THEDecember NORTH 2, 2015GEORGIA THE NEWSNORTH December GEORGIA 2, 2015 NEWS Page Page 13A 13A Enthusiasm surrounding Woody Gap basketball is running high

Woody Gap High School Falcons - Left to right: Coach Robert Hill, Gabriel Mott, Austin Clark, Joseph Woody Gap High School Lady Falcons - Bottom (Left to right): Eliza Wilkins, Brooklyn Dockery, Corbin, Easton Wood, Luke Mott, Caleb Crocker, Zeb Harkins Chayil Aponte, Top: Heather Sorrell, Montana Barnes, Ivy Lecroy, Kianna Martin, Coach Robert Hill

Woody Gap Middle School Lady Falcons - Left to right: Coach Robert Hill, Makena Hill, Madison Woody Gap Middle School Falcons - Left to right: Coach Robert Hill, Caleb Harkins, Eric LeCroy, Levi King, Bella Wilkins, Kristan Alphin, Rachel Alphin, Molli Tritt Etheridge, Wes Ponder, Tripp Hill, Austin Crocker is not pictured. By Todd Forrest teams at the high school, as well als. Both the Middle School and North Georgia News as at the middle school. High School teams play with [email protected] “Woody Gap is prac- great determination. We may ticing intensely to begin the be one of the smallest schools NASCAR 2015 Suches - Basketball at season,” Coach Hill said. “The in the state, but we have the By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter Woody Gap schools got under- players are enthusiastic about biggest heart.” way in early November with all this season’s potential. We’re a On Friday, all four teams is a Deserving Champion four teams in action under Head young team that has a great deal will be in action at Tallulah Kyle Busch is not loved Coach Robert Hill. of potential talent, but it’s early Falls beginning at 4 p.m. The by every NASCAR fan. But While a few of his play- in the process of development. following Friday, all four teams that doesn’t mean he didn’t de- ers are inexperienced, he can “Every day Woody Gap will be at Faith Christian Acad- serve to win this year’s Sprint only brag when asked about practices we improve and get emy in Mt. Airy. Tip off will Cup championship. what he’s seen from both of his better as players and individu- also be at 4 p.m. Some are unhappy that Busch, who missed the sea- son’s first 11 races because of MUSA sends two to Kohls Cup Soccer Tournament injuries suffered in an Xfinity race prior to the season open- ing , was even eli- gible for the Chase. His critics claim that it was unfair to other drivers who ran the full schedule. They say that NASCAR shouldn’t have waived the Chase requirement that a driver start every race, just for Busch. The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter what we as fans think. NASCAR always has Kyle Busch and family the final say. But their decision outside of the top-20 in any . After regarding Kyle Busch can’t be of the 33 races on the season, failing to qualify at Daytona, looked upon as an isolated in- completing 99.9 percent of Buescher had a solid rookie cident. the laps during the 2015 cam- season after winning at Mid- Last year they suspended paign, while leading a total of Ohio, for his first career win. for two races when 263 laps. He started off the 2015 Champions of the 12&Under division at the Kohls Cup in Atlanta. Left to Right: Ethan Rouse, Dalton he was charged with domestic “It is every bit as stress- season with a runner-up fin- Allen, Kendall Conley, MJ Delatte, Austin Cornett, Paxton Meyer, Landon Kight, Josh Cornett, Max violence. After he was exoner- ful as I thought it would be,” ish to teammate at Boykin and Wilson Walker. ated by the courts, they made Buescher said. “You know, Daytona. it possible for him to get back it’s always difficult. There is Buescher will run select into the Chase. a tremendous depth of talent races in 2015 that Remember the 2013 Mi- through the Xfinity Series right do not conflict with his Xfinity chael Waltrip Racing deal? In now. I think that makes it that schedule. the last race before the Chase much more special knowing PETTY NONCOMMITAL at Richmond, that we beat some of the best ON DRIVER CHANGES deliberately allowed a team- guys coming up through the A week after indicat- mate to pass him? The move sport right now and able to pull ing that Sam Hornish Jr. is cost a shot at the it off here at the end. It’s a very unlikely to return as driver of Chase. So what did NASCAR special, very humbling experi- the No. 9 Sprint Cup Ford for do? They added Gordon as a ence, but it’s not easy. 2016, was very supplemental contender. “This is a very difficult iffy about future plans. NASCAR has rules at thing to get to, and you know, “Right now we’re just the beginning of the season, it was a lot of hard work. A sort of in limbo,” Petty said but they always add to, or lot of time put in, a lot of af- “We’re talking to a couple or amend those rules as it pleases ter hours by the guys at the three different drivers and a them. shop, and making sure that we couple different sponsor deals, Meanwhile Busch will did everything we could to be so all of it’s got to come to- undergo off season surgery on here, and when everybody is gether. The way it is today you his left foot to have the plates willing to do it and they have might want a driver but you and screws removed so that his that drive and everybody is can’t get sponsors. Then you foot can feel normal again and happy and works well togeth- might get a sponsor and then Champions of the 10&Under division at the Kohls Cup in Atlanta. Front Row: Matthew Ortiz, Wes the rod removed in his right er, it puts together an awesome that’ll get the driver. Seiler, Braden Tanner and Isaiah Viera. Second Row: Coach Alex Ortiz, Houston Henry, Antonio Solo- leg. team that has the to “It’s a chess game right rio, Zuriel Mancillas and Coach Luis Viera “I’m going to be down go do this. now.” Unless a driver can bring for probably, they said, about “So it was hard, but we sponsorship, he’s probably not four weeks with the leg,” did it better than anybody else, going to get much consider- Busch said in a teleconference and that’s why we get to sit ation from Petty. Tuesday. “Just having to re-go here right now.” “It’s the same way with through the knee and to cut the Chris is the cousin of other teams,” Petty contin- knee open again in order to 2012 NASCAR Camping ued. “You go talk to Hendrick, On-line registration is pull the rod out, is going to be World Truck Series champion they’re out there struggling now open for Upward Indoor the most traumatic part.” . He began his right now, Roush is struggling, Soccer for boys and girls in GETTING TO KNOW professional racing career in and Gibb’s is struggling. Every grades Kindergarten through 2005, driving Legends cars in team is struggling to try and fill 8th Grade at www.hopb.org or “Chris was on his game Texas for Speedway Legends, their particular cars. It’s just a at www.fumcunioncounty.org. this year,” said team owner winning over 100 races. trend of the times right now, The registration price . “His crew chief In 2008, Buescher and it’s tough on everybody. to participate is $60, through Scott Graves was on his game moved to to be It doesn’t make any difference December 10, 2015, and an as well. They managed to win mentored by NASCAR Sprint if you’re winning races or not additional $10 will be applied two races and they didn’t give Cup Series driver winning races; it’s just tough.” thereafter. Payment plans are up points on days when they and signing as a development Weekend Television available, if needed. Conve- weren’t at their best.” driver for Roush Fenway Rac- Schedule: The NASCAR Bowling scores nient weekly practices com- Buescher, in only his ing. He began competing in Sprint Cup Awards Banquet Monday Night Ladies: League: Rob Pawli 159, Carol mence January 11, 2016, while second season of full-time NA- ARCA competition in 2010; will be held Friday, Dec. 4 in games will be held every Sat- SCAR racing, adds to his list of and went on to win the series . It will be broadcast Amber Gilbert 195, Monita Rod- Hall 134, JoAnne Galloway 160, accomplishments that includes gers 234. Wanda Fiumano 164, Daniel urday between January 30 and championship in 2012, becom- live on NBCSN, beginning at March 5, 2016. becoming the youngest driver ing the only driver to compete 8 pm ET. Drew Carey will host Monday Night Men: Fiumano 181. to ever win an ARCA title in in every lap in a season of the show, along with musical Mickey Whatley 206, Richard Young at Heart: Ron Win- Registrants should at- tend the evaluation that will 2012. Buescher scored his first competition in the series. artists Andy Grammer, Sam Tanner 213, Joe Teague 225, gate 212, Peggy Kidder 214, Cliff NASCAR win last season at be held on Thursday, Decem- Buescher made his de- Hunt, Rachel Platten, and Sa- Derrick Rice 236, 252, 207, Se- Hall 220, Dewey Allen 224, Bart Mid-Ohio and followed up his but in NASCAR competition brina Carpenter. ries 695, Stanley Tyler 235, Jay Rodgers 231, Barry Rice 214, ber 10, 2015 on a drop-in ba- rookie-year performance with Racing Trivia Ques- sis between the hours of 5:30 for Roush Fenway Racing in Burrell 235, Ray Everett 225, Ken Thigpen 222, Bob Landis wins at Iowa and Dover this 2011, driving two races in the tion: How many Cup cham- Ken Thigpen 213, Doug Tanner 202, 199, 227, Series 628. and 7:30 p.m. at the House of season en route to the champi- Nationwide Series. He returned pionships did Richard Petty 211, 225, Bart Rodgers 226, 245, Thursday Night Fun Prayer Family Life Center lo- onship. to the series in 2013, and drove win? Series 635, Kevin Mohan 223, League: Chuck Reeves 213, 210, cated behind the sanctuary. During the season Bue- in seven races for the team, in Last Week’s Question: Michael Whitehead 210, Taz 202, Series 625, Dan Wilson 206, For more information scher never ranked lower than addition to a limited ARCA Where is Martin Truex Jr.’s Matetzschk 258, 209, Series 644, Greg Whittenberg 209, 215, Tony regarding registration, contact third in the driver champion- schedule with Roulo Bros. hometown? Answer. It is May- Ron Wingate 200, Tom Griffiths Lynch 255, 245, 225, Series 725, (706) 745-5925. Information ship standings. The Prosper, Racing. etta, New Jersey. 203, 210, Jason Swanson 216, Vicki Barnes 193, Doug Roberts regarding Upward Sports can Texas native finished the sea- In 2014, he moved full- You may contact the 214, Greg Whittenburg 206. 245, 201, Dewey Allen 200. be found online at www.up- son with zero DNFs (Did Not time to the Nationwide Series, Racing Reporter by e-mail Tuesday Night Church ward.org. N(Nov18,A1)SH Finish). He did not finished driving the No. 60 Ford for at:[email protected].