THEFebruary NORTH 3, 2016GEORGIA THE NEWSNORTH February GEORGIA 3, 2016 NEWS Page Page13A 13A Union County Basketball 2016 Senior Night photos ...continued from Page 12A

NASCAR 2016 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter Blairsville Sorghum Festival 2016 Will Be Year Of Change donates to UCRD Youth Ball Program NASCAR has insti- berth. much each team would be tuted many changes for the The first round, called worth, but even the small upcoming season, and more the Round of 12, consists of one-car operations would be are on the way. the races at Kentucky, Dover worth millions. , Vice and Charlotte. All drivers But no matter what Chairman of NASCAR sat will start with their points happens, Rick Hendrick is down for an interview ses- adjusted to 2,000, with three not worried about his fi- sion last Wednesday at the additional bonus points nancial situation. As one of Greater Talladega Area added to their total for each NASCAR’s most successful Chamber of Commerce win in the first 26 races. If team owners and owner of awards luncheon, and gave a driver wins a race in the an empire of car dealerships his assessment of what rac- Round of 12, the driver au- making millions every year, ing fans could expect during tomatically advances to the any one of his four racing the upcoming season. next round. The remaining teams can operate on his “I’ve got a lot of en- available positions (1-8) that pocket change. thusiasm about ’16 because have not been filled by wins This past weekend, ’15 felt good,” Helton said. will be filled on points. Hendrick showed what type “Particularly toward the Each driver who ad- bank accounts he has access end. The sophomore year of vances to the Round of 8 to. (L-R): Kim Bridges and Duff Conley the elimination Chase for- (Kansas, Texas, Phoenix) He paid $1.2 million The Blairsville Sorghum Festival is continually trying to mat proved to be as excit- then will have their points Mike Helton at the Barrett Jackson Auto give back to the community. We do not publicize a lot of them, ing, some people said more reset to 3,000. Drivers who all I can say.” Auction to buy the first pro- but are proud this year to be able to donate funds to the UCRD exciting, than the first year, win a race in the Round of Sporting News report- duction 2017 Acura NSX hy- ball program as one of our many donations. Meeks Park and and I thought the first year 8 automatically advance to ed that the new charter sys- brid sports car. Don’t expect staff have been so gracious to allow us the use of the park as was going to be hard to beat. the Championship 4. The re- tem was likely to be unveiled him to be driving it around home of the Blairsville Sorghum Festival every year and we are We went into the sophomore maining available positions N(Feb3,Z10)CA during Speedweeks, which Charlotte. It will be added most appreciative. year hoping we could top (1-4) that have not been begins Feb. 11, as teams pre- to his stable of luxury sport that and we did. filled by wins will be filled pare for the Sprint Unlimited and collectible cars. The “Now we’ve got two on points. exhibition race and the Feb. NSX features an engine that years under our belt and com- The four drivers who 21 season-opening Daytona is powerful enough to rocket ing out of the box at Daytona, advance to the Champion- 500. the car from 0-60 mph in 3.0 the strategy, the craftiness of ship 4 at Homestead will Since June, NASCAR seconds and on to a top the race teams every week- have their points reset to officials and team owners of 191 mph. end to get in the Chase and 4,000. The highest finishing have been trying to complete Racing Trivia Ques- get to Homestead (Miami Championship 4 driver will a plan that would guarantee tion: Who won the 2015 Speedway, the Chase’s final be crowned the NASCAR certain teams starting spots ? race) is going to contribute XFINITY Series champion. for all races this season and Last Week’s Ques- to each race being entertain- The seven-race NA- possibly reduce the weekly tion: Which driver has the ing and exciting.” SCAR Camping World fields to 40 cars from the most Daytona 500 wins? An- NASCAR has decid- Truck Series Chase will be- current 43. swer. tops the ed to apply the Sprint Cup gin at New Hampshire Mo- According to SN, the list with seven. Cale Yarbor- Chase format to both the tor Speedway on Sept. 24. It plan calls for 36 charters, or ough is second with four, and Xfinity Series and Trucks. will feature eight drivers and car franchises, that would be Jeff Gordon comes in third “The Xfinity and two elimination rounds, with guaranteed a spot in every with three. Camping World Truck Series four drivers competing in the race. Charters can be sold if You may contact the will have their champion- Championship 4 at Home- an owner wanted to get out Racing Reporter by e-mail ships wrapped up in a simi- stead-Miami Speedway. A of the sport or reduce the at: [email protected]. lar way (to Sprint Cup),” he win in the first 16 races all number of full-time cars it continued. “That brings ev- but guarantees a driver entry fields. erybody together. The mag- into that Chase, provided that The charter system Bowling scores nitude of the Chase has been the driver is in the Top-30 in would also give team owners Monday Night Men: such that it’s a natural for points and has attempted to more economic security with Bill Smith 236, Dewey Allen Xfinity and the truck series qualify for each race. a minimum threshold of win- 213, Bart Rodgers 225, 236, to do that. The first round, called nings earned in a season and Doug Tanner 277, 234, 230, “I don’t expect any- the Round of 8, consists of supposedly give team own- Series 741, Ranny Jones 206, more tweaks. Brian (France, the races at New Hampshire, ers a greater say in proposed Johnathan Everett 202, Ken- NASCAR CEO) has com- Las Vegas, and Talladega. rule changes, something the neth Clark 264, Jay Burrell mented several times about All drivers will have their union-like Race Team Alli- 224, 223, Del Neiffer 335, how we struggled hard to points adjusted to 2,000, ance pushed for in 2015. Derrick Rice 221, 232, 226, get to the moment where with three additional bonus NASCAR spokesman Steve Whittenburg 209, Greg we pulled the trigger on points added to their total for David Higdon said in a re- Whittenburg 232, 220, Ron the elimination format. We each win in the first 16 races. lease: “NASCAR and NA- Wingate 212, Keith Rhodes struggled until we felt it was If a driver wins a race in the 206, Michael Whitehead 224, SCAR Sprint Cup team own- right. We talked about it for a Round of 8, the driver au- Taz Matetzschk 215, 239, BJ ers have continued to make long time and I’d go out on a tomatically advances to the Gilbert 223. progress in our discussions. ledge for it and Brian would next round. The remaining Monday Night Ladies: There still is work to be done, talk me out of it, then Brian available positions (1-6) that Monita Rodgers 202, 211, but we remain very optimis- would go out on the ledge have not been filled by wins Peggy Kidder 197, Sarah Union County Recreation Department Presents tic that we’ll have agree- and I’d say, ‘are you really will be filled on points. Chumbley 199. ments completed prior to the sure?’ It was a 10-year cycle Each driver who ad- Young at Heart Seniors: start of the 2016 season.” getting it ready. vances to the Round of 6 Stanley Tyler 211, Anne Sorelle The Annual Rob Kauffman, chairman of “Quite frankly, it hap- (Martinsville, Texas, Phoe- 172, Mel White 237, Del Ne- the con- pened from the other NA- nix) then will have their iffer 223, Barry Rice 223, 207, sortium that has been bro- Daddy/Daughter Dance SCAR officers and we sit- points reset to 3,000. Drivers 192, Series 622, Bruce Burnett kering the deal on behalf of ting around in a big room who win a race in the Round 232, Linda 201, Sarah Chum- the owners, also felt positive and said, “Why don’t we do of 6 automatically advance bley 210, Ron Wingate 235, Saturday, about negotiations. that? We want to do some- to the Championship 4. The 200, Bart Rodgers 214. Teams have lobbied February 6, 2016 thing exciting. It can’t help remaining available posi- Thursday Night Fun: NASCAR for years in hopes but be exciting.” Now it’s tions (1-4) that have not been Doug Roberts 224, Pam Bierce 6 - 9 pm of some type of franchise such an entertaining format filled by wins will be filled 200, Bob Bischoff 221, Stan- that would make their teams I’d be afraid if we tweaked it on points. ley Tyler 200, Roy Johnson North Georgia more financially secure. any we might mess it up.” The four drivers who 204, Curtis Corn 211, Bonnell Technical College Once the charter system is in N(Feb3,Z2)CA The seven-race NA- advance to the Champion- Thomas 211. place, prospective newcom- SCAR Xfinity Series Chase ship 4 at Homestead will $50 per Couple* ers would have to purchase will begin at Kentucky have their points reset to a team in order to break into Mountain Includes dinner Speedway on Sept. 24, and 4,000. The highest finishing the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Limo ride. feature 12 drivers and two Championship 4 driver will High Hikers Series. There are no dollar elimination rounds, with win the championship. Hiking Club estimates available on how A semi-formal evening full of music, four drivers competing in the All rules outlined Mountain High Hik- Championship 4 at Home- above also apply to both se- BMTA ers schedule two hikes every dancing, photos, dinner, and a limo ride! stead-Miami Speedway. ries’ owner championship Tuesday, one long and one A win in the first 26 structure. group hike shorter, as well as occasional Purchase your tickets now in the races all but guarantees a “There are many things February 4, BMTA group specialty hikes. Weekly trail Recreation Office (310 Wellborn Street) driver entry into the NA- NASCAR is looking at,” maintenance trips are sched- before they are gone! SCAR XFINITY Series Helton continued. “A charter hike on Brush Creek Trail. 6.3 easy miles from Boyd Gap uled every Thursday. *After the first child an additional $20 Chase, provided the driver system is one of them. I can Come enjoy the beauti- is in the top 30 in points and tell you that it is not a done Overlook in Ocoee, TN. Pre- will be charged for each additional child. register with hike leader Tom ful mountains and waterfalls has attempted to qualify for deal. We are working on it, we have here. Check the web- TICKETS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE each race. Drivers who win along with the team owners. I Sewell. sewelltom@yahoo. com or 706-669-6406. www. site www.mountainhighhikers. TO THE FIRST 50 COUPLES two bonuses know that Brian has placed a bmta.org. NT(Feb3,Z2)CA org for schedule and contact are also guaranteed a Chase high priority on it, but that’s numbers. NT(Feb3,Z2)CA