IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

February 16, 2007 Pete Orr Memorial Set For World Series Finale on Saturday Richie Evans Memorial 100 On Tap Tonight By Jack Smith Friday night and Saturday (Feb. 16-17) are a short track fan's dream, two races on back to back nights that mean a tremendous amount for the competitors, and with a points championship on the line. Saturday night the Pete Orr Memorial 100 honors one Florida's most respected and revered racers, and also one of FASCAR's winningest drivers. Pete Orr lost a battle with cancer in 2002 at the very young age of 42. He was admired by his competitors as much as he was by his fans, in fact they were probably Pete's biggest fans. "Pete was a Great Human Being & a Awesome Race Car Driver on top of that." Those were the words of former NASCAR driver David Green. Pete Orr helped many people in the racing world, and ironically, in death Pete has perhaps assisted even many more. As writer Art Levine explained in an article in City Life in 2003: Pete Orr has left a legacy beyond the racetrack. In March, a bill passed a state Senate committee that would provide stronger penalties for operators of unlicensed insurance plans, including a minimum two-year sentence for the worst violators. The bill, introduced by Orr family friend and state Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, was dubbed “The Pete Orr Insurance Anti-Fraud Bill.” It also spelled out the right of consumers to sue the owners of unlicensed companies. “Pete Orr died an unfortunate and untimely death, and his death was even more tragic in that he died worrying about the unpaid bills he left behind,” Posey said at the time. Florida State Senator Bill Posey is former race track owner and a racer when political life allows for it, was a co-sponsor of the Florida legislation. Travis Kittleson, a young man who has made his mark on the short tracks of America, was a student of Pete Orr. "I was blessed enough to have worked with him, not a day went by with out a laugh not a day went by with out learning something new about racing or life." Kittleson also said, "He taught me many things gave me confidence on the track. He was one of the best. I will never forget what we shared what I learned.I have done a lot of traveling there wasn't a place I have been were I was not asked about him, he will always be a legend." Last year Kittleson was able to win the event, out dueling a strong field of 31 super late models, something he had wanted badly since the race was first held. "After that first caution, the car started vibrating, and it stayed together for the rest of the race", Kittleson said, then pausing he continued, "and I swear it was Pete looking down on us all and kept that thing together, we have wanted to win this thing for three or four years now and it stayed together for us". Wayne Anderson won the race the first two years (2003-2004). In '04 Anderson out ran B.J. McLeod in a 26 car field and in '03 fans saw a 36 car field dominated by Anderson. In 2005 Jeff Choquette, a Roush Racing Gong Show finalist, surprised nearly everyone by winning the Pete Orr Memorial, his fourth super late model victory in a row. This year the field for the World Series Super Late Models has averaged right at 22 cars including familiar names Jeff Scofield, B.J. McLeod, Mike Fritts, Justin Drawdy, Ted Christopher, Jimmy Cope, Jeff Choquette and Tim Russell to name a few. Russell is coming off a fine run at Daytona in the ARCA race, a run interrupted by a very severe crash in the wall not his fault. Russell ran second to Jeff Scofield in Thursday night's 50 lap race at New Smyrna Speedway. "The Wauchula Warrior", B.J. McLeod is currently leading the World Series Championship chase, so perhaps it is his year. There is certainly no driver in the field who could want it any more than McLeod. Pete Orr was a strong influence on B.J. McLeod's racing career. Orr was McLeod's mentor during the early years including his two super late model championships in 1998 at the tender age of 14. B.J. has talked many times about the influence of Pete Orr on his career. This will mark the fourth year KARNAC.com presents the Pete Orr Sportsmanship Award, in a presentation made during the drive introduction and autograph session for the fans. The prize was first awarded in 2004 to Jay Middleton, subsequent winners have been Florida's top modified driver, the quietly intimidating Lee Collinsthe understated elementary school teacher who wheels a FASCAR super late model Brian Finney The recipients of the award have always been surprised and perhaps wondered if they were the one most deserving, and in each case that is part of the mark of real sportsmanship. This year the award will certainly be a surprise, and we think it will be yet another racing personality earning well deserved applause. Tonight the Annual Richie Evans Memorial 100, which features the NASCAR Tour Type Mods, will be the main event, with racing starting at 7:30 PM. "This is one race where some guys only come for that race," said Richard Brooks, who brings the fast Northern Mods to New Smyrna Speedway each year. "Winning the Richie Evans Memorial is like winning the Daytona 500 to these guys. Everyone loved Richie and everyone wants to win his race." Richie Evans was a nine-time NASCAR champion Jimmy Blewitt out ran Ted Christopher in the Richie Evans Memorial in 2006 with a field of 24 of the very toughest competitors in the NASCAR type modifieds. For a full list of all the events running at New Smyrna on Friday and Saturday, and for full results and points championship standings visit the World Series section of the Speedway's web site. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on The Real Racin USA Florida Fan Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!