Just a few years ago Tyler Audie was racing on the Quarter Midget track located between turns one and two at New Smyrna Speedway.  Recently moving up to the Pro Late Model class on the big high-banked half mile track, Audie surprised everyone, including himself, by standing in victory lane Saturday night following a wild and controversial season-opening 50 lap race for the Pro Late Models as a new season of weekly NASCAR Whelan All-America RacingSeries action began.

Cody Blair topped the 16-car field in time trials with a lap of 17.976, the only driver to go under 18 seconds.  Jerry Symons was second in qualifying followed by Ricky Anderson and William Carroll.  That quartet would start in reverse order for the feature as Blair pulled the four pill placing Carroll on the pole for the start of the race.  The original start was called back after Donnie Varcoe and Chris Brannon tangled up going into turn one, however both

were able to continue.  Ricky Anderson zipped out to the early lead once the race went green only to see the caution displayed for the first time on lap nine as Jerry Symons went for a spin off the bumper of Canadian visitor Alex Guenette.  David Rogers, subbing for his TM Ranch teammate Brad May, had nowhere to go and crashed into Symons.  As “The Hammer” had his car towed to the pits, Rogers drove his car back to his pit stall where the team made repairs and got him back on track in time for the restart although his car was never quite right from that point and he later dropped from the running. (more…)

Takes Second Leg Of Track’s Super Late Model Triple Crown

Travis Cope is joined in Victory Lane by Bobby Orr – son of the late Pete Orr – and his family after winning Saturday night’s Pete Orr Memorial 100 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway. Speed51.com

By Jason Christley, NASCAR – New Smyrna, Fla. — Travis Cope insists he doesn’t have New Smyrna Speedway figured out.

The results indicate otherwise.

Cope led the final 92 laps in a dominating performance Saturday night en route to winning the 12th Annual Pete Orr Memorial/Orange Blossom 100. It’s his third straight NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model win at the banked half-mile.

With the win, the 25-year from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., adds his name to recent winners — and rising stars in the sport — of the Pete Orr 100: Kyle Larson (2012) and Kyle Benjamin (2013).

“That means a lot,” Cope said. “Those two kids, I’ve raced both of them. They’re outstanding race car drivers. It means a lot – it’s pretty cool to have your name on the same trophy as them.”

Rich Clouser finished second, followed by Mike Garvey. Brad May and Mario Comparetto Jr. rounded out the top five. (more…)