THE NORTH GEORGIA NEW July 10, 2013 Page 15A NASCAR 2013 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter JOHNSON COMPLETES sold, so those prices must go DAYTONA SWEEP up also. won Sat- If you can buy into Saun- urday night’s Sprint Cup race ders’ statement, stay away from in a green-white-checkered fin- men in white coats from the ish. He became the first driver “funny farm.” to sweep both NASCAR events A race fan would have at Daytona in one season, since to suffer from delusions if he/ in 1982. she believe ticket prices, and On the way to his fourth all associated costs of attending win of the season, Johnson led races aren’t going up. 94 laps of the 161-lap race. It isn’t just track prices, “I had a great horse,” but transportation and lodging said Johnson. “It was an amaz- Jimmie Johnson completes Day- as well. ing car all night. Been in some tona Sweep With the cost of a race very close battles at the end in a green-white-checkered fin- weekend escalating, it doesn’t and have surged by to win. But ish. Kenseth received a push bode well for the average fan. from a laps led standpoint, this from for the re- Tracks really shouldn’t has to be the most dominant maining two laps to get his first consider raising ticket prices, be- performance we've had on a Nationwide win of the year. cause they receive most of their plate track.” Buescher was second, revenue from television. The TV As Johnson neared the followed by , Kurt contract is set up where tracks get finish line, two multi-car acci- Busch, , Kyle 65 per cent; teams-25 per cent, dents happened behind him. The Larson, Sam Hornish, Regan and NASCAR-10 per cent. second, third and fourth-place Smith, , and Trev- Although ISC is con- cars were able to avoid them. or Bayne. trolled by the France family, “I didn’t get as good a re- Top-10 leaders after 16 it is separate from NASCAR. start as I wanted,” said second- of 33; 1. Smith-558, 2. Hor- About 35 per cent of the stock place finisher, . nish-552, 3. Sadler-544, 4. All- in ISC is owned by the France “But I think it kind of worked gaier-543, 5. A. Dillon-541, 6. family and the remainder is to our favor. It got Clint (Bow- Larson-516, 7. Vickers-505, 8. owned by shareholders. yer) a little bit ahead of me and Kligerman-501, 9. Scott-494, ISC is working to re- it got Kevin (Harvick) a little 10. Bayne-488. place the current Daytona com- bit ahead of Jimmie (Johnson). LESS NASCAR plex with a development called That let Jimmie and me both SEATS, HIGHER PRICES "Daytona Live!" which will tuck down to those two guys Are you on a tight budget? include a movie theater, restau- and get going. gave Is it a struggle to find rants, and hotel. us a really good push from be- money for a NASCAR race The Daytona renova- hind there and that got us back weekend? tion also includes reducing the to getting Jimmie the shove he If the answer is yes, you track’s seating capacity from needed. It got us far enough are in trouble. 146,000, down to 100,000. ahead to where we could worry Ticket prices at 13 differ- In addition to Daytona, about racing him.” ent tracks are going up. ISC owns: Auto Club Speed- The second-place finish Daytona Speedway an- way, Chicagoland, Darlington, was Stewart’s fourth top-five nounced earlier in the year they Homestead-Miami, Kansas, finish this season, and vaulted would be removing some spec- Martinsville, Michigan, Phoe- him six spots to 10th in the tator seats. Last week in a tele- nix, Richmond, Talladega, championship standings. conference call to Wall Street Watkins Glen, and Route 66. “It was definitely a good bond analysts, John Saunders, If you are an average points night,” Stewart said. Pres. of International Speed- working person reading this col- “If you can’t win, you always way Corporation, which owns umn, and hoping to attend fu- want to run second. With these Daytona Speedway and 12 ture NASCAR races, you might things being as crazy as they other tracks said, “Too many want to consider a second job. are, you’re pretty happy if you empty seats are keeping the lid Weekend Racing: The UCRD 14&U baseball thank sponsors can end up with a top-two, be- on ticket prices. We’re looking Cup and Nationwide teams cause normally if you leave at removing more seats at all are at the 1-mile New Hamp- here in the top-two, you’ve got our tracks.” shire Speedway, while the a straight race car too.” Saunders admission of trucks race at the 7/8-mile Iowa was third, empty seats was an acknowl- Speedway. but it was a bittersweet finish edgement that “the NASCAR Sat., July 13, Nationwide for him. Experience” is losing steam. Series race 17 of 33; Starting “Yeah, we didn’t win,” From my own experi- time: 3:30 p.m. ET; TV: ABC. he said. “That was our expecta- ence of attending races, I can Sat., July 13, Camping tion coming here. I’m kind of tell there are more empty seats World Truck Series, race 9 of disappointed just for the fact now than four or five years 22; Starting time: 8:30 p.m. ET: that I felt like we were in the ago. Taking out or covering up TV: SPEED. right position.” some seats might make it ap- Sun., July 14, Sprint Cup , Michael pear to the television audience race 19 of 36; Starting time: 1 Waltrip, Kurt Busch, Jamie that the track is full of fans, but p.m. ET; TV: TNT. McMurray, Jr., would it help those fans attend- Racing Trivia Ques- Casey Mears, and Ryan New- ing races? tion: , former man were the remaining top-10 “Removing seats also NASCAR Cup champion is finishers. would enhance the race experi- in negotiations to buy James Top-12 leaders after ence for the remaining specta- Finch’s No. 51 Cup team. How 18 of 36: 1. Johnson-658, 2. tors and help encourage patrons many Cup championships did Bowyer-609, 3. Edwards-587, to return,” continued Saunders. Labonte win? 4. Harvick-585, 5. Earn- Exactly what does that Last Week’s Question: hardt-548, 6. Kenseth-540, 7. mean? Will there be additional What old-time driver had three -533, 8. Biffle-516, entertainment of some type? stints in NASCAR—1950-’54, Does it mean each individual The 14&U baseball team and coaches would like to thank the following sponsors. Blairsville Reality, 9. Kurt Busch-501, 10. Stew- 1971-’78, 1980-93, and didn’t Amerigas, Heritage Propane, United Community Bank, Appalachian Water, Brett Owenby Grading, art-499, 11. Truex-493, 12. seat will be widened and pad- retire from racing until 2001? An- Hemphill Trucking, Nelson’s Tractor, El Manzanillo Mexican Restaurant, Builders First Source, Wal- Kahne-490. ded? If there are fewer fans, swer. It was Herschel McGriff. mart of Blairsville, and Ingles of Blairsville. KENSETH GETS DAYTO- will there be shorter bathroom You may e-mail the NA NATIONWIDE RACE lines? What about concession Racing Reporter at: hodges@ won Friday prices? Fewer people means race500.com. NT(Jul10,Z14)gg 10&U suffer from bad luck at State night’s Nationwide Series race less beer and hot dogs will be Ribbon cutting ceremony for Blairsville Athletics

Blairsville Athletics ribbon cutting On Friday, June 28, classes. Personal fitness in- is located at 102 Cleveland 2013, the Blairsville-Union structors are available for Street, Blairsville, GA, a loca- County Chamber of Com- one-on-one training ranging tion that formerly housed The merce held a ribbon cutting from a very intense physical Book Nook. The gym will be ceremony for Blairsville Ath- training program for experts to open Monday through Satur- The Union County 10&U baseball team participated in last weekend’s State Tournament where Mother letics, Union County’s newest a lighter alternative for begin- day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. To Nature rained out the first two days of the tournament forcing the tournament directors to switch to a fitness facility. Owners Emilia ners. Athletes of all ages are inquire about membership call single-elimination format minutes before the first pitch. Union fell to host Whitfield County on Sunday - and Rafael Paredes are excited welcome. Blairsville Athletics (706) 745-7771. You can also eliminating the Panthers from the State Tournament. to offer a new approach to fit- currently offers a selection of visit their website at www. ness training. supplements and apparel for blairsvilleathletics.com. The Local student James “Tiger” Grubbs makes history Blairsville Athletics is a their members and a juice bar fitness team at Blairsville Ath- ers represent PMA Blairsville strength training facility that will soon be opening on the letics invites you to come in and The Ghost Squad Jiu Jitsu provides a variety of classes premises. and join their healthy commu- Team. NT(Jul10,A2)SH to its members including spin Blairsville Athletics nity! N(Jul10,Z5)CA Annual Free Clogging session at BSoD For the fifth consecu- addition to the classical dance tive year, Blairsville School of forms, BSoD has a nationally Dance will be hosting a free recognized clogging program 2 week clogging session. De- that begins training recreation- signed for the beginner, new al and competitive dancers at students will be introduced to age 3. basic clogging by members of “Our beginning session the BSoD Force competition focuses more on traditional clogging team. clogging,” said Puleo. “While Left to right: Tyler Marcoux, James Grubbs, & D. J. Tunnell. “We are so excited to be our group performs a mix of Local Union County ing can get you places in the able to offer this for the fifth traditional and contemporary Middle School student James MMA world. James trains at year,” said Angela Puleo, Stu- style clogging, most of the “Tiger” Grubbs made history Premier Martial Arts Blairs- dio Director. “We usually get more modern steps contain el- Saturday night along with W. ville and is a black belt in ka- a great turnout not only from ements of Irish, tap and Cana- Virginian Noah “Precious” rate, while holding a white belt Blairsville, but also from the dian step dance.” Pyatt, by being the youngest in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It was an surrounding communities.” This session’s beginning fighters to step into the cage in awesome match and you can The classes will be open students will learn the “drag/ a sanctioned MMA match in expect to see more news and to anyone ages 4 and up and slide” style of clogging. At the . stories on both these fighters will take place on Thursdays, completion of workshop, the The two 14-year olds as they continue to train and July 18 and 25 at 6:30 p.m. new dancers will have learned fought an exhibition match improve their skills. Two other Participants should plan on at- a simple new routine. on The Primus II MMA card local fighters fought as well. tending both classes. Those interested in par- in Havelock, NC, June 29th. Tyler Marcoux of Hayesville, The BSoD Force com- ticipating in this year’s 2 Free They fought a hard battle to a NC, finished his opponent in petition clogging teams are Week Session should reserve a draw and set the pace for the 15 seconds of the first round well equipped to lead the ses- spot by calling (706)835-1415 grown ups to follow. James is while making his MMA de- sion. With its regular partici- or emailing blairsvilledance@ the youngest Georgian to fight but, and Sensei DJ Tunnell of pation in the regional and na- yahoo.com. While the session in a sanctioned MMA event Young Harris fought a hard tional competition circuit, the is free, space is limited, so a to date. Both fighters showed battle to help close out the group is on the cutting edge reservation is required. Partic- a lot of heart and hard train- card in Havelock. All 3 fight- of contemporary clogging. In ipants must be age 4 or older.