May 17, 2004 Pete Orr Memorial Set For Saturday Jane Smith On May 22, the second annual Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 125 will run. Scheduled earlier in January, Mother Nature cut the race short and it was moved to May 22nd. In the field next Saturday night will be five racers who want this win more than anyone knows. Why do they want it so badly?? Because afterall it is "Pete's race" and that is all that needs to be said. Pete left us on November 18, 2002 at the age of 46. Much too soon. Pete left large foot-prints in many hearts especially these five racers. Travis Kittleson of Merritt Island owes a great deal of his racing career to Pete Orr. It was Pete who got Travis his first ASA car and it was Pete who got him thru the early period of ASA. "Pete taught me many things in the time we spent together", said Kittleson. "But Pete was truly one-of-a-kind in many respects and I can only hope that some of Pete rubbed off on me. It is Pete's number 30 that I carry on my ASA car. In some respects, he is always with me wherever we go." Right before Pete found out that he was sick, he was the crew chief for Justin Drawdy of Fort Pierce. Justin, his dad and Pete became the best of friends and Pete helped Justin in many ways to become the fine racer he is today. When Pete got sick, Justin and his dad were always there for him and they remained very close until Pete's death. "I still miss Pete's smile and funny little jokes" said Drawdy. "Pete was a great man, a great racer and the best of friends." B.J. McLeod knew Pete from an early age and Pete was always there when B.J. needed him. They were family afterall. "When I was younger, Pete and I would sometimes race each other. Sometimes he taught me and a few times I taught him but he was always there for me," said B.J. "I will never forget the first time we raced together. Pete was my teacher but more importantly Pete was my friend." Scott Stevens wasn't really a student of Pete Orr but a very close friend. Scott wants nothing more than to run Pete's race and win it. Scott lived very close to the Orr family and was always visiting to talk to Pete and keep his spirits up when they got low. "Losing Pete was very hard and such a shock,": Stevens said sadly. "He was there one day and gone the next. But nothing would have kept Pete down and he did what he had done all his life - go to races." While Pete was waiting for his bone marrow transplant and getting out some, he found a new student in David Frohlich. When the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series went to Sebring International for their road race, it was Pete who helped David thru that race. "Pete was such a great man and I appreciate all he taught me. We were not ready to lose Pete Orr but Pete Orr will never be forgotten by any of us" Frohlich said when he won his first Super Late Model feature last year at New Smyrna Speedway. Pete Orr helped many racers - Erick Black, Chad Pierce, and his son Bobby. Pete could never go anywhere and not be surrounded by friends. Pete was never further away than a phone call when it came to helping anyone with their car set-up. Pete was the best at that and everyone knew it. This Saturday's event will mean alot to these five racers and many more. Wayne Anderson of Wildwood won the first Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 125 but he will find the competition tough this year. A large field of cars are expected because afterall, this is "Pete's race". In January, when the race was called due to rain, Jay Middleton of Lake City was given the first annual Pete Orr Sportsmanship Award presented by KARNAC.com and Goodyear Tires. That presentation will be done in front of the fans also on Saturday and will become an annual event in connection with the Pete Orr Memorial. Pit gates will open at 2 p.m. on May 22nd with qualifying at 6:30. Racing will begin at 7:30 p.m. New Smyrna Speedway is located between SR 44 and SR415 between I-4 and I-95 eight miles west of New Smyrna in beautiful Samsula, Florida. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!