SALE PENDING FOR GEORGIA’S PEACH STATE SPEEDWAY

Georgia Race News

Peach State Speedway, the half-mile asphalt track just off I-85 near
Jefferson, GA, may be purchased soon by a partnership led by Jim
Gresham, Chairman of Gresham Motorsports. Included is Tony Gresham,
Senior VP of Gresham and Associates insurance brokers. Gresham is the
father of late model driver Max Gresham, age 15, and Legends racer
Charlie Gresham, age 12. The family also includes Jim Gresham, CEO of
the insurance firm, a former drag racer who was the 2003, 2005, and
2006 Legends Roadster points champion at AMS. with 16 total wins.
Gresham and Associates, headquartered in Stockbridge, is the ninth
largest wholesale insurance broker in the country and has 11 offices in
the eastern USA. Premium volume in 2007 was $350 million.
Peach State opened its gates in 1963 and for a while included a drag
strip between the stands and the oval. The facility will seat several
thousand fans. It’s known as the “Fastest 1/2 Mile in Georgia”.

NASCAR’s top series raced at the track, then known as Jeffco Speedway,
in November 1968 and 1969, with Cale Yarborough and Bobby Isaacs
winning 200-lap shows. David Pearson was on the pole for both races.
Four times, the old ASA late model series raced at Peach State, with
national TV audiences.
As recently as 2000, the track had 31 shows per season, but in recent
years it has only had special shows, approximately one per month. For
several years (2002-2006), the track was owned by the Hooters
restaurant chain, and hosted two well-attended Hooters Pro Cup shows
per year. From 1994 to 2002, it was owned by a group including Tim
Whitehead, now president of Pro Shocks in Lawrenceville, a supplier of
racing shock absorbers. During this period, according to Whitehead, the
metal guardrails were replaced by concrete walls, and a lot of money
was spent on lights and upgrades, according to Whitehead.
When the track was sold to Paul Kegel, a Floridian, in 2006, he failed
to get assurances that the big Pro Cup shows would continue, and they
moved elsewhere. Kegel is an absentee owner, seldom visiting the track
which is leased to Vince Whitmire.
It’s a real estate investment, says Tony Gresham, and we want to help
keep another track from closing – there’s lots of history, and lots of
potential, there. “We’re insurance people. We’ll bring in people to run
it,” and that may include current operator and leasor Vince Whitmire.
Nov. 7-9 Peach State hosts it’s biggest event, World Crown 300
Weekend, with races for both pro and super late models. This year’s
format, for pro late models, is two 100-lap heats, with the top 18 in
each heat advancing to the 100-lap Main Feature Sunday afternoon. The
super late models race 100 laps Sat. night after qualifying and local
division races.
The Douglas (GA) Motorsports Park, a dirt half mile oval and a 1/8th
mile drag strip, may have a buyer – perhaps a drag racer from Florida -
and hopefully the sale will close within a month. It’s probably too
late to schedule races on the oval this year. Their drag racers
recently won one division, and were runners-up in another, at
Darlington, SC.
—- schedule —-

(please send us any additions or updates)

Oct. 16-18 Golden Isles. Natl. Late Model Series Showdown on the Coast
$10,000 to win, plus local classes. www.goldenislesspeedway.com

Oct. 18 Dixie Top Tracks Challenge $5000 to win, 50 laps
http://www.dixiespeedway.com

Oct. 18 Gordon Park Fall Shootout Racing all divs.
http://www.gordonparkspeedway.net

Oct. 18 Cochran Regular show www.cochrangaspeedway.com

Oct. 18 Hartwell Weekly Racing Program End of Season Awards Night
www.hartwellspeedway.com

Oct. 18 Watermelon Speedway ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour
http://www.asasoutheast.com/

Oct. 18 South Georgia 2nd Southern Slam, Super Stock,Hobbie Stock,
Pure Stock, and Wildones (+ Race ‘em, Wreck ‘em 20-lap chain race)
www.racesgmp.com

Oct. 18-19 South Alabama (Opp) Alabama 200 Pro LMs $7500 to win
http://sas.bozpc.com/

Oct. 18 Greenville Pickens PASS South LM Series

Oct. 18 Southern Natl. Speedway Hooters Pro Cup

Oct. 19 (Sun.) South Alabama Viper Pro Series

Oct. 24 (Fri.) Atlanta Motor Speedway 1/4 mile Thunder Ring – Fastrak
dirt LMs 100 laps, following NASCAR qualifying. Tickets at
http://www.fastrakracing.com/

Oct. 24-25 Birmingham LM World Classic 200
http://www.bir-raceway.com

Oct. 25 Cochran Last Regular show www.cochrangaspeedway.com

Oct. 25 South Georgia Vintage stock car racing, nostalgia drag
racing, and car show

Oct. 25 Oglethorpe 11th Annual Showdown in Savannah will resume
http://www.ospracing.net

Oct. 25 Dixie Bill Elliott 50 for Super Late Models
http://www.dixiespeedway.com

Oct. 25-26 GA Hall of Fame induction, as part of the 41st annual
Mountain Moonshine Days

Oct. 25 Waycross Topless LMs + local racing divs. www.wayxspeedway.com

Nov. 1 Nashville Fairgrounds CRA Super Series & ASA Southeast Asphalt
Tour
http://www.asasoutheast.com/

Nov. 1 Lanier’s Awards Banquet http://www.lanierspeedway.com/

Nov. 1 Oglethorpe Champions Banquet http://www.ospracing.net

Nov. 7-9 Peach State World Crown Weekend

Nov. 8 (Sat.) North Georgia 4th Annual Turkey Rumble
www.northgeorgiaspeedway.com

Nov. 8 Swainsboro Points banquet www.swainsbororaceway.com

Nov. 15 Golden Isles. O’Reilly ASCS Sprint Cars, plus local classes.
www.goldenislesspeedway.com

Nov. 15 South Georgia 2nd Southern Slam, Super Stock,Hobbie Stock,
Pure Stock, and Wildones (+ Race ‘em, Wreck ‘em Demo Derby)
www.racesgmp.com

Nov. 21-22 Watermelon Capital USCS Sprint cars

Nov. 22-23 South Georgia CRA Super Series Southern Slam

Nov. 28-29 Toccoa 2nd Annual Legends of Racing + Southeastern Late
Model Sportsman Series http://www.toccoaspeedway.info

Nov. 28-29 Swainsboro Turkey 100 for crate LMs $5,000 to win. Racing
in all divisions with large purses www.swainsbororaceway.com

Nov. 29 Lanier Asphalt Outlaws and Gamblers Show
www.lanierspeedway.com

Nov. 29 Golden Isles. Fall ENDURO CLASSIC & Racing Swap Shop Trade
Show. www.goldenislesspeedway.com

Dec. 4-7 Five Flags (FL) Snowflake (Sat. pro LMs 7:00 p.m.) and
Snowball Derby (Sun. super LMs 2:00 p.m.)

Jan. 1-4 Talladega Short Track ICE BOWL $6000 to win.
www.talladegashorttrack.com

Jan. 4-11, 2009 15th Annual “Cruise with the Champions”
http://www.jakeknowles.com/cruise/
—- —- —- —-

The RC Cola/MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour heads to Watermelon
Capital Speedway in Cordele Saturday. After 11 races, there have been
eight different winners and a total of 104 different drivers attempting
to qualify for ASA SAT events.
Taylor Satterfield sits second in points, and he hopes to park his
number 40 Ford Fusion in victory lane. “I’m pretty excited about it,”
said Satterfield. “We had a pretty good run last time we went there
earlier in the year; I think we ran fifth. We’ve learned a lot of the
last couple of races, and hopefully our luck is coming back to us.”
Watermelon Capital Speedway was the site of the first ASA SAT
television event. The cameras will be rolling once again and they hope
to catch some great action on the track, as they did in April. One
great shot was the in-car view of Michael Pope working hard on his
steering wheel. Pope finished third in the race.
“I’m really looking forward to this race,” said Pope. “A lot of
people from around home, and even people from the racetrack, told me
about how they watched the in-car camera, because it was the first
televised race with ASA, and it showed them the view from inside the
car and how everything works.”
Jay Middleton will officially be crowned the 2008 season champion
after the race in Georgia. Middleton locked up the title after the
last race at Southern National Raceway Park. Middleton finished second
at Watermelon Capital Speedway in April. He hopes to end his season
with a win to go along with his title. www.asasoutheast.com.

WIMO 1300am will carry the ASA Southeast Series from Watermelon
Capital Speedway in Cordele Saturday Night (Oct. 18). Scott Pinner, JR
Miller, & Cameron Whitehead will provide
the play by play as Rich Feggleer and Chris Sedlock will have all the
reports from the pits. WIMO will broadcast on air and streaming
on-line, all of the racing action from the ASA Southeast Series as well
as the local divisions from Watermelon Capital Speedway.
They will also be broadcasting in the track area on a short range FM
transmitter, and stations in Cordele and Cornelia may carry the
broadcast.
To hear all of the action turn your radio to am 1300 in the Winder
area of log onto www.BIGSTICKRADIO.com and click listen live from
anywhere in the world.

Golden Isles Speedway, near Brunswick on the coast, has the 14th
Annual Showdown on the Coast, highlighted by a 100-lap, $10,000 to win
racce with the National Late Model Series Saturday. Qualifying and
preliminaries are Friday night, with a $300 prize for the fastest NLMS
driver. All the local classes – Super Street, Hobby Stock, Limited
Sportsman, and Open Wheel Mods will race.
http://www.goldenislesspeedway.com

Atlanta Motor Speedway will honor Bill Elliott’s 1988 Melling Racing
Team to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the team’s 1988 NASCAR
Sprint Cup Championship as part of the pre-race activities for the Oct.
26 Pep Boys Auto 500. Many of Elliott’s crew members from the 1988
Championship team will join the Dawsonville native on stage for a
recognition ceremony.
  “I think it will be pretty neat,” said Elliott, who won six races at
Atlanta Motor Speedway to tie for third in all-time AMS wins. “I mean,
it’s been a long time and I haven’t seen a lot of the team in the last
number of years.”
  Elliott’s team, based in his hometown of Dawsonville, is the only
team located outside of North Carolina to win both the driver and owner
championships.
Among his six wins at AMS, Elliott twice swept both the spring and
fall races in Atlanta, in 1985 and 1992. Statistically at Atlanta,
Elliott ranks fifth all time in lead-lap finishes (17), is third in
starts (59) and is eighth in top-five finishes (14). In addition,
Elliott’s 59 starts in Atlanta are the most among active drivers.
Elliott plans to drive the Wood Bros. car for the rest of the 2008
NASCAR season, which he sasy will be his last.
  On the night before the NASCAR race, Dixie Speedway will host the
Bill Elliott 50 dirt late model race, with Elliott, Tony Stewart, and
Kasey Kahne (and possibly other NASCAR star) competing.
Friday night, after NASCAR qualifying, the FASTRAK dirt late models
will race on the AMS infield quarter-mile asphalt track. Tickets are
$20.
         Great seats are available for all Pep Boys Auto 500 race
weekend events, October 24-26th, including in the Elliott Grandstand
where fans can purchase a $39 adult ticket. Call the Atlanta Motor
Speedway ticket office at 1-877-AMS-TIX.

The streaking Shane Clanton, of Locust Grove, added two checkered
flags to his ever-growing 2008 win list last weekend, bagging
back-to-back victories on Friday night at Boyd’s Speedway and Saturday
night at Crossville (Tenn.) Raceway.
  A four-time winner on the 2008 WoO LMS, Clanton needed just 12 laps
to advance from the 12th starting spot to the lead in Friday’s Southern
Regional Racing Series event at Boyd’s Speedway. He pocketed $3,000 for
that triumph, then collected another $6,000 for a flag-to-flag victory
in Saturday night’s unsanctioned 53-lap Tennessee State Championship at
Crossville.
  Clanton’s fellow WoO LMS traveler from the Peach State, Clint Smith
of Senoia, also entered the two southern events. Smith failed to
qualify at Boyd’s but finished fourth at Crossville.
The 2008 WoO LMS season will wrap up with four huge days of
competition at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord,
N.C., from Oct. 29-Nov. 1. (Thanks to Kevin Kovacs)
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com

The bad luck bug bit rookie Kyle Plott, of Marietta, on a
green-white-checkered restart at the Pro Challenge show at Lonesome
Pine Raceway in Virginia Saturday. Plott, who dusted the field in
qualifying and dominated the first 48 laps of the race, missed a shift
on the final restart.  That allowed Trevor Edwards to shoot to the
bottom side and hold off Chad Finchum and National Points leader Clint
King to the checkered flag for his first Pro Challenge win.
“We just had a lack of luck tonight,” said Plott.  “Everything was
going good except for the last two laps.  It stinks bad – real bad.  I
had an awesome car.
  “They threw the white flag and (Stephen) Bergh spun out.  I thought I
had it wrapped up and then the caution came out.  I was bummed.  Then
sure enough, on the restart, it didn’t go into gear.  I pulled it back
and it just didn’t go in gear.”
The Pro Challenge racers will race in Orlando this weekend, and are
part of the World Crowd Weekend at Peach State.
Lonesome Pine Raceway – October 11, 2008
1.       Trevor Edwards
2.       Chad Fichum
3.       Clint King
4.       Kyle Wilson
5.       Kyle Plott (Pole Winner)
(from Speed51.com) www.prochallengeseries.com

Jason Hogan, of Cleveland, GA, has won the past two ASA Southeast
Series LM races, and he reminds us that he’s always one of the
favorites at Nashville. “I’ve probably got the best record of anyone in
Nashville AA400 over the past five years with a third, two 2nds, and a
win. Only year I didn’t finish in the top three we blew an engine, in
fact last year I had a 6 second lead at one time on the field.” He’s
entering both the ASA SAT 200-lapper, and the CRA 200-lapper for super
LMs on Sat., Nov. 1

—- TV —-

Oct. 27 (Mon.) Versus Hooters Pro Cup at Southern Natl. 4:00
Nov. 1 Sat. SPEED Live WoO Sprint cars & LMs at Charlotte
8:00-11:00 p.m.

David Odell, age 22, of Lawrenceville, won the ASA Late Model Series
presented by GM Performance Parts South Division ‘Cotton Pickin’ 100
Saturday at New Senoia Raceway. This is the 1st win of the season for
the rookie contender. Of the eight events completed in the South
Division,
David has five top five finishes. He’s fourth in series points, and
only 20 points behind rookie points leader Justin Larson.
Bruce Odell, team owner, was thrilled “We had a good car and we are
really
happy to have this win, it was much needed” The whole team was there to
support their driver David and celebrate his 1st win of the season.
Chris Dilbeck, of Hampton, lead the first 15 laps until David Odell
took over the lead. The event had four cautions with the final caution
putting the track under red when Jessica Murphy blew a tire and slammed
into the wall in turn three. Within a few minutes of the caution, the
rains started to come down again and the race was made official at lap
50.
The inversion Draw was a 10 for the Senoia Raceway ‘Cotton Picken’
100, putting Chris Dilbeck on the pole Track record of 14.205 was
officially broken by two teams today: Jimmy Lang (14.087) and Colt
James (14.167). ASA South inverts six to ten cars after qualifying, and
uses single file restarts.
Chad Pierce, of Orlando, and Blake Lehr, an 18-year-old from
Clearwater, FL, have an unusual sponsorship from the Orlando Predators
Arena Football team.
Unofficial Results
1. 75 – David Odell 50
2. 15 – Colt James 50
3. 88 – Justin Larson 50
4. 59 – Dustin Dunn 50
5. 86 – Jimmy Lang 50
6. 3 – Blake Lehr 50
7. 8 – Chris Dilbeck 50
8. 57 – Chad Pierce 50
9. 1- Bobby East 50
10. 188 – Will Hannah 50
11. 70 – Jeremy Gerstner 50
12. 26 – Jessica Murphy 50
13. 51 – Steven Nasse 50
14. 78 – John Gerstner 50
15. 9 – Kurt Jett 31
16. 09 – Bob Varney 3
Pictures at http://www.asalatemodelssouth.com/
The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts will close
out
the 2008 season at the Memphis Motorsports Park “The King’s Ransom 300”
Nov. 14-15.

Oglethorpe’s 11th Annual Showdown in Savannah will resume Sat., Oct.
25. With the rain winning on last Saturday, we will be racing on
Saturday, October 25th with an open practice for all divisions on
Friday, October 24th ($15 pit pass; Gates open at 5:30 Practice from
6:30 until 9:30). On Saturday, October 25th we will run a consi race
for the Mini Stocks if necessary (We have a field of 20 cars taken from
the heat races on October 10th, with 3 cars to run the consi if more
cars show up, if not these 3 cars will start). There will be two (2)
consi races for the Street/Super Street division. (The top 6 from each
heat race run on Oct 10th are locked in for their starting position).
We have room for five (5) additional late models in the show for
Saturday, October 25th. Also we have added a Pure Stock feature (15
laps – draw for position and race), paying $400 to win with a $30 entry
fee. Gates will open at 4:30 on the 25th with the Races starting @
7:30pm. http://www.ospracing.net

In the same year that 16-year-old Johanna Long became the first woman
driver to win a Pro Late Model race at Five Flags Speedway, she also
became the track’s first woman points champion. Long finished fifth
Friday night in the Allen Turner Tune-Up 100 on the Night of Champions
to clinch the Pro Late Model title.
Ryan Crane, the defending champion of the Snowflake Pro Late Model
race, led the final 69 laps to win the race. It came on the heels of
his victory in the Super Late Model Blizzard race two weeks ago.
Pro Late Model feature – 1. Ryan Crane; 2. Logan Boyett; 3. Shane
Sawyer; 4. Brandon Carlson; 5. Johanna Long; 6. John Bolen; 7. Casey
Roderick; 8. Kyle Fowler; 9. Brandon Odom; 10. Richard Johns; 11. Scott
Patton; 12. Keith English; 13. Bobby Reuse; 14. D.J. Vanderley; 15.
Drew Brannon; 16. Tyler Millwood; 17. Ronnie Smith; 18. Steven Davis;
19. Robert Royce; 20. Dennis Reno; 21. Brannon Fowler; 22. Ricky Vice;
23. Max Gresham; 24. Clay Alexander; 25. Sammy McMullen; 26. John Heil;
27. Jeremy Mullinax; 28. Shain Cheney; 29. Kyle Sirizzotti; 30. Lance
Hester

On Saturday night Johanna Long won the Lee Field Memorial 100 at
Mobile International Speedway. Bill Elliott developmental driver Casey
Roderick started the night taking the Lynch Tree Service Pole Award,
and led at the halfway point picking up the Lynch Tree Service Halfway
leader award. A late caution bunched the field back together giving
Long the opportunity to make her way to the lead and on to the win.
Lee Fields Memorial 100 Fausak Tire Pro-Late Models:
1. Johanna Long
2. Logan Boyett
3. Josh Bragg
4. Steven Davis
5. Jeremy Mullimax
In the Super LM class at Mobile, Bubba Pollard, of Senoia, was fifth
in points.

Race fans interested in attending the historical ‘FASTRAK Racing
Series 100’ at Atlanta Motor Speedway Friday, Oct. 24, can now purchase
tickets at www.fastrakracing.com
Tickets to this unprecedented event are just $20. In addition to the
FASTRAK Racing Series 100, race fans will also be able to see Cup
Practice and Qualifying before the FASTRAK Racing Series 100. Buy your
tickets online now at www.fastrakracing.com
A few race facts, from the FASTRAK webpage:
Entry fee – $100
100 laps, cautions count for first 80 laps
Dirt cars only. $2000 to win, $200 to start. 24 cars
Tires and wheels can be rented from Goodyear: $200 for five.
First 60 entries accepted. FASTRAK may add provisionals for NASCAR
drivers.
Practice starts at 6:15 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 23.
More details at http://www.fastrakracing.com/

Dixie hosts the Top Tracks crate LM series Saturday – 50 laps $5000
to win. www.dixiespeedway.com

At the ARCA show at Toledo, OH, best described as a crashfest, Justin
Allgaier raced from ninth to first to win the race and take the ARCA
points championship. NASCAR’s David Ragan, who started last, raced his
way into the lead on lap 120. Ragan, in the Shriners Hospitals-Roulo
Brother Ford, pulled away from everyone before he cut a right-front
tire and had to make an unscheduled pit stop after leading 48 laps.
Ragan went three laps down during the stop and returned to finish 15th.
Two Georgians made the top 10 in points: John Wes Townley – 7th, Ken
Butler III – 10th.

Shane Clanton entered the Boyd’s Speedway Southern Regional Racing
series Friday night along with 47 other Super Late Model teams
representing seven states. Clanton, staring from inside Row 5, charged
to the front of the race by lap 12 and made the winning pass on outside
pole sitter Byron Michael, bringing the capacity NOOGA-NATION crowd to
their feet. ‘I was here a year or so ago’ Clanton told the crowd, ‘and
man they (Richard and Robert Harvey) sure have turned this place into a
first class facility.’
Boyd’s Speedway continues with it’s Fall racing schedule with a Full
Regular Racing Program Friday night Oct. 17th. with Steel-Head LM’s,
Crate LM’s, A & B Hobby, Pony, and FWD’s.
Official SRRs Results – 40 Laps – $3,000. to-WIN  10/10/08
1. Shane Clanton (# 25) of Locust Grove, GA
2. Anthony White (# 2X) of Clinton, TN
3. Justin Rattliff (# 5R) of Campbellsville, KY
4. Byron Michael (# B17) of Florence, AL
5. Brandon King (# 14) of Decatur, AL
6. Brandon Kinzer (# 18) of Allen, KY
7. David Payne (# of Murphy, NC
8. Tony Morris (# M31) of Murphreesboro, TN
9. Ray Cook (# 53) of Brasstown, NC
10. Corey Posey (# 16) of Fayetteville, TN
11. Jay Brinkley (# 01) of Shelbyville, TN
12. Anthony Hill (# 10) of Carrollton, GA
13. Mike Luna (# 2) of Sparta, TN
14. Seth Daniel (# D25) of Collinwood, TN
15. Kelly Hanvey (# K0) of Cullman, AL
16. Cody Barnett (# 18) of Ringgold, GA
17. Riley Hickman (# R1) of Soddy Daisy, TN
18. Todd Morrow (# T1) of Cleveland, TN
19. Jerry Coffman (# 30) of Soddy Daisy, TN
20. Dale McDowell (# 1G) of Chickamagua, GA
21. Jimmy Tucker (# 95) of Flintville, TN
22. Eric Hickerson (# 98) of Linden, TN
23. T.J. Alford (# 007) of Ball Play, AL
24. Mike Tinker (# T22) of Ringgold, GA
  DNS: Tony Knowles, John Winge, Scott Boyd, Kayne Hickman, Ronnie
Johnson, Lee Sutton, Eric Jacobsen, Ben Adkisson, Reid Millard, Davy
Davis, Michael England, Michael Luna, Andy Pickelsimer, Brian Hickman,
Shon Flannery, Clint Smith, Robert Gant, Ben Kittrell, Joe Denby, Aaron
Ridley, Steve Vann, Ruben Mayfield, Mike Walker, and Jake Knowles
100 photos from Boyd’s: http://www.ctcphotos.com/2008.htm
http://www.southernregionalracingseries.com/

Another great night of racing. Clouds and mist did not dampen the
racing action at Gordon Park. Lots of competition and passing in all
divisions. Those who did not attend, missed a great show. This was the
last race of this season. Thanks to all fans, drivers, crew members,
sponsors, GPS staff and others who supported Gordon Park during the
2008 season!
Special Congratulations to the Points Champions for 2008:
Crate Late Model: 21x Bob Robertson & 28 Brandon Overton (Tie)
Super Street: 88 Johnnie Tucker Jr.
Stock V8: K75 Karl Bleifuss
Super Stock 4: 56 Ken Appleton
Road Warrior: W37 Wesley Underwood
Extreme 4: 6 Josh Cleveland
October 11 Results:
Crate Late Model
1. 21x Bob Robertson
2. 94 Wendell Chavous
3. c21 Brian Connor
4. 42 Chris Usry
5. 33 Donnie Shealy
6. 71 Jimmy Maness
7. 76 Eric Cooper
8. 0 Travis Gearig
9. U2 Scooter Sullivan
10. 57 Johnnie Tucker Jr
11. b4 Brandon Carpenter
Super Street
1. 88 Johnnie Tucker Jr.
2. 8HR Glenn Evans
3. 28 Bill Chance
4. k2 Mike McTier
5. 78 Charlie Black
6. 99 Billy Gunter
7. 71 Jeff Hadden
8. 10 Steve Human
9. Brett Graddy
10. 17 Chris Shaw
11. 18 Brad Arrington
12. 18 Glenn Horner
13. 19 Lance Beck
Full report at http://www.georgiastockcarracing.com

—- —- —-

With sadness, we report three items:

Tammy Shedd, daughter of racer Mike Head, lost her battle with cancer
Saturday. Tammy had been diagnosed last March with Leukemia and had
been in treatment for the disease until just recently.
The Family has asked that donations be made to a Trust Fund Account to
cover funeral expenses. Donations can be sent to: Suntrust Bank Eagles
Landing, 678-284-1446. Contact Name is Ms. Mattie. Please designate on
your check that the funds are for the Tammy Shedd Trust Fund.

Bub McCool, of Vicksburg, Miss., grabbed his series-high fifth
Mississippi State Championship Challenge victory of the season just a
few hours before tragedy struck at Columbus Speedway. McCool’s $2,500
victory was overshadowed when Carl Thomas McReynolds was killed after
flipping his personal pickup truck on the racetrack in turn three.
McReynolds, 20, was the son of the track’s 2006 Crate Late Model
champion Thomas McReynolds, and dabbled in racing in the modified
division. He was known as “Little Thomas.” David Breazeale of Four
Corners, Miss., who finished second in the MSCC feature, was a
passenger in the pickup but was treated at a local hospital and
released with non-life threatening injuries, Lowndes County Coroner
Greg Merchant said.
Racing ended about 12:30 a.m. but McReynolds and Breazeale pulled onto
the unlit track about 2:30 a.m. The truck flipped and rolled in turn
three and McReynolds was ejected and fatally injured. It was the first
fatality in the track’s 48-year history, the coroner said.

At Challenger Spedway in PA (from 4m posts and track PR):
Sport Stock B-main. Two mid-pack cars, an all black 7z and a blue and
white 15 – coming down the front stretch, the 7z clipped the 15 and
shot the 15 straight into the wall, nose first. What sucked was the 7z
just peppered the gas for all it was worth and pushed the 15 (still up
against the wall) into turn 1 and then separated.
Yellow comes out. 7z goes around the track, the 15 re-fires and comes
down the front stretch in the wrong direction, eyes up the 7z and turns
right into the 7z’s right rear, virtually turning the 7z into a
baseball bat where (track official) Moose Poleno was standing. Moose
flipped through the air like a rag doll.
Moose’s wife Jamie reports: He has NO broken bones. His kneecap was
“dislocated”, and they did surgery last night to repair it. He has
tendon damage that will be repaired at another time once the swelling
goes down. He is in ICU as he was having trouble breathing. They
believe he has some bruising to the lungs. He will be there at least a
cople of days. Those are painful things and I hope he recovers soon. It
could have been so much worse, and I am thankful it was not!
The big guy really got up in the air and I was very scared when it
happened.
The offending driver has been arrested.
Ritchey Sandblasting from Woodbury, PA, and Roberts Trucking from
Erie, PA, each donated $500 to benefit Moose as he recovers from his
injuries.

—- —- —-

37th Annual Winchester 400 CRA Super Series race at Winchester Speedway
(IN):
David Stremme, who will be driving the Penske #12 in NASCAR in 2009,
has been attending the legendary Winchester (IN) 400 for most of his
life, and has developed a deep love affair with the race and close
friendship with Winchester Speedway owner, Charlie Shaw. This is his
10th Winchester 400 and finally he took the checkered flag as the
winner holding off Kyle Busch for the win. This is Busch’s fourth
attempt to win The Winchester 400 at the historic high banks and the
first one he has finished.
Bill Elliott developmental driver Mitch Cobb qualified second.

Going in to the O’Reilly Southern All Stars EAST finale this Saturday
night at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney SC, Casey Roberts, of Toccoa, is
going for his third consecutive Stick Elliott Memorial win. Just six
points seperate the popular Ga Bandit from Gaffney`s Chris Madden in
SAS East points, and Roberts in the defending champion. In the last
race at Golden Isles, Roberts was first and Madden second. Madden took
the $10,000 to win SAS-E show at Cherokee Oct. 14.
Casey Roberts has two OSAS-East victories this year, and Chris Madden
has six. Madden’s 2008 stats: 54 starts, 14 wins, 29 Top Fives, and 35
Top 10’s. Four of his wins were at Cherokee.
The Cherokee finale will be 40 laps paying $4,000
http://www.chrismadden44.com

Winder 10-11-08 Pics:
http://public.fotki.com/stargazer444/winder-10-11-08/

Modoc Speedway reopens for practice Friday with a new wider Racing
surface, and has a full racing program Saturday.
Crate Late Models (Crate will qualify)
Limited Sportsman (Hobby)
Super Street
Stock V-8
Super Stock 4
Extreme 4 (with $20 entry fee)
Young Guns
Modoc 2008 and Gordon Park Rules will be allowed
Grandstand Admission: Adults: $10 – Ages 7 – 12 : $5
www.modocspeedway.com

South Georgia MotorSports Park is having vintage stock car racing on
Sat. Oct. 25 in conjunction with a vintage weekend that includes
nostalgia drag racing and a car show.

Legends of Georgia mechanic Dwight Pilgram won the Legends Masters
Dirt Nationals race last weekend at Big Diamond Raceway in Minersville,
PA, earning about $1000.
The competition included 27 cars in the Masters Div.
Pilgram was driving a car he had sold to a Canadian racer. He was the
fast qualifier, and started last in a heat race full inversion, but got
the lead in only two laps.
He is the VP of the GA Mini-Sprints series, and finished third in
points this year.

There’s a picture of Zac Kittle’s car, which was wrecked at the
Legends National in MN, at http://www.legendsnation.com/

Jim Tsokatos won the 2008 GEORGIA MINI SPRINTS POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP.
Jim raced hard and clean all season to win this much awaited title.
http://www.georgiaminisprints.com/

Legends and Badoleros will be racing this Saturday at the Watermelon
Capital Speedway in Cordele. This is the final race of the season at
Cordele.

Sam Hornish, Jr. is the only 2008 NASCAR rookie guaranteed a job for
next season.

Home of the 100 mph Power Lunch:
Atlanta Motorsports Park, says founder Jeremy Porter, will be like a
golf country club for automotive enthusiasts. “Instead of making tee
times, our members will be making lap times,” said Porter, who unveiled
the project Thursday in Alpharetta.
The plan, slated for 500 acres on Duck Thurmond Road, proposes a Le
Mans-style driving course nearly three miles long, including two
straightaways nearly 2,000 feet in length. The site, currently owned by
Ernie Elliott, was annexed into Dawsonville a little more than a year
ago.
Once the course is complete, hopefully in late 2009, the project’s
second phase calls for a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse with locker
rooms, high-definition televisions, a patio overlooking the course and
a members-only lounge with fingerprint access.
Planned amenities also include a pool, tennis courts, hiking trail and
garage and storage areas for driving trailers.
http://www.forsythnews.com/news/article/807/

Last year we reported: “Construction has begun outside of Cobbtown, in
south Georgia’s Tatnall County, on Victory Lane, one of the most unique
residential developments being built in the United States today. With a
four-and-a–half-mile road course and FAA approved airport anchoring the
development, Victory Lane also will have an 18-hole golf course,
fishing and recreational lakes, a lakeside clubhouse, spa and fitness
facility, and a 1,600-acre nature preserve with equestrian facilities.
    ”The inspiration of Patrick Costello, a successful contractor of
high-end custom homes in Colorado resort areas and an avid race car
enthusiast, Victory Lane is being developed on the former Beaver Creek
Plantation property which encompasses 3,000 acres west of Cobbtown
bordering Ga. Highway 152 and the Ohoopee River.”
Attempting to update this today, the website hasn’t been updated since
November and the phone is unanswered. A local official says they are
still looking for financing. www.unlimitedspeed.net.
http://www.victorylanegeorgia.com/

The Southeastern Latemodel Sportsman Series will be at Jody Palmers
“Travelers Rest Speedway” Sat., Oct. 18 for 35 laps and $1,200 to win.
The series also has a show at Toccoa Thanksgiving Weekend.
Southeastern Late Model Sportsman Series Points:
1 Kip Cochran – 1206 pts.
2 Wesley English – 1111
3 Melvin English – 1100
4 David McCoy – 1065
5 David Conner – 1047
6 Mack English – 1026
7 David Conley – 752
8 Jamie Oliver – 540
9 Bubba Russell – 447
10 Parker Herrin – 423
http://www.southeasternlatemodel.info

We liked this, from the website:
Ron’s Rant….
By: Ron Varney-ASA Late Model Series
NOTE: This is the first in what is bound to be a very popular series
of columns by various ASA Late Model Series Officials. Who better than
to kick things off than one of the Co-Founders / Presidents of the ASA
Late Model Series; Ron Varney.

Respect and Loyalty – or lack there of

There are so many topics I want to rant about. The idea is to be
opinionated, thought provoking and dare I say sometimes controversial.
Sit back and hold on cause here I go!
Loyalty and respect – or lack there of, where has it gone. Everyone
you talk to from track owners, fans, drivers and sponsors, they all
want to know where the fans are. I hear the same old dribble about lost
generations, about an older fan base dying off, the economy sucks,
blah, blah, blah.
The real truth of the matter is there is no respect or loyalty to what
racing was built on. Don’t think for a minute that I am not partly to
blame here, I am. We (race promoters, tracks, sanctioning bodies and
series) have created an environment of false equality.
We as a society got sidetracked into thinking life should be fair and
that the slow, fat, untalented kids should get equal playing time on
the team. How does that work? Where does that create competition? How
does that improve ones self worth? I mean why work harder to make the
starting team when you know you get equal playing time anyway.
We’ve done the same in racing at all levels. In the big leagues we
have cookie cutter cars, cookie cutter tracks and equal engines. Even
at the ASA Late Model level we have done it, same bodies and equal
engines.
What happened to who builds the best or the fastest car wins? If GM
built a better motor, Ford and Dodge had to step up their game or if
Ford had a better body, GM and Dodge had to try and one up them. Do you
see where I’m going with this? How I long for the days of the
“Superbird” again?
Respect – It seems every other week there’s a new idea, a new part or
a new series that crops up. Someone always thinks they have a better
idea or thinks they can do it better. All this has done is drive a
stake in the heart of racing. Fans become confused then frustrated and
then just leave.
Once their gone it is twice as hard to get them to come back. The days
of Bob Harmon, Rex Robbins and John McKarns have come and gone. Nobody
has respect anymore. Back in the day no one would start a series to go
up against Bob Harmon. No one started a series to compete with Rex
Robbins.
It wasn’t done out of respect for what was already created. But today
it is a different world. In the “ME” generation its all about greed and
ego. We can’t stand to see other people have success, so we try to copy
what they do and then take credit for it.
How do we fix it? If I could answer that I’d be doing it. We have
opened Pandora’s Box and for at least the foreseeable future we won’t
be able to close it. While short track is not dead by any stretch, it
is in I.C.U. and we need to nurse it back to health.

The Birmingham World Classic 200, Fri.-Sun., Oct. 24-26, uses the
Birmingham Super Series rules: a .500 bl carb on the super late models
or a crate engine with a four barrel carb. The winner gets $5000. Ken
McFarland (1036 pts.) is ahead in the Super Series points race, and
Justin South (966) is second, and has a chance since winning pays 190
pts. Rookie of the year is also close: Brandon Parker 850 pts., Chase
Knox 825 pts. Stan McClure is the Alabama Demo Derby Champ, and gets
his picture on the website. http://www.bir-raceway.com/

Trackchaser RPM Gordy reports: “We headed for the Tazewell Speedway
just across the border in TN. We arrived just as the headlining
Tennessee Thunder late model feature began. Make no mistake, this
place is a dump. It’s old and it shows it. We didn’t care, because
quite possibly the highest banking in racing makes this one of the best
dirt tracks we’ve seen. The late models were breathtakingly fast
while dicing 3 abreast. The sight lines are poor, but what you can
see is really good stuff.”

Michael Waltrip racing’s interactive and fan-friendly NASCAR shop is
hoping to attract racing fans even in the offseason and hopefully raise
the bar around NASCAR to get more teams involved in the team-to-fan
experience.
http://www.raceweekonline.com/video/video/show?
id=1982378%3AVideo%3A10318

There are 4,328 sprint cars racing in the US in 2008, according to Jim
Harris in NSSN. Four are from Georgia, although Pete Walton’s United
Sprint Car Series is based in Fayetteville.

Dennis Wilder proved why a driver should never give up or settle for
second place until the checkered flag has fallen. When Kyle Fowler’s
spotter told him the car in his mirror was a lapped car, Fowler eased
up in the final two laps of the GAS Pro Late Model season finale at
Peach State. Turns out, he wasn’t a lapped car – it was second-place
Dennis Wilder. Wilder made the pass before Fowler realized it was for
position and Wilder won the race while Fowler was left wondering what
could’ve been – his first-ever Late Model win.
http://www.speed51.com/2008_Stories/Specials/big_10/big_10_10_8.html

Swainsboro Raceway – “The South’s Finest and Fastest 3/8 Mile Dirt
Track!”
invites everyone to attend the upcoming 2008 Points Banquet November 8,
2008 at the Swainsboro Jaycee Fairground building. The banquet will
begin at 6:00PM with food catered by Love’s Seafood of Savannah,
presentation of awards, and The Ogeechee River Band will end the night
with dancing. Admission for the banquet is $20. Driver’s finishing in
the top ten points must be present to receive awards!
Their Turkey 100 is quickly approaching, featuring $5000 to win in the
R & R Electrical Crate Late Models, and an increased purse in every
division. This year’s Turkey 100 will get under way Friday, November
28, and Saturday, November 29. www.swainsbororaceway.com

LAVONIA SPEEDWAY NEW WEB SITE: WWW.LAVONIADIRTTRACK.COM
The Southeastern Late Model Sportsmen race at Lavonia was even more
unusual! As the cars came around on the white flag lap, leader Parker
Herring was battling David McCoy…as the two came thru turns 3 & 4
they were side by side….at the finish the two cars were dead even.
After the video of the race was viewed by Track officials and
Southeastern late Model Officials, it was declared a dead heat! The
winners share and second place money was divided between Herring and
McCoy!
Lavonia will reopen in March 2009.
Lavonia Speedway Final 2008 points
< Limited Late Model
1- Brandon Haley
2- J.R. Headen
3- Parker Herring
4- Bubba Russell
5- Steven Segars
< Crate Late Models
1- Brandon Haley
2- Parker Herring
3- Ty Lowe
4- Chad Pearson
5- Hot Rod LaMance
< Hobby
1- Chris Nickerson
2- Gerald Stanley
3- Jimmy Booth Jr.
4- Stanley Hill
5- Danny Sanders
< Enduro
1- Mike Miller
2- Daniel Doster
3- Tracy Addison
4- Rusty Jordan
5- Robin Collins
< Stock 4
1- Kevin Kelly
2- Joey Kelley
3- Marty Hayes
4- Brandon Parsons
5- Mathew Denton
< UP Front
1- James Goodwin
2- Keith Hicks
3- Alyssa Isom
4- Odis Fleeman
5- Kalen Holmes

PROMOTION IDEAS: (Last) Saturday night the 2008 racing season will
come to a close at Mobile International Speedway with the running of
the Lee Fields Memorial 100. The 100 Lap Fausak Tire Pro Late Model
race is the main event of a race card slammed full of wrestlers, racers
and new Champions. Saturday night is the only night during the season
that all 5 local classes will race on the same night. The Bob’s Speed
Shop Bombers, Comp Cam Sportsman, Super Stocks, Midwest Cooling Tower
Modifieds and the Fausak Tire Pro Late Models will all be in action and
will crown their 2008 season Champions. In addition to the new
Champions the Speedway will name the US Army Rookie’s of the Year for
each division. Add to the racing, wrestlers! Cowboy Bob Kelly, Percy &
Marcelle Pringle and Ricky Rocket will be on hand Saturday night during
intermission for autographs. Throw in Golden Flake giving away 500 bags
of its new energy chips NRG Overload and the track will be buzzing with
excitement.