Kevin Orr scores career-best finish at Grand Bend Nitro Jam!

[Ted Barnes]

Two other TNT Super Series regulars finish in the semi-finals!

Kevin Orr has been drag racing for almost three decades and has never been to a final round at a national event...until now.

Kevin and his wife Laurie finished in the runner-up spot in Hot Rod at the 2012 IHRA MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex. Falling to eventual triple class winner Jacob Elrod, Kevin put some very impressive numbers on the board.

His average reaction time in eliminations was .017 and he ran on the good side of the 10.90 index in every round, with the exception of the final.

After defeating Rudy Matthews in round one by a tight .004 margin of victory, Kevin drilled the tree in round two with a stout .006 which wasn't good for Ron Cannatti. In round three, he repeated his near perfect light with another .006 against Drew Buchner who put up a good fight running a 10.907 to Kevin’s 10.919.

The semi-finals had three TNTSS regulars in the lanes with Kevin, Sam LoVetro Jr and Tom Coonly. Kevin prevailed over Sam with an .004 to an .012 and 10.911 to 11.006 while Tom was almost perfect on the tree at .001 but went too fast at 10.890 to Jacob Elrod’s 10.947.

In the final, Kevin posted a very respectable .021 but Jacob was better at .011. And even though Kevin took the stripe, he went too fast doing it running 10.872 to a better 10.891.

“Thanks to Chris at Lawrence Classic Transmission for keeping the drivetrain working,” said Kevin. “Special thanks to Laurie for all of her support over the years.”

Kevin says the highlight of his racing career is the two final round appearances in the same weekend last year in the Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series. “But I’m absolutely thrilled with my driving last weekend. Now to apply it to the TNT series,” added Kevin.

“A special thanks to Ted Barnes, Joe Boniferro and Russ & Arlene Parker for creating an incredibly competitive series. And all of the other TNTSS racers for teaching me how to drive through the school of hard knocks!”

Kevin’s car is an original 1967 Corvette Roadster 427/435hp machine. He and Laurie purchased in 1982. “Laurie used to drive it to work!” added Kevin. They started racing the Corvette in Street class in 1986 running mid 11’s. Then a Liberty clutchless four speed was installed in 1988 and the back-half was done in 1990 to go Super Street racing. “We crashed the car in September of 2000 at Cayuga and then spent the next five years putting a front clip on it.”

Next was a Powerglide and they tried Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series in late 2009. "We've only been running the TNT series ever since, with the exception of the Grand Bend national event every year."

The next stop on the 2012 Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series schedule is St Thomas Raceway Park in Sparta, Ontario on Saturday and Sunday August 4-5. Kevin Orr Mechanical is presenting a double race weekend including a special RACER BARBEQUE hosted by Laurie Orr on Saturday night. Visit www.tntsuperseries.com for full details.