myers, FL
23. Jay Middleton, Lake City, FL
24. Jack Cook, Daytona, FL
25. Chris Fontaine, Lakeland, FL
26. Jacob Warren, Orlando, FL
27. David Rogers, Orlando, FL
28. James Powell, Astor, FL
29. Lee Collins, Immokalee, FL
30. B.J. McLeod, Wauchula, FL
31. Aric Almirola, Tampa, FL
32. Rich Pratt, Anthony, FL
33. Bruce Lawrence, II, Sorento, FL
34. Tom Root, Orlando, FL
35. Marty Zehr, Daytona, FL
36. Bobby Fleckinger, Cocoa Beach, FL
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