Jeremy Colangelo Wins Orange Blossom 100 at Orlando

DeLand, Florida, Super Late Model Driver in the Right Place at the Right Time

Sometimes in racing you have to be good and lucky.  Jeremy Colangelo made that saying work in his favor, as he ended up winning the “Orange Blossom 100” at Orlando SpeedWorld (FL) Saturday night. 

Throughout his years of racing and tutelage from NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Mark Martin, Colangelo has been told to be patient on the racetrack.  So, when he saw two aggressive drivers battling in front of him on the track Saturday, he decided to do just that.  It turned out to be the right call, as the leaders ended up taking each other out, paving the way to victory for Colangelo.     

“This win was something special, knowing the history and prestige of this race,” said Colangelo.  “I knew we had a great car right when we unloaded it.  Things were going well all day long for a change of pace from the past few outings, where we broke a transmission, rear-end, and then blew the motor.  It was just a streak of bad luck that was changed at Orlando.  We didn’t have the best car at the end of the race, but it was a top-three car without a doubt.  Being in the right place at the right time had a lot to do with it, but I’ll take them however they come.”

Jeremy Colangelo in his Super Late Model (51 Sports Photo)

Colangelo has grown up around the short tracks in the state of Florida.  For Colangelo to go into the record books as a winner of the Orange Blossom 100 is truly special.  He watched the race for years before getting to run the event.  When he crossed the finish line, it was also the first time that he had tasted victory in a 100-lap event. 

“With this being my biggest career win, I feel pretty good about it,” said Colangelo.  “We had a great car and were competitive the whole race.  I can’t begin to explain how it feels to have my name on the same trophy as Leroy Porter and other big names like that.  It will be a win that I will always remember.”

The victory could be the turning point to the start of a great run, as the entire team was energized by the victory at Orlando. 

“The team was really happy with the way things ended up,” added Colangelo.  “The car was great the minute it came off the box.  We only made a few small changes.  Our confidence as a team has definitely been lifted.  We have been so strong, yet not able to get the finishes we needed.  Now, to shake our bad luck and solidify it with a win, that’s pretty cool.”

Jeremy Colangelo will be back on the track Saturday, March 28th, at New Smyrna Speedway (FL) for the opening round of the Bright House Challenge Series.

For more information on Jeremy Colangelo, please contact Elgin Traylor at (704) 788-2134 x 4, and be sure to check out his website at www.jeremycolangelo.com