Email Capt. Herb at nascar@coxradio.com
FASTCAR NEWSDESK
Thanks to PRN’s Mark “Guru” Garrow and www.jayski.com
SATURDAY NIGHT SPRINT CUP- FOX Ch.5 green flag approx 7:15pm/et
DARLINGTON
A friend of mine is in trouble. He needs our help and prayers-not only for his well being-but for the well being of his 12 employees, his family, all Georgia racing history fans and his hometown.
The Dawsonville Pool Hall wasGeorgia’s first Racing Hall of Fame and the siren that sounded for all the Elliott team wins was one of the beacons that drew more and more fans into the sport.
The State ofGeorgia RevenueDept.swooped in and closed the landmark over what appears confusion over an accountant’s fraudulent activity.
Saving thePoolRoom-to old and in the wayGeorgiarace fans- could be compared to the effortAtlantalaunched to Save the Fox.
The following story comes from www.accessnorthga.com
Gordon Pirkle’s family members say they know he might have made some mistakes, but they still don’t think state officials should have seized his Dawsonville Pool Room this week.
The 77-year-old Pirkle owes close to $40,000 in taxes along with more than $43,000 in fees and penalties on his restaurant. Family members have said the problem stemmed from dealings with a previous accountant and that he and his accountant had been working with the state to make payments.
But Wednesday, agents with the Georgia Revenue Department shut down the restaurant right in the middle of lunch hour.
Pirkle’s daughter-in-law Karen Reece was not there at the time, but she said she got an eyewitness account from her sister-in-law, who was working at the Pool Room.
“She said it was just a horrible, horrible scene,” said Reece. “They went through [the restaurant] with the customers. She even had her grandson there…and he was scared, you know, because they came in with guns and things of that nature.”
Reece said Pirkle was attending a funeral at the time of the seizure and had no idea what had happened. She said agents seized all money from the cash registers and closed the doors. Pirkle was allowed to enter the restaurant Thursday to retrieve all perishable items.
“It’s kinda like being put in debtor’s prison,” said Reece. “You know, you get put in debtor’s prison, but they stop the way that you could make a living.”
Reece pointed out that 12 employees are now out of work.
“They’re gonna have to go to the unemployment line and you and I and/or the government are going to have to pay for those people.”
Pirkle’s grandson, 18-year-old Michael Garrett, a senior at Dawson County High School, along with his 25-year-old cousin Jordan Reece, created a Facebook page to garner support for the Pool Room and his grandfather.
He said the Dawsonville Pool Room was part of his childhood experience.
“I’ve worked on and off ever since I was old enough to stand over the sink and wash dishes,” said Garrett.
He said, though, the Dawsonville Pool Room isn’t just important for his family, but for the entire community.
“He’s (Pirkle) probably helped everybody in the community in some shape or form,” said Garrett.
Garrett said the goal with the creation of the Facebook group, as well as opening of benefit banks accounts, is to resolve the financial issues and re-open the Dawsonville Pool Room for his grandfather.
Link: Save the Dawsonville Pool Room Facebook Group
Darlington
Track/Race Length: 1.366 egg-shaped oval, 367 laps, 501.322 miles
Banking: Turns 1/2 – 25 degrees, width 79 ft; Turns 3/4 – 23 degrees, width 62 ft; Front – 3 degrees, Back – 2 degrees.
2011 Race Winner: #78-Regan Smith, 129.678mph, started 23rd
45 drivers have won races at Darlington; 25 drivers have won more than once there.
• David Pearson leads all drivers with 10 victories, followed by Dale Earnhardt with nine.
• Jeff Gordon is third overall and leads all active drivers with seven victories.
-16-Greg Biffle won the pole for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway with a speed of 180.257mph for his 2nd pole of 2012 and 11th career pole. #48-Johnson was 2nd fastest followed by #5-Kahne, #39-Newman, #18-Busch, #56-Truex, Jr., #99-Edwards, #11-Hamlin, #78-Smith, and #31-Burton.
See qualifying results, order, pole progression, go-or-go homers & starting lineup on the Jayski Darlington Lineup / Qualifying Page.(5-11-2012)
DAVID RAGAN STARTS 37TH-
REED SORENSON STARTS 42ND
Carroll Hall Shelby, the Texan who created the famous Shelby Cobra and uncounted other high-performance machines that turned the auto world on its ear, and made it a whole lot more fun for 50 years, died in Dallas Thursday night at age 89. He had been hospitalized for pneumonia. Shelby, who affected the aw-shucks demeanor of the chicken farmer he once was, said, “I never made a damn dime until I started doing what I wanted.” What he wanted was, if you will, power for the people, automotively speaking. Beyond just his efforts in the small world of hot-rodding, Shelbyinfluenced how Detroitautomakers thought about high-performance, and he proved that hard work and bit of guile can make a hero. The litany of significant cars he created is long, running from the original 1962 AC Cobra – small British sports car with a big (for the times) Ford engine – through a sojourn at Chrysler and a stint with GM via a failed Oldsmobile-powered car, back to Ford. He was involved with development of Ford’s GT 500 Mustang, the 2013 version of which is certified as the most-powerful regular-production car in the world. Rumors began circulating about a health problem when the affable auto man failed to appear as scheduled at the New York auto show in early April to promote his latest creations, the 950-horsepower Shelby 1000 and the 1,100-hp Shelby 1000 S/C. Shelby published an update on his Facebook page in late April to say, in the vein of Mark Twain’s “the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated,” that he had been hospitalized for pneumonia, but was “resting comfortably with family and working on getting better.”(USA Today)(5-11-2012)
REMEMBERPEARL HARBOR
Joey Logano wins Nationwide Darlington race. Hamlin 2nd, Keselowski 3rd, Hornish 4th, Dillion 5th.-Chase Miller from Cherokeee County finished 41st
Keselowski wins at Talladega: #2-Brad Keselowski won the Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway for his 2nd win of the year, 2nd at Talladega and his 6th career win. There was one green-white-checker attempt at the end after a couple late race cautions.
#18-Pile Busch finished 2nd followed by #17-Kenseth, #5-Kahne, #1-Biffle, #15-Bowyer, #34-Ragan, #21-Bayne, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., and #31-Burton.
Polesitter #24-Jeff Gordon was caught in a wreck on lap 143 and finished 33rd.
There were 5 cautions for 24 yellow flag laps. There were 34 lead changes among 17 drivers. The estimated attendence was 108,500, down from 115,000 in the Spring 2011 race. See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Jayski Talladega Race Results page (pdf) and the official rundown on the Official Race Report.(5-6-2012)
2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
[after Talladega, race 10 of 36]
1) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 378
2) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 371, -7
3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [0 wins], 369, -9
4) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 351, -27
5) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 333, -45
6) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 332, -46
7) #14-Tony Stewart [2 wins], 328, -50
#48-Jimmie Johnson [0 wins], 324, -54
9) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 308, -70
10) #15-Clint Bowyer [0 wins], 302, -76
Chase wild card drivers:
11) #2-Brad Keselowski [2 wins, 12th in points], 299, -79
12) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win, 13th in points], 286, -92
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
See drivers championship points standings on the Jayski Drivers Points Standings page (pdf).(5-6-2012)
There will be a lot of decals on #34-David Ragan’s Ford May 11 for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway, but none more important than ones honoring fallen Aiken Public Safety officers Scotty Richardson and Sandy Rogers.
History, superstition and common logic would all advise against placing green and peanuts on a racecar, however when David Ragan takes the green flag at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 12, he will be doing both of those things.
Ragan, a native of Unadilla, Georgia, will have support from Effingham, South Carolina’s McCall Farms for the event. The driver, who holds a career best finish of 5th at Darlington, will be carrying the colors of “The South’s Favorite Snack” – Peanut Patch Boiled Peanuts during the historic, Bojangles’ Southern 500. While the #34 Sprint Cup Series car will primarily feature the Peanut Patch Brand, it will also feature associate branding from McCall’s Margaret Holmes and Glory Foods brands as well. While McCall Farms is a family-run business, they are no small outfit. The company employs over 550 people in the Darlington area and their products can be found in many retail locations in the southeast, including: Kroger, Bi-Lo, Publix, Piggly Wiggly, Food Lion, I.G.A. and Harris Teeter. McCall Farms will receive primary branding on Front Row Motorsports’ #34 Ford, driven by David Ragan for the Darlington race, as well as associate rights for the remainder of the season and official partner status with the team. Starting May 7th, 2012 fans can visit the Front Row Motorsports Facebook page and enter to win a David Ragan Peanut Patch T-Shirt via the “Go Nuts for David Ragan” promotion. A David Ragan Peanut Patch T-Shirt and Hat will be made available for online purchase once the team hosts its paint scheme unveiling.(Front Row Motorsports), see images of the scheme on the #34 Team Schemes Page.(5-2/7-2012)
David Ragan’s team, Front Row Motorsports, will pay tribute to the officers who were gunned down in a span of 39 days. Ragan lived in Aiken as a child before moving to Unadilla, Ga.The team decided more than a month ago to honor the fallen officers. [It has] picked up sponsorship from Effingham, S.C.’s, McCall Farms, but it won’t change how Ragan and Front Row Motorsports plan to bring attention to Richardson and Rogers. With a weekly cost of nearly $400,000 to operate a race team, every inch on Ragan’s No. 34 Ford is valuable. The team didn’t announce how much McCall Farms will spend to promote its canned boil peanuts, but it probably won’t cover all the costs. Even if more money becomes available, the team said the space reserved for Richardsonand Rogersisn’t for sale. Richardsonwas killed Dec. 20 when he and partner Travis Griffin stopped a car suspected to be involved in a drive-by shooting. Both officers were shot during the stop. Richardsondied and the partner was saved by his bulletproof vest. Aiken’s Stephon M. Carter, 19, has been charged with murder and attempted murder. Rogerswas approaching a car on Jan. 28 following a shooting that left another woman dead when she was gunned down. She is the first woman in South Carolinastate history to be killed in the line of duty. Joshua Tremaine Jones of Augustahas been charged with killing Rogers and 21-year-old Cayce Vice of Augusta.(Augusta Chronicle)(5-8-2012)
Sarcasm, when used correctly, can be a clever tool for making a point. It also can be harmful when overused. #14-Tony Stewart’s news conference following Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway was full of both. It bordered from brilliant to a violation of Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR rulebook, which covers everything “detrimental to the sport.” In one of the most bizarre postrace transcripts you’ll ever read, the three-time Cup champion made a mockery of one of the sport’s biggest races. He did it in such a sarcastic way that you may want to read twice just to catch the surgeon-like precision in which he ripped the race and governing body apart. The note accompanying the transcript says the interview was “tongue-and-cheek.” According to several reporters there, Stewart never let on that he was joking and some left confused by what they heard. But Stewart’s point was well made: NASCAR needs to change a few things before the sport returns to the 2.66-mile track for the Chase. To Stewart’s point, as great as #2-Brad Keselowski’s move to escape #18-Kyle Busch on the final lap of the green-white-checkered finish was for the win, several issues must be addressed. The overheating that ended the day early for #48-Jimmie Johnson and Stewart teammate #39-Ryan Newman with blown engines has to be fixed even if it means the return of tandem racing. So does the issues that caused cars to run out of fuel early. Catastrophe can’t be avoided when that happens while running three-wide in packs at 200 mph.(ESPN)
Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith and ex-employee associate H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler are at war again. When Charlotte Motor Speedway sent out a press release on Tuesday promoting the 20th anniversary of the first race under the lights at a superspeedway and called it Smith’s idea, his former president and general manager of CMS responded strongly. Wheeler said the idea to install lights at CMS for the 1992 All-Star race was his idea and his alone. “I usually let Bruton spiel on, but this one got me,” Wheeler said. “He would take credit for the sun and moon if he could!” In fairness to Smith, he didn’t write the press release or suggest that he be given credit in it. But when asked who came up with the idea for lights at CMS and what he thought of Wheeler’s comments, he didn’t smooth the waters. “I’m not going to comment on anything about him at all,” Smith said. “I don’t pay attention to what he [Wheeler] thinks. He’s a former employee. I can’t possibly think about anything about him, period.” Wheeler and Smith have been at odds since Wheeler claimed Smith pushed him out of his job earlier than he wanted in 2008 after a 33-year relationship.(ESPN)(5-6-2012
Only when he lies flat on his back does Junior Johnson feel no pain. He can walk for a little more than 10 minutes before he begins to feel winded. Food does not taste good and he has trouble swallowing. Nevertheless, Johnson, the 81-year-old former NASCAR driver and team owner, does not complain. He’ll tell you it is better than the alternative. “Reckon the Lord thought it wasn’t my time yet,” said Johnson, a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s inaugural class of inductees, “for which I am grateful.” Johnson came to the brink of death after contracting a raging staph infection at a North Carolinahospital. Johnson takes a daily regimen of medication to keep the infection at bay. Johnson said his plans for the immediate future remain unaltered. He and his family will move to Charlottein June, where they have already bought a house and will become neighbors to such NASCAR notables as team owners Rick Hendrick and Felix Sabates. Johnson said he feels better each day, but, obviously, he will require more medical attention – none of which he can receive until it’s certain he no longer has the infection. Johnson admits he needs, and wants, a pacemaker.(Motorsports Unplugged)(5-5-2012)
DARLINGTONTIBITS
Built as a 1.25-mile paved superspeedway in 1949-50, Darlington Raceway hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history and the first on asphalt on Sept. 4, 1950.
• The track was re-measured to 1.375 miles in 1953.
• The track was re-configured to 1.366 miles following the spring race in 1970.
• The track was repaved in 1995.
• The 2005 race was the first Saturday night race at Darlington.
• The track was repaved again prior to the 2008 season.
• There have been 108 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Darlington Raceway since the track opened in 1950
The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 43rd, in the track’s inaugural race in 1950 by Johnny Mantz. That race had a 75-car field.
Southern Pride Trucking will serve as primary sponsor to the FAS LaneRacing #32 entry in the Sprint Cup Series for this weekend’s running of the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Southern Pride Trucking, in business for over 40 years, continues their commitment to FAS LaneRacing team owner Frank Stoddard and his team and is proud to be a part of NASCAR. Reed Sorenson returns to pilot the #32 Southern Pride Trucking Ford at the track known as “The Lady In Black”. Southern Pride Trucking, the nationwide industry leader specializing in transporting aircraft engines, parts and ground support equipment, is currently expanding its operations with the opening of a new facility in central Floridaand is hiring owner/operators.(Integrity Sports Marketing)(5-11-2012)
-#10-Danica Patrick will be introduced as the first female member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family during a Thursday news conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 30-year-old fulltime Nationwide Series driver and part-time Sprint Cup driver joins current CCRF members Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart. Patrick will be directly branded with Coke Zero. Among her first promotional appearances wil be at the Coca-Cola 600 weekend at CMS to promote the adventure movie “Battleship” with one of the movie’s stars, Brooklyn Decker. She also will compete in the 600 as the third of her 10 Cup races this season. “To be with Coca-Cola is one of those things you only dream about as a driver,” Patrick told ESPN.com. “A lot of legendary drivers have been a part of the Coke family, so I feel very fortunate.”(ESPN)(5-10-2012)
With David Reutimann’s 22nd-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway, Danica Patrick and the #10 car have officially made the field for Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The #10 car, which sits 33rd in owner points after Talladega, secures Patrick in the field based on NASCAR automatically giving the top 35 cars a spot in the starting field without having to race their way in on qualifying time. Patrick will be just the third woman to ever compete in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway, joining Shawna Robinson in 2002 and Janet Guthrie in 1977. Robinson and Guthrie finished 42nd and 16th in those races, respectively. Patrick will also make her debut atDarlingtonon Friday in the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200.(Darlington Raceway)(5-8-2012)
-Saturday night’s race at Darlington Speedway marks the final points race before the May 19 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. That means it’s the final opportunity for drivers not already locked into the field to do so. In a way. In actuality, after this weekend’s race, those not already locked into the all-star field can do so by finishing either first or second in the Sprint Showdown or winning the Sprint Fan Vote. But no driver wants that kind of pressure. The Sprint Showdown is blink-of-an-eye quick (two 20-lap segments), so anything but a fast start likely spells trouble. And with some fan-favorite names on the Sprint Fan Vote ballot (i.e. #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.), it’s not wise to rely on that. So,Darlington it is. Those thoughts swirl in the heads of some huge names, namely Earnhardt, #56-Martin Truex Jr., #20-Joey Logano, #1-Jamie McMurray, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #31-Jeff Burton and #22-AJ Allmendinger. All sit in the top 20 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings, and all are currently without an all-star nod.(NASCAR)(5-10-2012)
-A ForsythCountyjudge ordered former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield to pay $1 million to a Catawba [NC] postal carrier attacked last year by Mayfield’s five pitbulls. This is the latest salvo against Mayfield, whose home was auctioned off for failing to pay about $3 million he owed on the property. He also faces drug-possession, larceny and stolen goods charges in three North Carolinacounties and was suspended from NASCAR in 2009 for testing positive for methamphetamine. Judge William Z. Wood of Forsyth Superior Court awarded Mary E. Bolton $1 million. Boltonfiled a lawsuit against Mayfield and his wife, Shana Mayfield. Boltonalleged that the Mayfields were negligent in allowing the dogs, pitbull/Labrador mixes, to run loose on their property. She was delivering mail and had a package too large for the mailbox outside the Mayfields’ gate. She drove through the gate, past “No Trespassing” and “Beware of Dogs” signs, to deliver the package and encountered the dogs that attacked her. Mayfield heard the commotion, shouted at the dogs to scatter them and carried Boltoninto the house. He and his wife called 911, and Bolton was taken to CatawbaMedicalCenterfor treatment. Animal control confiscated the dogs from Mayfield, but no criminal charges were filed against him. The dogs were later euthanized.(in part from the Morganton News Herald)(5-9-2012)
-#99-Carl Edwards will move from the cockpit of his race car to the broadcast booth as he becomes an analyst for ESPN on two upcoming telecasts of NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Edwards will make his debut during ESPN2′s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway on Friday night, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
-More than a decade has passed since Hendrick Motorsports slogged through this kind of drought. Back in 2001, Hendrick went the final eight races without a win. Then in 2002, the squad went the first nine winless. That 17-race drought ranks as the team’s sixth-longest in an NSCS history that began in 1984. The seventh longest? This one. Right here, right now. Sixteen races have passed since Hendrick’s last win, but one of its top tracks awaits – Darlington Raceway. Hendrick has 13 victories at The Track Too Tough To Tame, most by any owner all-time. On Hendrick’s personal wins list, Darlington ranks tied for third with Dover behind only Martinsville (18) and Charlotte (16).(NASCAR)(5-9-20120)
-Fans are invited to enjoy a free open house at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 12 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The day’s activities will include a full program of Legends racing on the “Thunder Ring” oval, free giveaways and the opportunity for attendees to drive their car on the speedway’s famed 1.54-mile racing surface.
Admission is free to the off-season Legends race on the ¼-mile “Thunder Ring,” where fans can roam the grandstand seating area and personally select their seats for the speedway’s Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 2.
With any ticket purchase to the Sept. 2 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500, fans can drive their own vehicle on the track following the conclusion of the Legends racing action at 2:00 p.m. Customers who have already purchased tickets to the AdvoCare 500 can visit the AMS ticket office to receive a voucher to drive the track. A payment of $30 will also be accepted for track drives without a ticket purchase.
Additional entertainment at the open house will include:
- Free drawings for a weekend hotel stay, Richard Petty Driving Experience Ride-Along certificates, Papa John’s Pizza gift cards and a Tractor Supply Company gift card, among other prizes
- Classic car show and Legends car display
- Coca-Cola Pit Crew Challenge Trailer
- Rock wall climbing and inflatable slide
- Legends driver autograph session
- Opportunityto take photos with the Atlanta Motor Speedway pace car and a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner’s trophy
- Tours of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Race Control tower and suites
- Complimentary popcorn outside the ticket office
The AMS gift shop will be open until 5:00 p.m. and customers can take advantage of a 15 percent discount on merchandise all day, plus an extra 10 percent discount with the purchase of any AdvoCare 500 ticket.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL M&MS WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT KYLE THE PILE BEING A HORRIBLE ROLE MODEL FOR THE KIDS THEY ADVERTISE THEIR CANDY FOR HERE’S A LINK.. http://www.m-ms.com/us/legal/feedback.jsp
OR TO JOE GIBBS RACING http://joegibbsracing.com/contact-us/
TO LET NASCAR know how you feel..
Brandon Reed’s Georgia Racing History News
The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame inDawsonville,Georgiahas moved one step closer to being able to name the 2012 class of inductees this week, when they announced the “Fast 15” semi-finalists. The five new GRHOF inductees will be chosen by a panel of voters to make up this year’s class.
The 2012 semi-finalists include Charles Barrett of Cleveland, GA, Dick Brannon of Dawsonville, GA, Charlie Burkhalter of Athens, GA, Frank Christian of Dahlonega, GA, Tommie Clinard of Macon, GA, Pete Hamilton of Buford, GA, Bill Ingram of Woodstock, GA, Bobby Johns of Miami, FL, Warren Johnson of Sugar Hill, GA, Jabez Jones of Toccoa, GA, Doug Kennimer of Dahlonega, GA, Ethel Flock Mobley of Atlanta, GA, Huston Platt of Buford, GA, Louise Smith of Barnesville, GA, and Herman Wise of Toccoa, GA.
The announcement of the 2012 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame inductees will be made during the Hall of Fame’s 10th anniversary celebration event, scheduled for Saturday, May 26 at the Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, GA. The event begins at 8 am with a swap meet, a car show at 10 am and the opening ceremony, which will include the inductee announcement around 11 am. Also on tap for the event is a driver autograph session with members of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and current drivers. For more info, visit www.georgiaracinghof.com.
The 2012 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Induction banquet will be held on Oct. 26, 2012 at 6 pm at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, located inside the Dawsonville Municipal Complex inDawsonville,Georgia.
A limited number of seats for the banquet will be available. For more information, call the Hall of Fame at (706) 216-RACE (7223) or go online to www.georgiaracinghof.com.
Here’s a closer look at the five inductees into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame for 2012:
Charles Barrett – Cleveland, GA – Winner of approximately 250 feature events – Won 27 Late Model sportsman features in 1972 – Won the 10th anniversary 150 lap Sportsman championship race at Anderson in 1972 – 1968, 69, 70 Anderson track champion- Won several championship events at Anderson between 1967-1972 – Competed in several NASCAR Sprint Cup events for car owner George Elliott, including a 10th at Talladega in 1973, 18th at Atlanta in 1973.
Dick Brannon – Dawsonville, GA – Directly involved in the development of the Ford 427 race engines – Received he first of every 427 powered drag race car built by Ford Motor Company – Won more than 200 NHRA, IHRA and AHRA sanctioned drag racing events, including 89 strip elapsed time or speed records – 1965 AHRA Factory Funny Car Champ in Long Beach, CA and Cecil County, Maryland – 1966 AHRA Fuel Funny Car Winter Nationals Champ – 196 NASCAR Grand Finale Drag Champ – Played an important role in development of the 1967 Ford Fairlane 427, including the one Mario Andretti won the Daytona 500 in – Worked with A.J. Foyt, Donnie Allison in developing 1968 Ford Torino – Helped develop Cobra Jet 428 engine – Worked on 429 BOSS Engine – Member of the Super Sock Magazine Hall of Fame, East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame, Drag Racers Reunion Hall of Fame- Recipient of the Dearborn Classics Award.
Charlie Burkhalter – Athens, GA – Successful competitor in the north Georgia area – raced and won many times at the Athens Speedway, Toccoa, the Peach Bowl, Jefco (Gresham Motorsports Park), Banks County, and other tracks all over the southeast. Championship Super Modified (Skeeter) racer – Won races and titles against Hall of Famers Charlie Mincey, Bud Lunsford, Buck Simmons and others. Passed away in May of 2010.
Frank Christian -Dahlonega,GA – Deceased – Was a pioneer in multi-car ownership, winning 22 races in his career. Drivers included his wife, Hall of Famer Sara Christian, Bob Flock, Speedy Thompson, Buddy Shuman, Banjo Matthews, Fonty Flock, Buck Baker, and Curtis Turner. Christian himself competed in several events as an owner/driver. His cars had an average starting place of sixth and an average finishing place of 12th. Christian’s cars scored 35 poles in a six year span. Christian is credited with bringing the moonshine runners out of the mountains and into the first organized modern stock car race, held atAtlanta’s Lakewood Speedway in November of 1938. Was the car owner for the first Chevrolet to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup race, with Fonty Flock as a driver, in 1955 atColumbia,SC.
Tommie Clinard – Macon, GA – Had a career that spanned 20 years – Built his first race car at the age of 19 – Won his first race on Jan. 15, 1957 at the Palm Beach Speedway in Atlanta – Competed against top notch drivers, including Red Famer, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Bobby Johns – Went drag racing in 1964, winning 52 straight events at Camp Wheeler Dragstrip – Back in stock cars, competed many times at Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, GA, putting in a top ten points finish in 1974.
Pete Hamilton –Newton,MA, relocated toBuford,GA – Won the 1970 Daytona 500 driving for Petty Enterprises, and won bothTalladega races that year while driving for Petty. Was the 1965 Thompson World Series Twin 50s champion. Scored the title in the NASCAR National Sportsman division in 1967. Was the 1968 Rookie of the Year in NASCAR Sprint Cup. Won the 1969 NASCAR Grand American division title, winning 12 of 26 races that year. Won a qualifying race (then a points event) at Daytona in 1971 driving for Cotton Owens. Won the 1974 SnowballDerby at 5 FlagsSpeedway inPensacola,FL. Became a successful car builder inGeorgia, operating out of Buford, building cars for several championship winning drivers, including Hall of Famers Charlie Mincey and Ronnie Sanders.
Bill Ingram –Woodstock,GA – Over 285 feature wins – Ran first race in 1967, at the age of 13, at Cherokee Motor Speedway inCanton,GA – Began racing regularly in 1973 – Won Hobby Championships at Dixie Speedway inWoodstockGA in 1978 & 1979 – Moved to Limited Sportsman in 1981, winning several races. Would win championship in 1982 – Won Georgia State Motocross Championship (for motorcycles) at Ballground, GA in 1982 – Won Dixie/Rome Rookie of the Year in Super Late Models, 1983 – Won National Late Model Rookie of the Year from Racing News Weekly, 1983 – Won Points Championship, Dixie Speedway, 1984 – Won Rome Boss 100 Late Model Points Championship at Rome Speedway, 1984 – Won Alabama Enduro Championship at Birmingham Speedway, 1985 – Won Enduro 300 at Dixie Speedway, 1985 – Qualified ninth, finished sixth in ARCA series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1986 – Qualified at over 178 mph in ARCA competition at Talladega, AL, 1986 – Won Georgia State Demolition Derby championship, 1987 – Competed in ARCA competition at Daytona, Atlanta, 1987 – Won 18 Super Late Model features at Dixie and Rome Speedways, including several 100 & 200 lap events – Qualified for first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event driving for Henley Gray at Talladega in 1989 – Won features at North Georgia, Dixie and Rome – Won inaugural Hav-A-Tampa Shootout at Dixie in 1990 – Won Dixie track championship in 1994, with several major wins that year – Passed away on Jan. 10, 1999.
Bobby Johns – Miami, FL, relocated to Atlanta, GA – Long time competitor in north Georgia, winning several races at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, GA – Raced at short tracks across Georgia and Florida – Won two NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) races, at Atlanta (1960) and Bristol (1962) – Recorded 21 top 5s, 36 top 10s, two poles between 956-1969 – First NASCAR driver to take a competitive lap at Indianapolis – Piloted Smokey Yunick’s famed Hurst Floor Shift Special in testing and qualifying for the 1964 Indy 500 – Twice raced in the Indy 500, finishing 7th in 1965 & 10th in 1969.
Warren Johnson -Buford,GA – NHRA Pro Stock racer, All Time Pro Stock winner, with 97 career wins, 151 career final round appearances. Six time NHRA Pro Stock champion (1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, and 2001). Set a career best speed and time inGainesville,FL in 2012 (212.46). Was the first Pro Stock driver to surpass 180 mph (Fremont in 1982) and 190 mph (Indianapolis in 1986). Scored five wins in 11 final round appearances in 1991. That same year, raced inJapan, beating American and Japanese Pro Stock races. Became the first Pro Stock driver in history to exceed 200 mph (Richmond, 1997). Became the first driver in NHRA history to make a sub 6.9 second pass (6.894 seconds,Richmond). Won 56 elimination rounds, recorded top speed in 21 of 22 events, both in 1998. No. 1 qualifier at 15 events.
Jabez Jones – Toccoa, GA – Began racing in 1953, career would span some 30 years – Over 350 career wins – Set record at Anderson, SC, 18:60, in 1969, record stood 18 years – Won 17 straight events at Athens Speedway in 1970 – Won 14 straight wins at Anderson Speedway in 1971 – Won Sportsman Award at Anderson Speedway in 1971 – Instrumental in the careers of several drivers, including Herman Wise – One of the original organizers of Georgia-Carolina No. 1 Racing Association in 1973 – Competed against legendary drivers, such as Bud Lunsford, Charlie Mincey, Katron Sosebee, Tootle Estes, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, and Red Farmer.
Doug Kennimer –Dahlonega,GA – Famed dirt and asphalt driver, competed and beat such drivers as Buck Simmons and Bud Lunsford. Competed in coupes, Super Modifieds and Late Models all over the country, including Cumming Speedway, Atomic,Athens, Toccoa, and Lanier. Member of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame. Won the World 100 at Eldora in 1972.
Ethel Flock Mobley – Atlanta, GA – Sister of GRHOF members Tim, Bob, and Fonty Flock - First female racecar driver to compete against men in the state of Georgia when she entered a race at Central City Park Speedway in Macon, Georgia – Was rated as the top woman driver in the southeastern United States, having won many competitions in all-women races – Two NASCAR Sprint Cup starts – Raced against her brothers Tim, Bob, and Fonty Flock at NASCAR’s second event ever on July 10, 1949 at the Daytona Beach Road Course. It was the first event to feature a brother and a sister, and the only NASCAR event to feature four siblings. Ethel beat Fonty and Bob by finishing eleventh, while Tim finished second – In June, 1949, entered a racing competition inFlorida, competing against 57 men drivers. She finished in 8th place – Competed in over 100 NASCAR Modified events in her career- Passed away June 26, 1984.
Huston Platt – Buford,GA – Pilot of the famed Dixie Twister. Was a pioneer Funny Car racer in the mid to late 60’s. Competed in and won events all over the east coast and in the southeast. Would later take his restored Dixie Twister around the country on display and in exhibition runs. Was inducted in 2009 to the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame. Passed away Nov. 30, 2011.
Louise Smith – Barnesville, GA – Won 28 modified events – Won 18 races in midgets, late models or sportsman events – Began her racing career in 1949, competing in the NASCAR event on the Daytona Beach course – Competed in the first race to feature three female drivers (along with Ethel Mobley Flock and GRHOF member Sara Christian) – Competed from 1949 – 1956 – Became a car owner in 1971 for numerous drivers – Sponsored Ronnie Thomas’ NASCAR Rookie of the Year title in 1978 – Became the first woman to be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, AL in 1999. Died March 4, 2006.
Herman Wise –Toccoa,GA – Sprint Car Racer, car builder. Won the 1971 Little 500 inAnderson,IN. Won at Williams Grove and Sealinsgrove. Scored wins all over the southeast, including at the Peach Bowl, Athens Speedway, Jefco Speedway, and Toccoa in Sprints and Super Modifieds. Died in a traffic accident inHabersham County,GA in 2003.
About the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame - The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame is owned by Dawsonville History Museum, INC. The Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2002, and became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 2010. The museum, recognized by the state legislature as the official home of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, recognizes prominent members of Georgia’s racing heritage. The Hall of Fame also plays host to other events saluting the state’s racing history, including the annual Lakewood Speedway reunion. The Hall of Fame and Museum are housed in the Dawsonville City Municipal Complex just outside of downtown Dawsonville, Georgiaon Hwy. 53. The museum is open Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Holiday and Summer hours vary. For more information, call (706)216-RACE (7223) or go online towww.georgiaracinghof.com.
Thanks to:
Webcrew: Brian Luders and Drew Ragan
Podcaster: Sgt. Andy Cooke
Photographer: Howard Martin
Jason “Banjo” Durden
Doug “Fireball” Turnbull’s Race Blog
t was a big weekend inTalladega, as I stayed busy throwing a bunch of stuff up on the WSB Radio Race Blog and on Twitter. Below is a link to my blog and a list and links of all the new stuff I posted from this weekend. And if you aren’t busy this Saturday, plan to come see the Super Late Models and all other racing classes at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, GA, where I will be helping announce the day’s events. Take I-85 to exit 140 (Hwy. 82/Dry Pond Rd.) and head east to the track. Opening ceremonies are at 7:30. Get tickets and all info at RaceGMP.com.
http://www.wsbradio.com/weblogs/doug-fireball-turnbulls-race-blog/
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
The 6th Annual Blake Gammill -DouglasCounty 1st Responders Memorial Ride will be held Saturday, May 19th, at 12:15pm (Kickstands up). Registration begins at 10:00am.
The ride will begin and end at Harley-Davidson ofAtlanta,501 Thornton Road(Ga Hwy 6)Lithia Springs, Ga.,30122-1517.
Tickets for the 60 mile ride through beautifulNorthwest Georgiaare available for a $25 donation. The ticket includes one tee shirt. Additional tee shirts for passengers will be available.
All funds raised will go toward building a memorial for Douglas County Sheriff, Douglasville Police, Douglas County Fire/EMS and Public Servants that die in the line of duty. The fundraiser ride is named in honor of Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Blake Gammill. Gammill died in a shooting as he attempted to make an arrest in 2005.
Refreshments, live music, Door Prizes, Giveaways and a Charity Auction will also be featured during the event.
If you need more information about the event call 770-944-1340 or email herb.emory@coxradio.com.
QUICK FACTS
Blake Gammill -1st Responders Memorial Ride
May 19 2012 12:15pm
Harley-Davidson ofAtlanta
501 Thornton Road(Ga. Hwy6) North of I-20
770-944-1340
$25 Per Bike donation-includes 1 tee shirt
Bands-Refreshments-Door Prizes-Giveaways-Charity Auction
60 mile ride thru beautiful northwestGeorgia
All funds raised will go toward building a memorial for Douglas County Sheriff, Douglasville Police, Douglas County Fire/EMS and Public Servants that die in the line of duty.
golf tournament Tuesday May 29th. The Polo Fields Country Club inCummingGa.
David Ragan, Joey Logano, Colt Ford and other celebraties
INFO-Steve West-706-299-0145
Facebook links-
Doug Turnbull: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=22606881
Jason Durden: http://www.facebook.com/jdurden
WSB Radio: http://www.facebook.com/wsbradioatlanta
WSB TV: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Channel-2-action-news/110114325677826?ref=ts&v=wall
Twitter Links-
Twitter.com/dougturnbull
Twitter.com/JasonDurden
Twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic
Twitter.com/WSB_radio
Twitter.com/WSB_TV
WSB Site: wsbradio.com
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CAPT. HERB DRIVES AMERICAN VEHICLES BECAUSE HE LOVES THEUSA.
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