ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD
Coming up at Orlando Speed World Dragway:
* Today: Wheels Up Wednesday _ “All Welcome Test and Tune and Grudge Racing” with gates opening at 6 p.m. and racing from 6 p.m.-to-10:30 p.m. $20 General Admission or $30 to race.
* Thursday-thru-Saturday _ Kings of Grunge (Bikes).
* FUNDAY Sunday _ “All Welcome Test and Tune and Grudge Racing” with gates opening at 10 a.m. and racing from 10:30 a.m.-to-5 p.m. $20 General Admission (kids 10-and-Under free) or $35 to race.
The Dragway Information Hotline is at (407) 568-5522 and the website is at _ www.raceosw.com/dragway/.
SpeedWorld is located 17 miles east of Orlando in Bithlo at 19164 East Colonial Drive, between Orlando and Titusville on Highway 50 at the 520 Cocoa Cutoff.
SANFORD ADULT SOFTBALL
Here is this week’s schedule in the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department Adult Softball Fall Season.
The Semi-Co-Ed/Fun League on Wednesday will wrap up with Fed Up challenging Pat’s Liquor at 6:30 p.m.; Fusion taking on the Badgers at 7:30 p.m.; and Wet Spot facing Throwbacks at 8:30 p.m. The West End Trading Company has completed its season.
Everyone is invited to watch the games for free at Pinehurst Park on West 24th Street.
For more information contact Dominic Pascuzzo, City of Sanford Recreation Supervisor, at the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5120, extension 5004; Fax _ 407-688-5121; facebook.com/SanfordFLCityGovt; instagram.com/cityofsanfordfl; visit the city website _ www.sanfordfl.gov _ or email: [email protected].
SOAP BOX DERBY
One of the most popular events on the CFSBD calendar, especially with out of state competitors, is coming to Mike Kirby Park to close out 2024 when The City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department and Central Florida Soap Box Derby hosts the 2-Day Holiday Rally on Saturday, December 28, and Sunday, December 29.
The entry fee is $115 for one entry or $200 total for a family of two or more drivers.
The final day to enter and pay in full is Thursday, December 19. No onsite registration.
Kirby Park will be open on Friday, December 27, from 10 a.m.-to-2 p.m. for trailer drop-off.
RV’s are welcome, but you MUST make prior arrangements with the Rally Director.
Each Day, check in will be at 7 a.m., with racing beginning at 8:30 a.m., and will consist of a Double Elimination race for each class in the morning, followed by a lunch break and a Single Elimination race for each class in the afternoon.
Soap Box Derby racing is open to children ages 7 to 20 _ Stock, 7-to-13; Super Stock, 9-to-18; Masters, 10-to-20 _ with a limited number of loaner cars available for new participants.
Everyone, especially interested non-racers, is invited to attend any of the family friendly events, free of charge, at beautiful Mike Kirby Park located on the west side of Sanford on Oregon Avenue, north off of CR-46A (25th Street/H. E. Thomas Parkway) or east off of Rinehart Road, just south of the GreeneWay entry. The track is East of Bentley Elementary School.
For more information on Central Florida Soap Box Derby or to download a registration form, please check out the websites at www.soapboxderby.org or www.centralflorida.soapboxderby.org; [email protected], 407-353-6228, or call the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5120. Information is also available at _ https://www.facebook.com/CentralFloridaSoapboxDerby/ _ especially photos and flyers.
LMSA
* Thursday, December 19 _ The monthly LMSA Membership Meeting will be held from 7 p.m.-to-8 p.m. at the LMSA Club House (531 North Palmetto Avenue).
* Sunday, December 22 _ Sine Metu Jameson Irish Whiskey Race. The start window is 1:25 p.m.
* Sunday, January 12 _ Ladies on the Lake Regatta. Enjoy a weekend of sailing at Lake Monroe Sailing Association located in Historical Downtown Sanford. The Regatta is a different format this year to encourage all women to come out and steer a boat! Anyone can crew, but ONLY ladies can drive! The course will be the same format as Wednesday Night Races with race committee starting and finishing the fleet. For planning purposes please RSVP by 1/5/2025. Registration and Check-in are open from 11:30 a.m.-to-12:30 p.m. Skippers Meeting is at 1 p.m. 1st Flag is at 2 p.m.
For more information, visit _ www.flalmsa.org _ or call (321) 578-8364.
STAFFDNA CURE BOWL
Get your tickets for the only bowl season matchup of conference champions!
C-USA Champion Jacksonville State Gamecocks (9-4) and the Mid-American Conference Champion Ohio Bobcats (10-3) will face off at Camping World Stadium. Kickoff is at noon on Friday, Dec. 20, on ESPN.
Tickets start at $39, and are on sale now. Go to _ https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/2200615FBF9E1C41 _ for ticket information.
STETSON WOMEN
Sophomore guard Jorah Eppley delivered a career-high performance with 18 points to lead the Stetson Hatters to a thrilling 76-72 victory over the High Point Panthers on Saturday afternoon at the Insight Credit Union Arena. Eppley shot an efficient 7-of-12 from the field, including three makes from beyond the arc. With the win, the Hatters improved to 5-5 on the season and remain undefeated at home.
The Hatters' bench played a crucial role, contributing 23 points to the win. Diawna Carter-Hartley added seven points in her season debut, providing a spark off the sidelines.
Three Hatters scored in double figures, with Tiasia McMillan tallying 11 points and Mary McMillan contributing 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists. It was Mary McMillan's third consecutive game with at least four assists, highlighting her all-around impact.
On the glass, Stetson out-rebounded High Point 32-28, fueled by Quentarra Mitchell's team-leading seven boards. The Hatters dominated the offensive glass, pulling down 16 offensive rebounds and converting them into 18 second-chance points.
Defensively, Stetson forced 18 High Point turnovers, which translated into 26 points on the offensive end. Eppley led the team with three steals, while Promise Keshi anchored the defense with a remarkable five blocks—the most by a Hatter since Anabel Ellison's six-block performance on Jan. 7, 2023.
Up Next:
The Hatters return to DeLand to host the Hatters Holiday Classic against South Alabama on Thursday and Bradley on Friday. Both games will tip-off at 11 a.m. and be streamed on ESPN+.
UCF WOMEN
The UCF women’s basketball team (7-2 heading into a home game with High Point on Tuesday) will open Big 12 play on Saturday by hosting No. 12 ranked TCU (Texas Christian) in Addition Financial Arena at 2 p.m. The game will be the opening contest of a doubleheader with the men, who will play Jacksonville at 6 p.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
STETSON MEN
The Stetson Hatters got a significant lift from the bench, led by Jordan Wood's season-high 25 points and three blocks, but ultimately fell 81-72 to the Florida International Panthers on Saturday at the Insight Credit Union Arena.
Wood delivered a strong performance, shooting 7-of-15 from the floor, including three three-pointers, and going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. It was his seventh game this season in double figures and his second consecutive outing with 20+ points.
Joining Wood in double figures were Mehki Ellison and Josh Massey. Ellison contributed 13 points and two steals, his sixth game of the season with double-digit scoring. Massey added 13 points and six rebounds, marking his third straight game with double figures and at least six boards.
The Hatters faced a challenge on the glass, being outrebounded 41-33. However, Tristan Gross pulled down a career-high eight rebounds to lead Stetson in that category.
After a slow start, the Hatters found themselves trailing 47-28 at halftime. Stetson narrowed the deficit to 65-47 before going on a 6-0 run midway through the second half, cutting the lead to 65-53 with 8:02 remaining. Despite their best efforts, the Hatters couldn't overcome the gap, and FIU held on for the win.
Up Next:
Stetson (5-6) was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to take on LSU on Tuesday, and will be at the Insight Credit Union Arena at Edmunds Center on Sunday to host Fort Lauderdale at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
POP-TARTS BOWL
The Miami Hurricanes and Iowa State Cyclones will square off in the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl, Florida Citrus Sports announced Sunday. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28, at Camping World Stadium and will air live on ABC.
No. 13 Miami (10-2, 6-2 ACC) will be making a record seventh all-time appearance in the game, and its first since a 2020 Cheez-It Bowl matchup against Oklahoma State. The Hurricanes are 3-3 in their previous six appearances, four of which were played in Orlando.
No. 18 Iowa State (10-3, 7-2 Big 12), fresh off of an appearance in Saturday's Big 12 Championship Game, will be making its third Orlando bowl trip since 2019 — a run that includes a 2019 Camping World Bowl defeat to Notre Dame and a 2021 Cheez-It Bowl loss to Clemson.
The Hurricanes and Cyclones have never met on the gridiron.
The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl will be the 35th edition of the game, which has been held at Camping World Stadium since 2001 after 11 years in South Florida. Last year, Kansas State defeated NC State 28-19 in the first edition of the bowl to feature Pop-Tarts as a title sponsor.
Pop-Tarts Bowl tickets are available now. Visit PopTartsBowl.com to buy or to learn more about group, premium, Family Fun Play and other ticket offers.
CHEEZ-IT CITRUS BOWL
The South Carolina Gamecocks and Illinois Fighting Illini will square off in this season's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Florida Citrus Sports announced Sunday. The game will kick off at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Camping World Stadium and will air live on ABC.
No. 15 South Carolina (9-3, 5-3 SEC) will be making its fourth all-time appearance in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, and its first since a 34-24 win over Wisconsin to close the 2013-14 season. The Gamecocks also appeared in the Jan. 2, 2012 Citrus Bowl, a 30-13 win over Nebraska, and the 1975 game, a 20-7 defeat to Miami (Ohio).
No. 20 Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) will be appearing in the game for the second time and first since quarterback and game MVP Jeff George led the team to a 31-21 win over Virginia on New Year’s Day 1990.
The Gamecocks and Illini have never met on the gridiron.
This season's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl will be the 79th edition of the game, an annual matchup of top SEC and Big Ten teams since 1993. Last season, Tennessee defeated Iowa 35-0 in the second edition of the Citrus Bowl to feature Cheez-It as a title sponsor.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl tickets are available now. Visit CheezItCitrusBowl.com to buy or to learn more about group, premium, Family Fun Play and other ticket offers.
