Towns County Herald’s Sporting News

TCHS athletics at the Georgia Mtn Fair Local Racing JIM BRYANT eleven day event was a mixed bag. Exhaustion would be a Action Sports Writer good word to describe all the work the coaches put in work- It was a first for the ing their three booths. Kyle by Carl Vanzura Towns County Indians, three Langford, Jeff Stowers, Jason concessions booths at the same McClure, Darryl McClure, Georgia Mountain Fair. This Brett Keller, Pete Boyd, Ricky Woodard take Mini Stock Mid-Season trophy year the football, wrestling, Ellis, Chris Vardo and Jarrod Sylva driver Justin Woodard strengthened his track softball and girls basketball Shirley handled the football/ points lead with the winning of the 2009 Mid-Season Mini teams all participated in the wrestling booth; Shannon Floyd Stock Championship. “This is the first time I have ever won GMF. In talking numerous and Michael Anderson handled this race, and boy have I tried many times. I really love that times with the coaches in these the softball booth and Jim trophy, it really is a big heavy one”, stated Woodard. Lynn sports, the recurring theme Melton handled the girls bas- Burchfield, Adam Creekmore, Ricky Dyer and Franklin Burk seemed to be to try to support ketball booth. Throughout the rounded out the top five in the 10 car field. their programs without having eleven days several players and The lead in the Sportsman feature was swapped when to depend on the public so much youth football coaches/parents Preston Crisp passed Devin Dillbeck on the inside in turn for financial support. In case assisted. The football/wrestling booth had a wide and varied menu from two, but Dillbeck took the lead back when Crisp spun coming you are unaware, public tax According to the wings to boiled peanuts. Photos by Jim & Lisa Bryant out of turn four. Crisp then had to exit the track with a flat monies cannot be used for ath- coaches, it was a bitter-sweet tire. Dillbeck then had to hold off a hard charging Jonathan letic activities except under experience. They raised Cope, Jason Payne, Doug Sneed and Jamie Lunsford. certain specifics. For years the “monies they would not have Murphy driver Jacob Anderson seems about unbeatable TCHS Indians have been de- had” but fell way short of ex- lately in the Nesmith Crate Late Model main event as once pendent on the financial gener- pectations due to huge booth again he bested Kevin Sutton, Jason Deal, Kevin Bradshaw osity of the local merchants and rental fees, insurance, percent- and Terry Ledford in the top five. community organizations. The age of gross and supply/opera- Blue Ridge racer Brad Thomas made it a three-peat in coaches want to relieve some tional costs. “It was much like the Modified Street feature when in a bumper to bumper battle of these expectations during sports camp, long, hard and between Greg Sudderth and Jim Twiggs; he crossed the finish poor economic times. you’re glad it’s over but hope- line in front of Sudderth, Charles Devine, Twiggs and Heather According to the fully the financial net pay-off Taylor. coaches, participation in the was worth the effort.” Another duel in the Street Stock feature between Murphy’s Jeremy Woody and Hiawassee’s Steven Sofield saw first Woody leading, and then Sofield taking the lead to win his 10th win of the season. Finishing behind Woody in the top five were Harold Garrett, Charles Toomey and Josh Roberts. Racing returns to Tri-County this Friday night with go kart racing with a big money race and the start of the points season, then on Saturday all classes except the Supers will be on the program with three age groups of kids will race bi- cycles for prizes and trophies. Claire Wilson and Sheena Kendall delivered drinks to folks In other action around the area, it was mostly rain. throughout the fair. Blairsville’s Jonathan Davenport set fast time at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney SC and then went on to win $4000 in the Southern All Stars East race. Davenport is now driving the Barry Wright house car. Ray Cook traveled to New York for Football and wrestling coaches worked their booth at the GMF. Thursday’s running of the Lucas Oil Series race and won the $10,000 event. Tony Knowles won at Dixie Speedway . Cleve- land, Toccoa and Boyds fell to rain. Chase Elliot won the Georgia Asphalt Series 100 lap race recently in Cordele. Tri-County has a cig money race and the opening of the points season this Friday night. Toccoa will be holding a $5000 to win Southern All Star race this Saturday night.

The softball booth served up smoothies throughout the fair.

Cars battle it out for a win in the Modified Street feature.

Girls basketball ran the snowcone/beverage stand. Inside the softball booth players served up their smoothies. NASCAR 2009 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter

away from Scott on the final was looking to form a third team. its future with driver Jimmie restart and won by .944 seconds. “We are definitely open Johnson, who has won three Rick Ren, the crew chief, to it for sure,” said Stewart. straight Cup championships. also moved up in the history “We are interested for sure. Their deal with Johnson and books with his 27th victory as We feel like it is a matter of Hendrick Motorsports expires a crew chief in the series. He's timing, it is everything. I don't at the end of 2010 and those re- done it with five different driv- know that something would hap- newal talks are expected to be- ers, but has 16 since the start pen for next year. I think we gin later this year. Industry are getting close to the stage sources say that Lowe's will be of the 2007 season with Steven Sofield made it 10 wins this year. Hornaday. of the season where it may get expected to pay a hefty increase “We both made history too late to have that opportu- to maintain its position as the Photo by Jack Appleget tonight,” Ren said. “It's not much nity to add a third car for next only primary sponsor on better than this. I think most wins year. It is something that at Johnson's No. 48 car. is an honor, but what I really feel least as a company we feel com- The most expensive good about is I've done it with fortable with and feel like with sponsorships go for the mid- Herald’s sports quote of the week Crew chief Rick Ren and Ron five different drivers.” the right opportunity, that it is $20 million range annually. Hornaday Top-10 points leaders af- definitely possible.” Probably the most expensive “A boxing match is like a cowboy movie. ter 14 of 25: 1. Hornaday-2293, Stewart’s teammate, sponsorship would be that of There’s got to be good guys and there’s got HORNADAY GETS FIFTH 2. Crafton-2077, 3. Skinner- Ryan Newman is seventh in the No. 88 driven by Dale STRAIGHT WIN 2045, 4. Bodine-1927, 5. Scott- points. Earnhardt Jr. The total pack- to be bad guys. And that’s what the people NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- 1920, 6. Starr-1867, 7. Malsam- WILL IT BE LOWE’S OR age is in the $30-million range. pay for-- to see the bad guys get beat.” By winning Saturday night’s 1831, 8. Setzer-1815, 9. Braun- CHARLOTTE Lowe's earnings fell 22 Series Truck 1804, 10. Crawford-1785 Lowe's Home Improve- per cent in 2008 and 60 per - Sonny Liston, boxer race at Nashville, Ron KESELOWSKI OUTDUELS ment Stores announced they cent in the final quarter. Hornaday became the first would not renew its naming- SMI officials said they driver in any of NASCAR's NEWTON, Iowa -- Brad rights deal at Lowe's Motor are not presently talking with national series to win five races Keselowski passed Kyle Busch Speedway after the present con- any other companies on the in a row since 1971, when Ri- with eight laps remaining to tract expires. naming rights. chard Petty and Bobby Allison win Saturday's inaugural Na- Last week the retailer Correction: In last each did it in the Cup Series. tionwide Series race at Iowa informed Speedway Motorsports week’s column, we should have “That's unheard of (five Speedway, in one of the best Inc., the track's parent com- said, Jimmie Johnson was a straight) in this time and age,” races of the season. pany, of its decision. The ini- repeat winner at the Brickyard. More kid fun around the campfire Hornaday said. “Five, can you Busch had pitted for two tial 10-year, $35 million deal Weekend Racing: The believe that?” tires late in the race, while ran through 2008. Last year the Cup and Nationwide teams are two sides agreed on a one-year at Watkins Glen, NY for their CAN OVEN serve as a handle after cook- Hornaday led 115 of 154 Keselowski chose to keep his An oven can be added extension through 2009. second road course race of the ing. It is very important that laps in the Kevin Harvick Inc. No. 88 on the track to your Hobo stove by taking a The two sides have not season. The Camping World you place three small rocks ½” Chevrolet. It was his sixth vic- during the caution period. It was slightly smaller can such as a been able to reach an agree- Trucks do not race again until high on the stoke top to elevate tory of the season and 45th of a risky move on the part of shortening can and cutting out ment. Sources said it's possible Aug. 19. your oven and release some of his NASCAR Camping World Keselowski’s team, but it paid both ends of the can. Next, wire for Lowe's to change its mind, Sat, Aug. 8, Nationwide the extra heat. Now place the Truck Series career, first on off as he won his second Na- a see-through oven wrap tightly given that five months remain Series Zippo 200, race 22 of can oven containing your food the all-time list. tionwide Series race of the year. over one end so that the food is on the current deal and the un- 35; Starting time: 2:30 pm on top of the rocks to allow heat It was his first win in 13 Top-10 points leaders af- visible (see-through oven wrap is predictable nature of the (EDT); TV: ESPN2. circulation around in the oven, NASCAR races at the 1.33- ter 21 of 35: 1. Kyle Busch- obtained from your local grocery economy. Sun., Aug. 9, Sprint Cup thus baking the food. mile concrete-surfaced track, 3471, 2. Edwards-3264, 3. store). Make a wire handle by Barring a late agreement Series At The Glen, race 22 Cover the food with your five in trucks and eight in the Keselowski-3099, 4. Leffler- hooking the end of the wire on with Lowe's or the signing of a of 36; Starting time: 1 pm oven and let it bake. Try cook- Nationwide Series. He has long 2955, 5. Allgaier-2493, 6. Bliss- each side of the can. new corporate partner, the (EDT); TV: ESPN. ing a pineapple upside-down coveted winning Nashville's 2479, 7. S. Wallace-2423, 8. You can now place food in track is expected to go back to Racing Trivia Question: cake. Place a cherry and some trademark trophy, a Gibson gui- Logano-2395, 9. Keller-2394, a tuna can or directly on the stove its former name, Charlotte BMW is leaving Formula 1. pineapple in the foil lined tuna tar painted by artist Sam Bass. 10. Gaughan-2365 lid and the oven placed over them Motor Speedway in 2010. In- Which series are they consid- can, sprinkle brown sugar over “I finally got me a Sam STEWART CONSIDERING to bake. If it is a cake batter or dustry sources say that SMI ering moving to? it and pour a tablespoon of Bass guitar,” Hornaday said. THIRD TEAM other type liquid, place a well initially came to the table ask- Last Week’s Question: juice over that. Fill the can Hornaday led the final 63 While there might be greased, clean can, It is wise to ing for close to $9 million an- Which RCR driver took over two-thirds full of cake batter laps. He had a 2.8-second lead doom and gloom for many big pre-line the can with foil with nually, and while that number Dale Earnhardt Sr’s Cup ride and place in your can oven for over wiped out by racing teams, Stewart-Haas some extra left sticking up to about twenty minutes. Enjoy! a late caution, which forced the Racing is not one of them. Tony dropped over the course of their after his death? Answer. Kevin race into a green-white-check- Stewart, the current Sprint Cup discussions, the two sides could Harvick. ered overtime finish. points leader told reporters at not reach agreement. Contact the Racing Reporter Hornaday easily pulled Pocono that his two-car operation Lowe's is also evaluating [email protected]

August 6 2009 sports.p65 2 8/3/2009, 1:52 PM