January 23, 2004 New Smyrna Speedway hosts 2nd Annual Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 125 January 31st by Jane Smith -KARNAC.com In one week, January 31st, the second Annual Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 125 will run at New Smyrna Speedway. Last year’s race saw some of the finest Super Late Model drivers in the state compete in the race that Pete Orr won more than any other racer in it’s history. Pete Orr was a longtime friend and racer at New Smyrna Speedway for many years. Pete was also the best set-up man that could be found. “I remember Pete’s phone always ringing on race day with some driver needing help with an out-of-control car. Pete would always find the time to help and answer any questions.” Said friend Rick Bristol. Pete’s last win in the Orange Blossom 100 was in January 2000 when he put his Racecar College #30 Monte Carlo into Victory Lane. In spite of a wet track, worn out tires, Pete took the lead on lap 33 and ran neck-in-neck until lap 58 with David Rogers who on that lap hit the wall hard after his control arm broke. It was clear sailing from lap 58 to 100 with James Powell III in second, Travis Kittleson in third, Bobby McClelland in fourth and Mike Good in fifth. Two of Pete’s future students were in that field that night, Travis Kittleson of Merritt Island and Justin Drawdy of Fort Pierce. Little did Kittleson or Drawdy know at that time what effect Pete Orr would have on their lives and future. KARNAC.com and Goodyear Tires (Larry Robinson) will present at this year’s Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 125 the first Pete Orr Sportsmanship Award. This award will be presented to a driver who has shown the same sportsmanship of Pete Orr and has set an example of what “fair play” means. Along with the award goes a monetary award which will be given to the Sunshine Foundation in honor of Pete Orr. The Sunshine Foundation was founded in 1976 by former Philadelphia police officer Bill Sample. Sample, who saw how families had to struggle with chronically ill children, wanted to help make wishes come true for some of these children. He gathered friends and fellow officers and thus began the Sunshine Foundation. Seriously ill children, physically challenged children and abused children have seen more than 30,000 wishes come true since 1976. 89.6% of all donations are used to make these dreams come true. Dream Village, located here in Central Florida, is made of 9 fairytale cottages on 22 acres of land where families can stay while fulfilling children’s dreams of Mickey Mouse, SeaWorld, Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens. The Village is equipped with a handicap playground, a wheelchair accessible pool and minature golf which adds to the children’s dreams. “This man touched many lives and this award will only grow just as the car count grows for his race,” said Jack Smith, owner/founder of KARNAC.com. “When I approached Larry Robinson and Goodyear Tires about getting involved with this award, Larry had no hesitation since it was in Pete Orr’s honor. Everyone loved Pete Orr.” On January 31st, a large field of Super Late Models are expected. Just some of the names coming are David Rogers, B.J. McLeod, Justin Drawdy, Travis Kittleson, James Powell III, Jonny Kay, Jay Middleton, Brian Finney, Wayne Anderson, Wayne Willard, Mike Good, Michael Williams, Eric Black, David Frohlich, Bruce Lawrence, and a few of the Super Lates that are coming in for the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing which begins the following week. Pit gates will open at noon on the 31st with qualifying at 6 P.M. Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Sportsman, Super Stock, Mini Stock and Strictly Stock will also be on the Saturday night program with “features” only. Grandstands open at 6 P.M. General admission is $20.00, 11 and under free, $25.00 for reserved seating. Reserved seating may be reserved by calling 386-427-4129. New Smyrna Speedway is located between SR44 and SR415 between I-4 and I-95 eight miles west of New Smyrna Beach in beautiful Samsula, Florida. This link will take you to the Race Report from the first annual Pete Orr Memorial 125. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!