| Pete Orr Memorial A Big Winner | by Jane Smith
Click above for full size picture of the Orr family and all the drivers
Before the pit gates had opened officially, cars were lined up for tech at New Smyrna Speedway for the second annual Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 125. With temperatures in the low 90's, it was definitely a hot job in the sun.
Two cars, Bobby Coyle and Bruce Lawrence, broke before time trails but it was Justin Drawdy of Fort Pierce setting fast time for the twenty six car field with a 17.954. Mario Gosselin of Lake Whales was second with a 17.996 followed by B.J. McLeod of Wauchula with a 18.019. Wayne Anderson of Wildwood came in fourth with a 18.022 followed by Daniel Keene Jr. of Weekiwachee with a 18.076.
Drawdy once again drew the number 7 pill for inversion putting the points leader for the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series Fain Skinner of Live Oaks on the pole.
Cars were lined up two by two on the frontstretch for the fans. The Orr family had a group picture made with all the drivers. Rick Bristol, announcer for New Smyrna Speedway, then introduced the field with a special introduction of Jay Middleton, receiver of the first Pete Orr Sportsmanship Award.
The monetary receiver of the Pete Orr Sportsmanship Award, the Sunshine Foundation, was introduced to the crowd and were given a check for $1500 in Pete Orr's name.
Introductions were concluded with the Orr family giving the most famous words in racing history, "gentlemen, start your engines", Howard Orr readied on the flagstand to throw the green flag.
As the green flag waved, it was Fain Skinner and Jacob Warren on the front row. But Warren broke right as the green flew causing a slight back-up but no yellow. Skinner jumped to the lead with Wayne Anderson, Daniel Keene Jr., B.J. McLeod and Mario Gosselin in the top five.
Lap 1 saw the first yellow as Morgan Hoover spun in turns 1 and 2 slightly dusting the wall as Warren limped to the pits with a broken shifter. The race went back green on lap 4.
Skinner held the point on the restart but found it very hard to stop Wayne Anderson from taking over. By lap 8, Anderson had taken the point with McLeod following Anderson and Skinner sliding to fifth. Lap 10 Jack Cook brought out the yellow as he spins. The race goes green on lap 13 with Anderson, McLeod, Gosselin, Drawdy, Michael Williams, Skinner, Keene Jr., Mike Good, Chris Fontaine, and David Rogers.
Seven laps later, lap 20, the yellow is thrown for Kiki Thomas who has gone around in turns 3 and 4 hitting the wall lightly. The green is shown again on lap 22 with Anderson on the point. By lap 26, it is Anderson, McLeod, Gosselin and Drawdy going nose to tail for the lead. Lap 30 see Skinner slightly tap Williams as they fight for position. Williams gets loose but holds on. Brock Oglesby brings out the caution on lap 31 as he has a broken drive shaft which has littered the track. The track is cleared and goes back green on lap 33.
By lap 40, it is Anderson, McLeod, Gosselin, Drawdy, Skinner, Keene, Williams, Good, Fontaine and Jimmy Cope. Lap 45 sees the yellow for track conditions. Before the green comes back out again, David Rogers pits with Michael Williams retiring to the pits for the night.
On the restart, lap 50, Keene and Good get together spinning in turns 3 and 4 with the back half of the field also spinning avoiding each other. Sean Murphy got the worst end of the deal as he goes over Cope and hits the wall. Murphy is towed in, done for the night as Cope tries to continue.
Lap 54 sees the restart as Anderson leads the way followed by McLeod, Gosselin, Drawdy, Skinner, Fontaine, Jonny Kay, Jay Middleton, Bruce Lawrence Jr., Scotty Crockett, and Mike Bresnahan. Lap 56, Cope goes in followed by Rogers on lap 59 and Chris Fontaine on 64.
Lap 66 sees Good and Lawrence Jr. get together on the backstretch bringing out the yellow. Lawrence Jr. takes a quick trip to pit road along with Shane Nichols. The race goes back green on lap 70 but the caution comes out again for Lawrence Jr. and Good who have gotten together again in turn 2.
As the green comes out again on lap 72, Ryan Foster is off the pace. Anderson leads the way followed by McLeod, Drawdy, Gosselin, Skinner, Kay, Middleton, Crockett, Bresnahan, Cook and Wayne Parker. Parker, making his first appearance in 2004, puts pressure on Cook and takes over ninth with Cook settling into tenth. Gosselin tries Drawdy and is successful taking back his third place position with Drawdy going to fourth.
Top ten are Anderson, McLeod, Gosselin, Drawdy, Skinner, Kay, Middleton, Crockett, Parker, Bresnahan, Keene, Lawrence Jr., and Cook. Lap 102 sees Bruce Lawrence Jr. go high in turn 4 with a right front flat. Lawrence limps around the track and goes to pit road for crew attention.
Lap 105 sees the green out with Anderson and McLeod going hard and heavy for the lead. McLeod gives Anderson a few "love kisses" just to make his presence known but Anderson holds on. Lap 118 sees the yellow for debris on the track which turns out to be one of the orange cones.
The last ten laps must be under green with no more cautions counted. The race resumes on lap 118 with Anderson, McLeod, Gosselin, Drawdy, Skinner, Middleton, Kay, Keene, Parker, and Crockett in the top ten.
Lap 120, Middleton has a problem on the backstretch as Kay spins to avoid hitting Middleton. Middleton goes to pit road and Kay retains his position as it was Middleton who had the problem to bring out the yellow. Middleton is not able to return to the field.
The last five laps were a show as McLeod looks everyway to pass Anderson but Anderson is not to be passed. Anderson takes the checkered for his second win in a row of the Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 125 followed by B.J. McLeod, Mario Gosselin, Fain Skinner and Justin Drawdy.
In Victory Lane, Anderson tells the fans how much this means to him winning "Pete's" race and what a great driver B.J.McLeod is.
OFFICIAL RESULTS PETE ORR MEMORIAL ORANGE BLOSSOM 125
NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY, MAY 22, 2004
1. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood
2. #78 B.J. McLeod, Wauchula
3. #59 Mario Gosselin, Lake Whales
4. #1 Fain Skinner, Live Oaks
5. #12 Justin Drawdy, Fort Pierce
6. #5 Daniel Keene Jr., Weekiwachee
7. #48 Jonny Kay, Deerfield Beach
8. #3 Wayne Parker, Mt. Dora
9. #28 Scott Crockett, Land O' Lakes
10. #57 Mike Bresnahan, Inverness
11. #116 Bruce Lawrence, Jr., Sorento
12. #96 Jack Cook, Daytona
13. #65 Shane Nichols, Ocala
14. #48x Bill Manfull, Myakka City
15. #74J Jay Middleton, Lake City
16. #10 Ryan Foster, Lowell, Arkansas
17. #27 Mike Good, Lake Mary
18. #47 Chris Fontaine, Lakeland
19. #11 David Rogers, Orlando
20. #61 Jimmy Cope, St. Pete
21. #32 Sean Murphy, Ft. Lauderdale
22. #19 Kiki Thomas, Tampa
23. #40 Michael Williams, Mims
24. #39 Morgan Hoover, New Smyrna
25. #88 Brock Oglesby, Ocala
26. #51 Jacob Warren, Orlando
FAST QUALIFIER: Justin Drawdy
TOP ROOKIE: Scotty Crockett
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