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Orlando Speedworld opened up the 2004 season with the first ever regularly scheduled Saturday program in its history and a good crowd was treated to some great racing action.

The youngsters showed the "old guys" how to get it done in the opening RE/MAX Legends Car feature of the 2004 season with teenagers occupying the top five finishing places at the drop of the checkered flag.

Sixteen-year-old Clermont driver Patrick Conrad led every lap of the 25-lap headliner for the Legends in his Four Seasons Tours sponsored machine but it was 13-year-old sensation Sam Watts of Winter Springs who put on a fantastic display of driving for the fans.

Watts, driving a new car, was challenging for the lead in his heat when he spun out in turn one with one lap to go. Since he was going to start at the back of the feature field anyway, Watts opted to switch to his other car - the same one he dominated the Winternationals in last month.

After making a shambles of the field in winning the second heat, Conrad jumped to an early lead closely followed by first heat winner Kevin Abbott.

Mike Verhaagh got into the wall hard on the backstretch during lap seven. Jeff Deggeller clipped Verhaagh's car and spun into the pit entrance/exit divider. Although both cars were severely damaged, neither driver had anything hurt other than their pocketbook.

Conrad and Kevin Abbott continued to head the field with Kevin's brother Kory heading a large group racing for third that already included 19th starter Watts.

A quick caution for a bumper on the track slowed the action momentarily as Watts had now moved into the top five. Watts continued to work his way to the front, moving into third spot just before the race was red-flagged for a second time when Mitch Verhaagh's engine exploded in a ball of flame going into turn one. The fire put itself out and Mitch was OK but it certainly wasn't a good night for the Verhaagh clan.

One lap after the restart, Matt Bowers and Tim Osterlund got together going into turn four with Bowers tagging the wall hard. Both drivers were just fine but done for the evening.

On the restart, Watts was able to power his way underneath Kevin Abbott just as fourth-running Kory Abbott suffered mechanical problems and headed for the infield.

Watts made a good run for the lead over the final five laps, but Conrad used his experience to stay in front for the overall win and the Pro division trophy. Watts was second and tops in the Semi-Pro division. Kevin Abbott checkered third in front of Jeremy Colangelo and rookie driver Derrick Wood who scored a top five in just his third Legends Car race. 57-year-old Doug Hall of St. Pete Beach was the top finisher in the Masters class, finishing sixth. Bobby Byars, Mike Fazio, Darin "T-Bone" Coker and Dion Hinskey completed the top ten.

The normally wild Mod Lites were very tame on this night. The only caution of the 25-lap run was for a turn two spin by John Bailey on lap two.

Jacksonville's Ron Towles got the jump off his pole starting spot and led all the way although he was hounded the entire distance by George Landis. Towles and Landis took the checker well in front of third finishing Mike Belusar. Wayne DeClerck crossed the line in fourth just in front of Phil Krauthoff. Doug Parlamento, Kevin Baxter, Todd Diers, Stan Hope and Robert Crandall rounded out the top ten.

Towles and Landis were heat race winners.

Brad Sanders looked like he had the Pro Challenge race in hand until lap 18 of the 25-lap run. A caution flag for moisture on the track saw several machines drop by the wayside including Sanders.
Rod Sanders found himself out front when the race resumed and he didn't waste his luck, leading the rest of the way to take the win over Ken Watts, Mark David, Tyler David and Todd Currier.

Rod Sanders and Mark David won the heats The Florida Mini Cup division put on its usual competitive show and were a hit with many fans who were seeing the little Honda GX390 powered cars for the first time.

Fifteen year old Wendy Kash was able to hold off Mini-Cup veteran Terry Tullis to win her heat, then led just about half of the 25-lap feature race before Tullis breezed by and went on to a rather easy victory.

Dan Suggs passed Kash for second with three laps to go just before his car went sour on him and he fell back to an 11th place finish.

Kash claimed second spot ahead of a fast-closing Rick Arriemma. David Taylor was fourth and second heat winner Carlos Gonzales fifth.

Brandon Thomson led all the way to win the Bandelero Young Guns feature but had to contend with a determined Scott Jarrett the entire 12-lap distance. Derrick Wood was third followed by Nick Wesenick and Chelsea Schillig. The outlaws ran with the Young Guns with Evan Russell topping "Grampa" Dave Jarrett in the new class for drivers 16 years of age and up.

Chad Akins continued his dominance of the Bandelero Bandits taking yet another wire to wire win in his "Silver Bullet." Josh Williams, Gerald White, Jr., Blake Eden, and Ryan Rust completed the top five.

A surprisingly good field of Hurricane (stock four cylinder cars) saw Bobby Crites take the measure of the field in his Volkswagen Rabbit in the first run for this new class. Greg Bruce drove his Ford Escort to second followed by Paul Tonchak, "Raybo" and Mike Ackerman.

Orlando Speedworld goes to a two-night-a-week format starting this Friday, March 12th. Friday night FASCAR sanctioned action will include the Super Late Models, Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Sportsman, Super Stocks and Strictly Stocks.

Saturday night the RE/MAX Legends, Bandeleros and Hurricanes are back in action joined by the season-opener for the Classic Auto Racing Series.

An open practice is scheduled from 5-10 PM on Wednesday, March 10th for all divisions.

Reproduced with permission.