RODNEY  BRYAN  ORR   -   11/06/1962 - 02/14/1994

was a NASCAR driver. Originally from Robbinsville, North Carolina, he lived in Palm Coast, Florida at the time of his death. He was the 1993 Goody's Dash Series champion winning 6 races in 25 starts.  Orr and his father, Beacher, purchased a Ford Thunderbird during the 1993-1994 off-season, and acquired an engine from Ernie Elliott in hopes of competing in the 1994 Winston Cup Series. His #37 Thunderbird, sponsored by Bobby Brooks Exxon, recorded the seventh-best time at one test session that winter.  However, before he could run a single race, Orr was killed in practice before the 1994 Daytona 500. Orr was making what is now referred to as a "Mock Qualifying Run", when he spun entering turn 2. Orr's car lifted up and the car slammed heavily into the outside retaining wall and catch fence with the roof of his car at over 175 miles per hour. Despite the efforts to save him, Orr died instantly of massive chest and head injuries sustained in the violent crash. His death came just three days after the death of Neil Bonnett on the same track.  Orr died on February 14, 1994. He was 31 years old. He was survived by his wife, Crystal, and daughter Ashton.  A video with info about Orr's crash is here via YouTube.  Some info from WikiPedia.

 

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