By Dave Westerman

Close to 200 cars and drivers representing 28 states and the United Kingdom have already entered the first annual Orlando Speedworld Winternationals with five consecutive nights of racing February 10-14.

Third generation driver Derrick Wood - 2004 Florida State Bandelero Bandits Champion
will race in the 2004 Winternationals"

Showcasing their talents over the quintet of evenings will be drivers from the Legends Cars, Classic Auto Racing Series, Baby Grands, Thunder Roadsters, BM Modifieds, Mini Cups and Bandeleros.

"In recent years, these classes of cars have been used as fillers at other Speedweek short track events, but they usually put on a better show than their more publicized counterparts like Late Models and Modifieds," says Orlando Speedworld General Manager Dick Westfall. "This year they will be the stars of the show at Orlando and I believe we'll have the most exciting racing of any Speedweeks venue," he says.

A special media/press briefing pizza lunch will kick off the Winternational festivities on Monday, February 9th followed by an open practice session from 1PM until "as late as we need to go to satisfy everybody," according to Dick Westfall.


12-year-old Sam Watts hopes to make the older drivers eat
his dust in Legends competition at the 2004 Winternational at Orlando

Racing begins on Tuesday night with the Legends, Classics, Thunder Roadsters and Bandeleros running all five nights. The Baby Grands and BM Modifieds move in for the final two nights of competition with the Mini Cup cars added to the show on Saturday night.

Fans will also find this event incredibly affordable, especially on Tuesday night when grandstand admission will be free. Wednesday through Saturday, grandstand seats will still be only five dollars. Pit admission each night is $25. Racing starts at 8PM Tuesday - Friday with a 7PM start slated for Saturday.

As of this past weekend, 108 Legends Cars have already signed up representing 15 states and England. 2003 U.K. Masters Champion Derek Hales has entered and will be driving a car owned by Mark Williams from Edwards Air Force Base in California. The U.S. National Masters Champion, Clay Hair of Mt. Pleasant, NC has also entered as has Florida State Champion Patrick Conrad of Clermont, FL.

Jeremy Colangelo, one of many young drivers who have moved from the Quarter Midget ranks into Legends will be a favorite in his dad's REMAX Realty sponsored car. Twelve year old Sam Watts of Winter Springs, FL, a Legends Car feature winner at Orlando Speedworld last year will be another young driver to watch along with Matt Bowers of Mt. Dora, FL, who is moving up from the Bandeleros to the Legends.


Florida State Bandelero Young Guns Champion Brandon Thomson

Fans might also be in for a special treat on Saturday as NASCAR Busch Grand National Driver Kyle Busch hopes helicopter in for the evening (unless, of course, he wins the BGN race at Daytona that day) and possibly do a little Legends Car racing as well.

The Dan Webster for U.S. Senate Classic Car Series will see drivers from Florida, Tennessee, Maryland and Pennsylvania challenging each other in the only tried-and-true V-8 powered cars competing during the week.

2003 Florida Classic Car Champion Ben Booth of Deland, FL will be challenged by a host of drivers including Cosby TN's Brian Ball who swept the Classic Car Turkey Run races last November in his 1940 Ford.

Clermont, FL driver Jim Rahman, a two-time Florida Series Champion has also entered along with Atomic Motor Speedway stand out "Rocket" Robbie Sands of Knoxville, TN. Tennessee drivers John Davis and Robert Seaton are also expected along with Maryland veteran driver Bill Brown, Sr.

The PRO Division of the Baby Grands sanctioned by MMRA are expected to have quite a shootout over the final two nights. Among the early entrants are such names as Nick Proffitt, Gregg Chesney, Don Napier, Jim and Jimmy Peryam, Tyler Cole, John Lunsford, Chris and Dale Wilson, Matt Luxx and Tyler Brown. 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year Carl Edwards, a graduate of the Baby Grands, hopes to compete on Saturday night against some of his former rivals.

For more information on the 2004 Orlando Speedworld Winternationals, please contact the speedway at (407) 568-1367.

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