Fifth Annual "Battle of the Badges" set for Saturday, October 14th, at New Smyrna Speedway
by Jane Smith
The fifth annual "Battle of the Badges" takes place this Saturday night, October 14, at New Smyrna Speedway. Fans will be treated to a 15 lap school bus race plus two demo derbys by surrounding County Sheriffs and Police Departments. This is serious racing for these guys and they race hard and they race to win.
Last year fans saw the upset of Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson in the school bus race. It was Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger who earned the bragging rights for a year as the "top" school bus driver of the year. But Johnson, who was undefeated up until 2005, has plans to take back his bragging rights this Saturday night.
All money raised will go to the Florida Youth Ranches which is a non-profit corporation. More than $100,000 has been raised in the five years that the local sheriffs have put on this show. The Florida Youth Ranches provide family counseling, camping programs, and foster care to neglected, abused and at-risk children throughout Florida. The statewide program includes a network of four residential child-care campuses and two youth ranches for underpriviledged children.
Scheduled to run the 15 lap school bus race around the l/2 mile asphalt track are Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson, Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood, Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger, Flagler County Sheriff Don Fleming, Osceola County Sheriff Bob Hansell, Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen, Lake County Sheriff Chris Daniels and retired Lake County Sheriff Noel Griffin.
Other events scheduled for the night are a stunt show, a demonstration by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office bomb squad, K-9 team and motorcyncle unit. Plus there will be free school bus rides for the little kids and big kids at the track.
Advance tickets are $10.00 and can be bought at Volusia County Sheriff's Offices in DeLand, Deltona, DeBary, Holly Hill and New Smyrna Beach. Tickets can be also bought at the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, New Smyrna Visitors Center and the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
Tickets at the gate are $15.00 with children 12 and under free. Grandstands open at 6 pm with racing scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm.
