It was an almost "standing room only" crowd at Orlando SpeedWorld for the third leg of the Florida Sunbelt Super Late Model Series. Twenty six of the state's finest Super Late Model drivers were on the front stretch being introduced to the excited crowd. B. J. McLeod had fast time for the twenty six but after pills were drawn for the top ten cars, it was Mike Fritts in the back-up No. 27 for Mike Good. Fritts is the Crew- Chief for Good and also known for his Featherlite Modified days in the no. 9 NH.

After a few warm-up laps, the cars were lined up on the front stretch for driver introduction to the fans. Some of the crowd favorites were David Rogers, Wayne Anderson, B.J. McLeod, Travis Kirtleson, James Powell, Mike Good, Mike Fritts, Brian Finney, Ronnie Roach, Jacob Warren, Jimmy Cope, Ronnie Roach, and the return to Super Late Model racing for Bill Keeton, the no. 4 Super Late Model and past Track Champion for Late Models at New Smyrna Speedway.

Drivers were buckled in, the track cleared and the green flag came out to rumble and rumble is exactly what happened. After only two laps, the first caution of nine came out for not one but two wrecks. In turn l and 2 and over in turn 3 and 4. Mike Good and Wayne Jefferson were both taken out of the race, Rob Underwood was damaged but able to return and it was Mike Fritts, B.J. McLeod, Brian Finney, Travis Kittleson, and Jimmy Cope in the top five.

Racing was returned to green and at Lap 15, caution two came out for Jeff Emery and Ronnie Roach but both were able to continue. Brian Finney, running in third, had Jimmy Cope right on his backside and suddenly Brian was turned and put into the wall. This brought out caution no. three. Luckily, Finney's car did not hit the wall at full force but had severe rear damage and was retired from the race although Finney did try to return but was not successful.

Caution four saw James Powell leave the race with damage. Out of the 26 starting cars, only 17 were left at this point. Some damaged more than you like to see. Mike Fritts was still the leader with Jimmy Cope, B.J. McLeod, Wayne Anderson and Travis Kittleson completing the top five.

Sixty nine laps were down at this point of the l25 when one of the crowd's favorite drivers had the yellow come out for him. Caution no. five was for David Rogers when his T.M. Ranch Dodge broke and was hit slightly by Jeff Emery as it slowly came off the track. Emery was able to return to racing but Rogers retired for the night. Racing returned and caution seven was brought out for Eric Black who spun out but was able to continue and we saw Jeremy Gerstner come back into the race and Morgan Hoover out.

Just about at this point, Wayne Anderson in his bright red #84, got a rocket boast and took off for the lead. Fritts and Anderson played cat and mouse for the remainer of the race, Anderson almost taking the lead but Fritts keeping it. Two more cautions, eight and nine, would come out before the end of the race but both cars that caused the cautions were able to continue.

Anderson did his best to put the pedal to the medal but in the end, it was Mike Fritts race leading from the first lap to the last lap. Fritts ran a very clean race and earned the win with respect and admiration from the crowd. Wayne Anderson finished second, Jimmy Cope was third, B.J. McLeod was fourth, Rookie Travis Kittleson was fifth and Jacob Warren sixth.

by Jane Smith

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