Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4B
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008
GIVING BACK
TO THE FANS
2007 Southern
National Top Fuel
winner Brandon
Bernstein waits
out the rain on
Sunday by sign
ing autographs for
the fans at Atlanta
Dragway.
Photo by
Brandon Reed
Atlanta Dragway ... continued from page 1B
That number went up to six as the
Team Force cars fired their engines
to roll to the line.
Ashley said the rain did not help
her nerves before the historic run.
“That’s about the worst I’ve felt
getting ready to make a run, ever,”
she said. “Obviously, I need to work
on that, because that’s a big thing
with being a driver. You’ve got to
stay focused, and not let those kind
of things get into your head.”
When the rain stopped, and the cars
finally lined up, Ashley’s focus was
clearly on her job.
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.
Ashley said her father had a little
time to speak with her before the vic
tory lane celebration began.
“He just came over and congratu
lated me,” she said. “He told me good
job, and he told my team good job,
and then they whisked me away. I
haven’t seen him since.”
Ashley leaves Commerce with a
59-point lead in the Funny Car cate
gory, after becoming the first woman
in history to lead in that division the
week before.
Top Fuel
Almost lost in the Force-a-thon
was the fact that Top Fuel rookie
Antron Brown picked up his second
win of the season, taking out points
leader Tony Schumacher in the finals.
Brown, who moved up from the Pro
Stock Motorcycle division this year,
took his dragster down the strip with
a 4.537-second run at 325.14 mph.
“We just take it round by round
each race,” Brown said. “I’m just
tickled to death to be able to be a part
of this race team.”
Brown made his way to the finals
by defeating David Grubnic, top
qualifier Cory McClenathan, and
Alpharetta’s Bob Vandergriff, Jr.
“It just felt fantastic,” Brown said.
Pro Stock
Oklahoma’s Mike Edwards came
into Sunday’s final round looking
for his first victory since 2006. His
opponent, Jason Line, was appear
ing in his second consecutive final
round.
In the end, it was Edwards driving
his Pontiac to the win, with a 6.680
run at 206.20 miles an hour.
“You just can’t describe the feeling
of winning one of these races in this
class. There are so many good teams
and it’s been so long since I last won.
It’s just an unbelievable feeling to
win one of these races.
“I’m so thankful for this team. I’m
so thankful for God. This win is for
him, I give him all the glory.”
Edward’s path to victory lane took
him first past Dave Northrop, then
past number four qualifier Allen
Johnson, and former 2007 Pro Stock
champ Jeg Coughlin. Along with
being his first win since 2006, it was
his first final round appearance in
two years.
The day wasn’t as good for Sugar
Hill racers Warren and Kurt Johnson.
Hall of Famer Warren was defeated
by Jeg Coughlin in round one elimi
nations, while Kurt fell to number
three qualifier Justin Humphreys in
round two.
Pro Stock Bike
Pro Stock Motorcycle jockey
Andrew Hines came to Commerce
on a mission. He wanted to be top
qualifier for the Southern Nationals.
Not only did he accomplish that
task with a pass setting the track
record for elapsed time at 6.950
seconds at 192.30 miles an hour, he
piloted his Harley Davidson to his
first win of 2008.
“I can’t say enough about what
the guys have done with the engines
back at the shop,” Hines said. “It was
just going down the track so smooth
and so great all weekend long, I
just can’t believe it. I’ve never had
a motorcycle that’s made that many
runs in a row almost flawless.”
Hines defeated number two qualifi
er Chip Ellis in the final, turning in a
6.946 second run at 191.40 miles an
hour. He defeated Michael Phillips,
Matt Guidera and Craig Treble to get
to the finals.
Georgia native Junior Pippin went
out in round one, when he fouled out
from the starting line.
Other winners on the day includ
ed Spencer Massey in Top Alcohol
Dragster, and Frank Manzo, who
defeated Gainesville’s Steve Harker
in Top Alcohol Funny car.
Rick Brown took top honors in
Competition Eliminator, Kevin
Helms won in Super Stock, and
Lee Zane was victorious in Stock
Eliminator.
Sharpsburg native Bubba Watts
won in Super Comp, while Gary
Federico won in Super Street.
The NHRA Powerade tour now
moves to Madison, Ill. on May 2.
Atlanta Dragway’s next Summit
Racing Series event will be held on
Saturday, May 3.
STATE QUALIFIER
Banks County High School's Lyn Hester, competing at the Region 8-AA meet last Friday, had
qualified for the upcoming Class AA state meet. Hester will compete in the shot put competition
at state which will be held once again this year in Jefferson. Photo by Justin Poole
High School Track
Leopards qualify three for state
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County High School
boys track team had a standout
showing at the Region 8-AA meet
Friday and Monday finishing fifth
overall.
In addition, three Leopards will
be moving on to the Class AA state
event in Jefferson. Jamail Jennings
won the region championship in the
400-meter dash in 53.05 while Lyn
Hester was runner-up in the shot put
with a throw of 43-4.25.
Jay Harn will also compete in the
wheelchair events in the shot put,
200-meter and 800-meter. Harn won
state in the shot put last spring.
“It was a great region meet for us,”
said BCHS coach Rob Moffett, who
has helped oversee the success the
program has enjoyed in recent sea
sons. “We competed hard and placed
in all events in which team members
were entered.”
Greene County was the overall
winner with 107 points followed
by North Oconee with 76.5 and
Washington-Wilkes with 67.5.
Oglethorpe County was fourth with
65 with Banks County fifth, compil-
ing 47 points.
East Jackson, Dawson County,
Union County, Fannin County,
Putnam County and Rabun County
rounded out the region field.
Other top finishers for BCHS
included:
•Hester, discus, third, 134-5.
•4x100-meter relay team of
Jennings, Jared Gregory, Clint
Caudell and Justin Beasley, fifth,
45.7.
•400-meter dash, Caudell, sixth,
56.01.
•100-meter dash, Beasley, fifth,
11.15.
•long jump, Beasley, third, 20-1.
•800-meter run, Nick Sosebee,
sixth, 2:18.
•800-meter run, An Pham, sev
enth.
•200-meter dash, Beasley, fourth,
23.3.
•200-meter dash, Jennings, sixth,
24.2.
•3,200-meter run, Ivan Diaz,
fourth, 10:58.
•3,200-meter run, Chris Parks,
sixth, 11:12.
•1,600-meter run, Chris parks, sev-
enth.
•4x400-meter relay, Jennings,
Gregory, Caudell and Beasley, sixth,
3:48.
Several BCHS athletes established
personal bests during the 2008
Region 8-AA meet hosted by East
Jackson High School.
“The coaches are very pleased
with the effort and improvement of
the boys track team,” Moffett said.
“With only three seniors, the team
should only continue to improve.
We are looking forward to Jamail,
Lyn and Jay competing at state next
well.”
The seniors on this year’s team
include Jennings, Parks and Branson
Simmons.
The state meet will be May 8, 9
and 10 in Jefferson. Hester and Harn
will throw on May 8 while Jennings
will run in the qualifying heats on
May 9. Harn will then compete in
his other wheelchair events May 10.
Jennings’ running finals will also be
May 10.
“It has been a great year and we
hope to finish it up strong at the state
meet,” Moffett said.
Your patronage helps provide for those in need.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
Leslie M. Pitts, DMD
Pediatric Dentistry
215 Mercer Place,
P. O. Box 1241
Commerce, GA 30529
706-335-7793
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Website: drlpitts.com
Email: drlpitts@drlpitts.com
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TOWN OF ALTO
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Town of Alto will be having a
public hearing prior to their regular
scheduled meeting in the Alto City Hall on
May 13, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. The Town of
Alto’s Police Department will be
discussing obtaining federal funds from
the United State Department of
Agriculture (USDA) for the purpose of
vehicle acquisition.
321 Pottery Factory Drive, Commerce — across from OUTBACK STEAK House