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PAGE 4B
THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2008
AUTO RACING
JCCHS BOYS BASKETBALL
PEACH STATE NO MORE
Officials have announced that Peach State Speedway will be renamed ‘Gresham
Motorsports Park’ as part of a series of changes coming to the Jefferson speedway.
More announcements are expected in the coming weeks. Photo by Brandon Reed
Peach State Speedway renamed
Dan Elliott named track General Manager
BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE
Track General Manager Dan Elliott gets a look at the
facility from the flag stand. Elliott says track officials
plan an “extreme makeover” for the speedway
By Brandon Reed
PEACH STATE Speedway
is now history, at least in
name.
The track, which was
recently purchased by a part
nership comprised of Jim and
Tony Gresham of Gresham
Motorsports and Gene
Roberts a former NASCAR
Cup Series crew chief and
current Gresham Motorsports’
late model crew chief for
driver Max Gresham, will
be re-christened Gresham
Motorsports Park.
It will be the fourth name
for the facility, which is touted
as the fastest paved half-mile
oval in the state.
The track opened as Jefco
Speedway in July of 1967,
hosting its first event, a
NASCAR sanctioned Late
Model Sportsman raced
dubbed the “Tiger 200.”
That first event, fittingly,
was won by “Tiger Tom”
Pistone of Chicago, Ill.
The track was later renamed
Georgia International
Speedway in the early 1980s,
then was rechristened Peach
State Speedway after the track
sold in the early 1990s.
According to a track press
release, the owners agreed that
the name change would fit the
new facility because of the
desire of the Gresham family
to bring the most professional
and exciting automobile rac
ing to the facility.
The release said the partner
ship will make needed chang
es to bring to the 41-year old
facility the best racing pos
sible for fans and drivers.
Track officials have also
announced that Dan Elliott,
brother of NASCAR Sprint
Cup champion Bill Elliott, has
been named general manager
of the facility.
He has been in racing
almost all of his life, from
short tracks to the highest
ranks of NASCAR. Officials
said Elliott plans to use every
resource available to make
this the best racetrack in the
country.
”We plan to do an extreme
makeover, race track edition,”
Elliott said this week. “This
track once hosted some of
the most famous drivers that
ever raced and if anyone can
do that again I want to be the
man to do it. I want this to be
the track where new talent is
discovered.
“I am excited and proud to
be a part of the new Gresham
Motorsports Park and highly
praise the Greshams and Gene
Roberts for this awesome
opportunity.”
The track previously held
events for NASCAR’s Sprint
Cup events, which was then
called the Grand National
Series. In 1968, the series'
season finale was held at the
track, with Cale Yarborough
winning. The series would
visit the track again in
November of 1969, with
Bobby Isaac taking the win.
In 1983, the track’s signa
ture event, the World Crown
300, was held for the first
time.
Fittingly, the sale of the
track was official following
the conclusion of the 25th
running of the World Crown
on Nov. 9 of this year.
The new track owners plan
to unveil the facility's future
plans after the New Year.
For further information and
to view the track's current
updates, you can visit the
track's website at www.gresh-
ammotorsportspark.com
JCCHS GIRLS BASKETBALL
Lady Panthers ready for tournament
By Brandon Reed
IT’S BACK to work this
week for the Lady Panthers
of Jackson County, as they
host Commerce, Providence
and Hebron Christian in the
Jingle Jam tournament this
week.
JCCHS enters the tourna
ment fresh off a 38-25 vic
tory over West Hall on Dec.
19. The win leaves the Lady
Panthers 6-2 overall for the
season, as they continue to
search for their first region
win.
Jackson County was sched
uled to start their tourna
ment play off Monday after
noon with a pairing against
Hebron, with Tuesday's
schedule to be determined by
Monday’s results.
Scores were unavailable at
press time.
The Lady Panthers will
next take to the court on Jan.
6, when they play host to
Johnson beginning at 6 p.m.
READ THEN RECYCLE
LOOKING
Katie Rodriguez looks for an opening at a recent
game. Photo by Brandon Reed
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Panthers host Jingle Jam
By Brandon Reed
AFTER SOME time off for the holidays,
the Jackson County Panthers will hit the
court again this week, as they play host to
the Jingle Jam at the Pit.
The Panthers are looking to snap a six
game slide that culminated in an 85-48 loss
on Dec. 19 to West Hall.
The Panthers were scheduled to start their
tournament play off Monday night against
Hebron, with the rest of the tournament
schedule to be determined by Monday's
results.
Those results were unavailable at press
time.
The Panthers’ next regular game is sched
uled for Jan. 6, as they play host to Johnson
beginning at 7:30 p.m.
LET IT GO
Taylor Cromer takes a shot from the free throw line at a recent game.
Photo by Brandon Reed
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