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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS - AUGUST 6, 2008 - PAGE 3B
Auto Racing
Jefferson’s Nick Potts scored his first career
GAS series win Saturday night with a victory at
Potts Bags First
Jefferson’s Nick Potts has been a longtime
competitor in the Georgia Asphalt Series tour.
He’s known as one of the most dedicated racers
on the tour, but had not picked up a win in the
tour’s history.
That is, until Saturday night, when Potts held
off hard charging rookie Max Gresham and
veteran racer Ronnie Sanders for his first GAS
victory at Watermelon Capital Speedway in
Cordele.
“This is what it’s all about,’’ said Potts in vic
tory lane. “I want to thank my wife for her sup
port and my crew chief Josh McCoy. Josh is on
to something to make this car so good.’’
GAS series rookie of the year contender T.J.
Reaid turned in the fastest lap for the pole
award, but a qualifying draw put Potts in the top
position for the start of the race.
Potts took the lead on the drop of the green
flag, with Gresham and Sanders giving chase.
Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele.
Photo by Brandon Reed
Career GAS Win
Sanders made his way around Gresham, and
then passed Potts for the lead on lap 13. Three
laps later, a spin by Steven Bloodworth on the
backstretch brought out the only caution of the
night.
Potts stormed back past Sanders on the
restart, and never looked back, holding off all
comers for the victory.
“I knew it was going to be tough to get back
around Ronnie (Sanders) because he is a tough
competitor,’’ said Potts. “His tires seemed to be
getting hot and I took advantage of that.’’
Rounding out the top five were Gresham,
Sanders, Dacula’s Russell Fleeman and current
GAS series points leader Ryan Sieg.
Potts’ victory marks the seventh different win
ner in eight races for the GAS series this sea
son. The tour travels to New Senoia Speedway
on Aug. 16 before returning to Peach State
Speedway on Aug. 30.
— Mini Golf Course Almost Ready For Play
Cont. from Page IB
When the course opens, the
landscaping will be mostly
bark mulch and the trees that
were already present. In the
fall other native plants and pos
sibly a few more trees will be
planted.
The project has been paid for
from SPLOST funds, and as far
as construction cost, Simmons
said the only things that have
been bought are concrete and
a few items for the pond. The
rocks serving aesthetic purpos
es were taken locally from the
park or from the courthouse
construction site. The bark
mulch was given by the DOT,
and according to Sanders,
about 90 percent of the labor
came from inmates from the
Jackson County Correctional
Institute.
Simmons said that each hole
presents a special challenge for
players.
RECYCLE THIS
NEWSPAPER
Newspapers and magazines
can be recycled at Keep
Jackson County Beautiful's
recycling bins behind First
GA Banking Company — in
the Lanier Tech parking lot,
South Elm Street, Commerce.
“We tried to make some chal
lenging holes, and some holes
that kids would really like,’’
said Simmons. “There are some
holes that you get a hole-in-one
nearly every time and some
that are probably a par four or
five.’’
With the majority of the
course comfortably shaded by
trees and plans for installation
of a pavilion and benches, the
course will offer visitors some
thing to do and maybe teach a
little history.
The course is set to be open
and ready for the Art in the
Park festival in September.
Grove Recreation
Announces:
SOCCER REGISTRATION
LAST DAY FOR REGISTRATION!
When: Saturday, August 9
9:00 am -1:00 pm
Where: Grove Level Baptist
Recreational Building
Cost: $45 per child
Age Groups: 4-6, 7-9, & 10-12
Registration is open to the public.
Contact:
David Vaughn - 706-652-3742
david.vaughn@grovelevel.com
ON JESU
August 15-17i6:DQpm
sns!
very on
f is invited to
nights of fun!
Food, Fun, end Music featuring ;
"2 West” live each night!
Super Late Models, Modifieds
Coining to Peach State In Nov.
Pendergrass’ Paul Kelley became a three time World Crown
winner with his 2007 victory. This year, the Pro Late Models will
share the weekend with Super Late Models and Modified Open
Wheel racers. Photo by Brandon Reed
By Brandon Reed
Fans will have the chance to
take in two unique events as part
of the World Crown Weekend at
Peach State Speedway Nov. 7-9.
Track officials have announced
the addition of a Super Late
Model event and an Open Wheel
Modified race during the days
leading up to the World Crown.
A Super Late Model, as opposed
to the Pro Late Models that are
regularly seen at Peach State as
part of the Georgia Asphalt Series,
has a full-blown race engine with
few engine rules, resulting in an
engine that can turn out between
565 to 650-horsepower.
A Pro Late Model racer has a
crate motor, which is one pur
chased from a dealership, that
can turn out between 425 to 450
horsepower.
“The (Pro Late Model) class
is designed to hold down the
high cost of racing,’’ said Peach
State promoter Vince Whitmire.
Whitmire said the cost of a good
Super Late Model engine can be
as much as $35,000, while the
cost of a crate engine for a Pro
Late Model runs around $5,300.
“With the horsepower ratings so
close, it takes more driving skills
(with a Pro Late Model) and you
must be very smooth,’’ Whitmire
added. “You don’t have unlimited
horsepower to make ground up
like you have with the Supers.’’
The Super Late Model event is
slated for Saturday, Nov. 10.
The Open Wheel Modifieds are
a division that’s seen a lot of inter
est on other area tracks recently,
especially with Maysville racer
Joey Love having found his way
to victory lane 12 times in the
division this year.
Whitmire said the opportuni
ty to hold a race for the divi
sion, which harkens back to the
early days of stock car racing
in Georgia, comes with the time
of year that the World Crown is
held.
“Most tracks are closed down
when we have the World Crown,
and the Modified guys are look
ing for a season ending race at a
fast track with some fresh tires so
they can see what they have.’’
Whitmire said most local tracks
make the Modified drivers run
using tires that are eight inches
wide.
He says that won’t be the case
when the “Mod Squad’’ hits Peach
State’s high banks.
“I say take the bridle off that
race horse and let 'em eat,’’ he
said.
No decision has been made yet
on the scheduling of the event.
The big race for the weekend,
of course, will be on Sunday,
Nov. 9, with the running of the
annual World Crown. Last year,
the event drew Pro Late Model
racers from around the coun
try to the high-banked Jefferson
track, and this year promises
more of the same action.
Last year, Pendergrass driver
Paul Kelley made a daring late
race pass on Matt Hawkins
to take his third overall World
Crown title, and his second in
a row.
Also on tap during the week
end are local classes, including
the Toyota Tundra Super Trucks,
the Outlaw Late Models, the
Sportsman division and the ever-
popular Mini-Stocks.
For more information, visit
Peach State Speedway’s website
at www.peachstspeedway.com.
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