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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 31. 2008 - PAGE 3B
Auto Racing
Peach State Speedway To Become Gresham Motorsports Park
Dan Elliott named GM
By Brandon Reed
Peach State Speedway
is now history, at least in
name.
The track, which was
recently purchased by a
partnership 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-chris
tened Gresham Motorsports
Park,
It will be the fourth name
for the facility, which is tout
ed 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 pro
fessional and exciting auto
mobile racing to the facility.
The release said the part
nership will make needed
changes to bring to the
41-year old facility the best
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. Photo by Brandon Reed
racing possible 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 high
est ranks of NASCAR. Officials said
Elliott plans to use every resource avail
able 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 and 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 oppor
tunity."
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 signature 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
-- Wrapping Up The Sports From 2008
Cont’d from page IB
in 8-AA, the team went 3-7.
The Eagles had three region wins, defeat
ing Oglethorpe County, Rabun County and
Dawson County.
The Eagles ended their season on a rainy
Friday night, blanked by inner-county rival
Jefferson, 48-0 as Jefferson went undefeat
ed to win the 8-AA region championship in
its first season competing in AA.
•Commerce grapplers take fourth, one
state champ
The Commerce Mat Tigers made a strong
showing at the Gwinnett Arena during the
state wrestling tournament.
The Tiger grapplers brought home eight
placers and a state champion. Doug Maloch
won the state title in the 112-pound class.
The 07-08 season was good for the Tigers,
as they went 21-3 in dual competition. Two
of their three losses were to Jefferson,
which won the Class A champions for the
eighth consecutive year.
•Middle school Tigers defeat Jefferson
The Commerce Middle School Tigers
did something that their high school coun
terparts haven't done in two years - beat
Jefferson.
The middle school football team defeated
Jefferson in the opening of the 2008 sea
son, 36-19.
After exchanging touchdowns in the first
quarter, Commerce picked up the extra
point while Jefferson did not. The CMS
Tigers scored in the second and third quar
ters, while Jefferson was held until a single
fourth quarter touchdown and PAT.
Honorable mentions
• Eagle grapplers place two at state
The East Jackson Eagles wrestling team
wrapped up its inaugural 07-08 season with
a strong showing at the state tournament
placing two wrestlers. The team placed
19th out of 55.
• Tigersharks pick up 20 medals at state
The Commerce Park and Recreation
Department Tigersharks had 10 swimmers
earn 20 medals in the state swim meet. The
swim team had one of its most successful
seasons in 2008 as the swimmers improved
on the 2007 record of 12 medals at the state
competition.
•East Jackson Cross County places in
Elite Eight
Both East Jackson cross country teams
performed well enough to reach the
elite eight teams at state competition in
Carrollton.
The girls finished seventh out of 35
schools, while the boys finished eighth of
35 schools.
• Force Family Makes Racing History
It was one the most anticipated moments
in all of motorsports, and it happened in
Commerce back in April.
It was a family affair, as iconic 14-time
funny car champ John Force faced off
against his daughter, Ashley, in the final
round of Funny Car competition in the
Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
Ashley beat her father with a run of 4.837
seconds at 320.26 miles an hour, racing
into the history books as the first woman
to win a national event in the Funny Car
category.
Either way the race went it would have
been historic. John was looking for his
1000th career round win as his daughter
sought her first victory.
The drivers had raced between the rain
drops all day in Commerce, enduring six
rain delays.
When the rain stopped, and the cars
finally lined up, history was at hand.
As the green light flashed, both cars leapt
forward. But John’s car broke traction,
while Ashley streaked down the quarter-
mile and into the record books.
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