January 20, 2016 THE NORTH GEORGIA NEWS Page 13 Woody Gap 2015-16 basketball season nearing conclusion By Todd Forrest North Georgia News [email protected] Suches - With two weeks remaining in the season, Woody Gap’s Falcons and Lady Falcons have given their fans plenty to cheer about over the last three months. Last month, the Falcons defeated Faith Christian Academy 54-33 thanks to Easton Wood’s 24 point performance. He connected on six treys as Woody Gap blew things open following an 8-8 tie after one quarter. The Falcons stretched their lead to 24-13 at the break and in the third quarter, they put things away with a 16-3 run that resulted in a 40-16 advantage entering the final frame. Austin Clark scored 16 points, while knocking down four treys. Gabe Mott connected twice from downtown for 7 points. Luke Mott added 4 points and Zeb Harkins scored 3 points. During a 49-33 loss to Tal- lulah Falls, Wood posted 16 points on four 3-pointers. Clark chipped in 12 with a pair of treys. Gabe Mott scored three, Joseph Corbin and Harkins scored 1 point each. In a game with North Geor- gia Christian Academy, Clark was the Falcons’ leading scorer with 15. Wood scored six, Gabe and Luke Mott each scored three, while Harkins had 2 points. North Georgia Christian went on to win 44-29. At Tallulah Falls, Wood and Clark put up 12 points a piece, Corbin scored 5 points, and Luke Mott had three. Tallulah would win 52-32. The Lady Falcons have seen two different players reach double-digits in the scoring col- umn this season. At North Georgia Christian Academy, Montana Barnes con- nected three times from beyond the arc to finish with 10 points in a North Georgia Christian win. Eliza Wilkins, Kianna Mar- Woody Gap High School 2015-16 girls and boys basketball teams. tin, and Brooklyn Dockery each Tallulah, Barnes scored 6 points, and Wilkins had two each. school teams begin at 4 p.m. with scored 2 points. Heather Sorrells Wilkins had 5 points, and Dockery Wilkins led the Lady Fal- the high school to follow. scored 1 point. had 3 points. cons against War Hill with 9 On January 29th will host Against Tallulah Falls, In another meeting with points. Barnes scored eight and North Georgia with the middle Barnes finished with 10 points North Georgia Christian, Martin Cheryl Aponte added 5 points. school opening up the action at and Martin added two. led the Lady Falcons with 10. Woody Gap will host Rabun 4:30 p.m. Union County Recreation Department Presents In the second contest with Barnes scored five and Dockery Gap on Jan. 27th. The middle The Annual NASCAR 2016 Daddy/Daughter Dance By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter STEWART IS jority of the Busch schedule in Saturday, LIVING OUT HIS FATE 1998 to go along with a full-time isn’t let- IRL schedule. February 6, 2016 ting go of racing. He said a few The did not 6 - 9 pm weeks ago that the 2016 season affect his performance in either North Georgia would be his last as a driver in series. In the IRL, he won twice NASCAR. Last week, he an- and finished 3rd in the champi- Technical College nounced an update to his plans onship. His season was a disap- $50 per Couple* that calls for him to continue pointment as he finished last in Includes dinner driving sprint cars after he leaves the Indy 500 because of an en- and Limo ride. NASCAR. gine failure. Throughout his racing While Busch Series rac- A semi-formal evening full of music, career, Stewart has won racing ing, he finished in the top-five titles in Indy, midget, sprint and five times in 22 starts. He came dancing, photos, dinner, and a limo ride! Tony Stewart at in 1999. He started 24th and finished 9th. USAC Silver Crown cars. He is close to winning his first Busch Purchase your tickets now in the the only driver in history to win he tried to intimidate their son. 1995 and USAC Silver Crown Series race at Rockingham, but Recreation Office (310 Wellborn Street) a championship in both IndyCar After swerving toward him, Series champion in 1995. was beaten on a last lap pass by before they are gone! and NASCAR. Stewart ended up accidentally In 1995, Stewart became Matt Kenseth. Stewart finished *After the first child an additional $20 Stewart owns and drives striking Ward, who had walked the first driver to win USAC's second in two starts, and had an will be charged for each additional child. on to the track while the drivers version of the Triple Crown, average finish that was compa- the No. 14 Chevrolet in the NA- TICKETS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE SCAR Sprint Cup Series for his were doing laps under caution. earning championships in all rable to some of the series' top TO THE FIRST 50 COUPLES own team, Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart says he didn't three of USAC's major divisions, finishers. Gibbs had enough con- While driving for car owner Joe know Ward was on the track National Midget, Sprint, and Sil- fidence in Stewart that he was Gibbs, Stewart won two Cup until just before his car struck ver Crown. His winning the Hut moved up to a Sprint Cup ride Series championships in 2002 Ward. He also said he didn't Hundred and 4-Crown Nationals for the 1999 season. With that and 2005. In 2011, he became know it was Ward he had hit were the highlights of the year. move, Stewart ended his three- the first owner-driver since Alan and that Ward is responsible for When he was not racing year career as a full-time IRL Kulwicki to win the Cup Series his death by walking on to the IndyCars, he raced stock cars. driver. championship. racing surface, trying to make In 1996, Stewart made his NA- Tony Stewart loves rac- He is the only driver to contact with Stewart's car and SCAR Busch Series debut, driv- ing. It’s his life. He doesn’t chase win the Cup Series champion- also being under the influence of ing for car owner Harry Rainer. a lot of women, and I haven’t ship under the old points system marijuana. In nine races, he had a best fin- heard many stories about him and the Chase playoff format. He He still faces a wrongful ish of 16th place. He had more getting drunk. He lives to race. also has a Sprint Cup Champion- death civil lawsuit over the inci- success in a one-time ride in the That’s his passion. Sprint car ship as an owner, when the No. dent. Craftsman Truck Series with racing has caused Stewart a lot 4 car driven by After a sprint car race in Mueller Brothers racing, where of health problems, but I think won the Cup title in 2014. Australia in 2011, he was ques- he finished 10th. his brain blocks out those pain- It’s been a great ride, but tioned but not charged by Aus- Stewart was poised to im- ful memories. I expect he will it hasn’t been without a lot of tralian police after an altercation prove his Indy Racing League continue. If he were to do other- bumps and grinds. Before he at a Sydney track. standing in 1997 but at times he wise, he wouldn’t be living a life won the 2002 championship, he He also was fined $25,000 struggled to finish. He failed to that's right for Tony Stewart. often got cross-ways with NA- by NASCAR in October 2014 for finish the first three races of a ten DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY IN- SCAR officials. During 2001, backing into 's race schedule, but recovered to CLUDES 11 WOMEN there was talk that he might be car on pit road in retaliation for come in second at Phoenix. He Watch out men, NASCAR suspended. During an interview his car being hit by Keselowski's finally got his first career win at is going after women fans. prior to the 2001 Martinsville after the race. Pikes Peak, where he led all but The 2016 NASCAR Drive race, he said, “It’s NASCAR’s The latest incident oc- seven laps of a 200-lap race. For Diversity Program includes way or no way, and you know curred last week prior to a race He became the leading 11 women drivers, nearly half of how I am. So, I might be hitting at the Chili Bowl Nationals in contender for the series' cham- the 23-driver field. the highway.” Tulsa, Oklahoma. pionship after a bad slump The 2016 class was for- But after attending anger Stewart was on the track knocked points leader Davey mally introduced to the industry management classes during the helping to prepare the racing Hamilton out of first place. De- as part of the Charlotte Motor off season, Stewart seemed to surface when a fan started heck- spite an average end to his sea- Speedway NASCAR Media work through some of his emo- ling him and calling him names. son, Stewart had just enough Tour on Jan. 19. tions and demons, and the 2002 “Enough is enough,” said points to beat Hamilton for the “NASCAR remains stead- season was one of his best. Stewart. IRL title. He also raced in a few fast in its mission to develop He has many fans that The two exchanged words midget events, finishing thir- multicultural and female athletes love to see him race, but the man and the fan appeared to push teenth and eleventh in the 1997 and we believe this class has the has never overcome his negative Stewart, who continued to yell at and 1998 USAC national points, potential to compete at the high- emotions. The least little thing the fan for a few more seconds and winning the Copper Clas- est levels of our sport,” said Jim can set him off on a name-call- until another man moved the fan sic. Between his time in USAC Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice ing tirade. He’s unable to handle back into his seat. and the IRL, Stewart earned the president of racing operations. the blackness when it boils up. If he never wins another nickname of "Smoke", first for “The talent pool from which During a sprint car race on race, he will have had a great slipping the right rear tire during these drivers were selected was August 5, 2013 in Iowa, Stewart career. dirt races and then for blowing unprecedented for NASCAR broke both bones in his right He grew up racing go karts his engine often during his 1997 Drive for Diversity – a testa- leg due to a crash and missed and was successful very early, championship run. ment to the program’s growth the remainder of the NASCAR winning a World Karting Associ- As he had done the previ- and success.” season. ation championship in 1987. He ous year, he raced a handful of Racing Trivia Question: But the most tragic event moved up to the United Midget Busch Series races in 1998. This Who won the first Daytona 500? came in August 2014, when his Racing Association where he time, he was racing for Joe Gibbs Last Week’s Question: sprint car hit and killed young raced three quarter midgets un- Racing, who was having major What is the date of this year’s racer Kevin Ward Jr. at Canan- til 1991, when he again moved success with Bobby Labonte Daytona 500? Answer. Sunday, daigua (New York) Motorsports up this time to the United States in the Winston Cup Series. He February 21. Park. Auto Club Series. Stewart was finished in the top-10, and had You may contact the Ward's family alleges the USAC Rookie of the Year a 3rd-place finish at Charlotte. Racing Reporter by e-mail that Stewart lost his temper and in 1991, USAC National Midget Stewart so impressed Gibbs that at:[email protected]. caused the tragedy. They think Series Champion in 1994 and he was signed to drive the ma-