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2001
NEWS ARCHIVE
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| The Road to the Triple Crown | 
Jane Smith
In 2000, the Triple Crown was reborn one November weekend when three super late model races were run on three straight days and at three different tracks. The tracks were Orlando SpeedWorld, New Smyrna Speedway and DeSoto Speedway. Drivers, crews, fans, and officials were "worn down to the bone" after the 3 day event was over.
Leg one was at Orlando SpeedWorld on November 17, 2000. Oddly enough, that happened to be the 17th birthday of the #78 B.J. McLeod. Not only did B.J. set fast time that night with a 13.348 but drew the 0 pill to put himself on the pole.
McLeod lead every lap and got himself a well deserved 17th birthday present - the win for the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Leg two was at New Smyrna Speedway where Justin Drawdy set fast time with a 18.147 but when it came time to draw the pill, it was Mike Fritts on the pole for the race.
The race was mostly a Fritts - Ricky Carlton duel but when Fritts hit the wall, Ricky Carlton got the win for leg two of the Triple Crown.
Leg three saw some "worn out" crews, drivers, fans and officials. But 30 cars were at DeSoto Speedway for the final leg of the Triple Crown. Jonathan Brown set fast time with a 14.400. But luck was not with Brown when he drew the no. 9 pill putting James Powell III on the pole.
Once again it was one of the driver's birthdays and once again, that driver won the race. Dick Anderson celebrated his birthday on November 19 and gave himself a present - the win for the third and final leg of the Triple Crown and also the Championship for the Triple Crown.
In 200l, bad weather changed the Triple Crown plans slightly. Leg one was run at New Smyrna Speedway and the following Friday night leg two was at Orlando SpeedWorld with leg three at Charlotte County Speedway the next night.
James Powell III won leg one at New Smyrna Speedway, David Rogers won leg two at Orlando SpeedWorld and Dick Anderson won leg three at Charlotte County Speedway with Travis Kittleson being crowned the champion of the Triple Crown.
This year, 2002, the Triple Crown has been divided into three separate dates. Leg one will be run this Saturday night, June 15, at Charlotte County Speedway. Leg two will be July 20 at Lakeland's USA International and leg three will run November 9 at New Smyrna Speedway which is also the Governor's Cup 2002.
Who will win the first leg of the Triple Crown this year - Dick Anderson, James Powell III, David Rogers or maybe a "young lion" like Barry Willoughby or Eric Black or Justin Drawdy or ????
According to a FASCAR official "Dick Anderson will lead FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series drivers onto Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda on Saturday night for race one of the "Triple Crown" a 200 lap event paying $5,000 to win."
A point leading Anderson of Wildwood with 339 points could be driving the #00 Jimmy Harris owned Chevrolet. Anderson is also a many time winner on the three-eighths mile paved Charlotte County track.
"What's good about Charlotte County Speedway is it's not a horsepower track, but a drivers track - so those with high-power motors do not have an advantage," said Anderson.
David Rogers of Orlando, driving a Dodge is giving Anderson some close company and is in hot pursuit of the leader with 283 points.
"We have been to Charlotte County Speedway only once and it was last season," said Rogers. "We qualified second - had a good race car, but it was a tough ending for us and we lost the Triple Crown to Travis Kittleson, because of an on-track racing incident."
The 2002 Triple Crown winner Travis Kittleson of Merritt Island will be on hand for this race driving his Chevrolet. Kittleson had the hot hand during the Speedweeks late model events earlier this year, winning the Orange Blossom 10 0and the SpeedFest at USA International Speedway. Kittleson has been competing in the American Speed Association (ASA) for the last two years.
Third in points, Michael Williams of Mims will pilot his Monte Carlo and has 252 points. Williams has had some bad luck, but hopes things will change.
"I went down to Charlotte years ago and if you can save your tires you will be in good shape," said Williams "It will be who is best in qualifying and getting of the corners that will make a big difference there."
Tommy King of Bartow will run the P&H Mine Pro Service Ford and has been the hottest leading rookie competing and has 238 points placing him fourth.
James Powell of Astor follows in a Chevrolet with 214 marks is fifth in points and is sure to be in the hunt.
Pit gates open at Charlotte County Speedway open at noon and main gates at 4 p.m.
Qualifying is at 6 p.m. and racing immediately follows.
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