Towns County Herald’s Sporting News

NASCAR 2009 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter Local Racing

JOHNSON GETS THIRD Park and went on to win the Top-10 leaders after 13 of title in 2003. “We've got our BRICKYARD WIN NASCAR Nationwide Series 25; 1. Hornaday-2098, 2. Skin- own problems to worry about.” Action , Ind.— . After his win, he ner-1924, 3. Crafton-1922, 4. What Kenseth was referring won Sunday’s did his traditional backflip in Bodine-1803, 5. Starr-1758, 6. to is, long time sponsor DeWalt by Carl Vanzura Sprint Cup Brickyard 400 at the front of the stands. Scott-1750, 7. Malsam-1693, 8. Tools will end their sponsorship Indianapolis Motor Speedway Edwards led twice for 72 Setzer-1673, 9. Cook-1657, 10. of his No. 17 Ford at the end of And the Mid-Season Championship goes to Randy Nichols to become the first three-time of the race’s 200 laps but lost Braun-1639 the current season. “I have run here a lot and this is my first win since the winner. Johnson hadn’t led un- the lead with 30 laps to go un- FAMILIAR FACES WON’T Weekend Racing: Three track was reconfigured about eight years ago, aid Randy til lap 137. On the race’s final der caution. Edwards’ No. 60 MAKE CHASE series; three different venues. Nichols.” Nichols who lives in Young Harris and races out restart, he passed his teammate Ford was pinned behind Scott With six races remaining to The Trucks of Clayton had to hold off a charging Danny Ledford, who and pole sitter for Wimmer’s in the determine the 12 Cup drivers will be at Nashville, while the several times in the last 20 laps stuck the nose of his car to the lead, and led the remain- pits, and Edwards mistakenly who will compete over the fi- Nationwide cars will travel to the inside of Nichols. After the race Nichols stated that he ing 33 laps of the 160-lap race. put his car in the wrong gear. nal 10 weeks for the champion- for the first burned his right rear tire almost to the cord and really had to “That was unbelievable,” led coming ship, five spots currently belong time. The Cup teams will be fight Ledford off. “It is really fun to race with Danny be- said Johnson. “I can’t say to the green flag on Lap 174, to drivers who weren't in the at in Long cause he will race you clean,” said Nichols in Victory Lane. enough for Mark Martin. For but Edwards battled him hard Chase for the Cup a year ago. Pond, PA. Rounding out the field were Rodney Weeks, Chris Williams, an old guy, he had me pretty and finally made the pass for That means five drivers Sat., Aug. 1, Nationwide Johnny Chastain, Jody Ledford, Russell Thomas, Glenn Barnett worried there. the lead on Lap 179. who qualified in 2008 are on Cellular 250, race 21 of 35; and George Mashburn. “We had to drive it so hard Busch finished second, the outside looking in. The big- Starting time: 4 p.m. (EDT); Morganton’s Bobby Panter and Copperhill driver Jason those last 15 to 20 laps to stay with third as gest name among them is Dale TV: ESPN2. Payne battled door-to- door all night in the Sportsman feature ahead of Mark. There were double-duty drivers swept the Earnhardt Jr. The biggest sur- Sat., Aug 1, Camping that saw Panter take the win for the second race in a row. some places he was better than top-three positions. Brad prise among them is that three World Trucks Tundra Rounding out the top five were Payne, Galen Robinson, Preston me, and it was kind of a give Keselowski finished fourth, -- , and 200; race 14 of 25, Starting Crisp and Devin Dillbeck. and take thing, so neither of us with Steve Wallace fifth. Ron -- are from Ri- time: 7:30 p.m. (EDT); TV: After a week when he ran another class, Murphy hot would wreck.” Hornaday Jr., who won Friday chard Childress Racing. Speed. shoe Jacob Anderson pulled away from the field in the Nesmith Martin finished second and night’s Truck race, finished “It (our team) is in a little Sun., Aug. 2, Sprint Cup Crate Late Model feature to lead Kevin Sutton, Brian moved up two positions in the sixth. Polesitter , bit of chaos at the moment, Pennsylvania 500, race 21 of Kinnersley, Jason Deal and Kevin Bradshaw across the fin- Chase. , Wimmer and there’s no question about it,” 36; starting time: 1 p.m. ish line. “He was better than I was completed the Burton said. “I think everybody (EDT); TV: ESPN. The Modified Street main event started 13 cars and off four and I was better than top 10. would admit to that. We haven’t Racing Trivia Question: when the checkered flag waved, Morganton racer Brad Tho- him off two,” said Martin. “I Top-10 leaders after 20 of had the results that we need to Which RCR driver took over mas nipped points leader Greg Sudderth across the finish line knew I had to make it happen 35: 1. Kyle Busch-3296, 2. have. Whenever you’re not hav- Sr’s Cup ride stripe. Mike Bryson, Charles Devine and Heather Taylor off two. Both of us were driv- Edwards-3104, 3. Keselowski- ing results, the pressure gets after his death? filled the top five spots. ing for all we were worth, and 2904, 4. Leffler-2790, 5. turned up.” Last Week’s Question: Murphy’s Jeremy Woody who is scheduled to be shipped I couldn’t get him.” Logano-2395, 6. Allgaier-2370, There have been rumors that Who was the first woman out by the military at any time carried the flag for the track was third. 7. Bliss-2353, 8. S. Wallace- Harvick would leave RCR rac- driver to qualify for the India- and then went out and raced a exciting race with nine time “It was a good run for us,” 2311, 9. Gaughan-2277, 10. ing at the end of the 2009 season napolis 500? Answer. Janet feature winner Steven Sofield and took the win on the last said Stewart. “We had one Keller-2244 and drive for Stewart-Hass. Guthrie in 1977. lap. Charles Toomey, Kody Owenby and Josh Roberts com- minor hiccup in the pits when HORNADAY IS ON A Harvick was asked Satur- You may contact the Rac- pleted the field. we lost four spots in the pits, WINNING ROLL day at Indianapolis Motor ing Reporter at: Sylvia driver Justin Woodard liked last week’s win so but I made that up. We were INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.-- Speedway if he had asked out [email protected] much he did it again in the Mini Stock event. Behind him in just a little too tight and Ron Hornaday Jr. set a of his contract. His response: the top five were Adam Creekmore, Travis Robinson, Selina couldn’t run with Mark or NASCAR Camping World “We’re focused on this week- Gibson and Lucus Beaver. Jimmie.” Truck Series record by winning end. Right now, we’re here to Racing returns to Tri-County with a big money go kart , , his fourth consecutive race, race and do what we need to race Friday night and the Mid-Season Mini Stock Champion- Kevin Harvick, , holding off longtime nemesis do from a driver’s standpoint ship Saturday night. , , Mike Skinner in Friday night’s and everybody is working well In other local racing action, Ray Cook’s 10 race South- and Matt Kenseth were the re- AAA Insurance 200 at O’Reilly together.” ern Nationals completed Saturday night at Tazewell Speed- maining top-10 finishers. Raceway Park. is in way with Jimmy Owens taking the win. Friday night Tommy Juan Montoya led the most Skinner pitted later than danger of putting only Carl Kerr won at Volunteer Speedway . Kerr managed to win the laps (116) of any driver but af- Hornaday for tires and charged Edwards in the Chase after series championship with Blairsville’s Jonathan Davenport ter a pit road speeding penalty, through the top-10 to challenge having three cars a year ago. taking second place in his new Barry Weight team house car. he finished 11th. for the lead. Skinner passed Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle Jonathan hade a great 10 race run and picked up a bunch of “I really didn’t think it was for second with clearly need to pick up the new fans, Word has come out that two individuals have come so. You know, we have lights nine laps to go and chased down pace. Kenseth, in particular, is up with a big money sponsor and are planning on a $6000 to if we’re over the , and I Hornaday four laps later. a mystery as he has struggled win race at the now closed Sugar Creek Speedway in Blue was under the lights all the Hornaday used the pre- since winning the first two Ridge in the near future. time. They said I was speed- ferred outside lane and held off races of the season. ing. So, that’s what it is. When repeated inside moves by Skin- “I don't pay a lot of atten- one thing happens, you can’t ner to win his 44th NASCAR tion to where everybody else Jimmie Johnson, winner of change it.” Camping World Truck race. is,” said Kenseth, who won the Sunday’s Brickyard 400 Montoya dropped from 10th Skinner finished second, to 11th in the points. with coming Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost an from a lap down to finish third. Herald’s sports quote of the week engine in his No. 5 during was fourth, with lap127 and wound up with a Braun fifth. “It took me seventeen years to get three DNF. Rookies James thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one af- Kyle Busch hit the wall and Buescher and , was finished by lap 112. He followed by , ternoon on the golf course..” dropped four spots, and is now David Starr and Kyle Busch out of the Chase in 14th position. completed the top-10. - Hank Aaron, baseball player Top-12 Chase contenders The Cup series has the big after 20 of 26: 1. Stewart-3054, names, but the competition 2. Johnson-2862, 3. J. Gordon- Friday night in the Truck race Tri-County Junior Golf Association 2847, 4. -2608, 5. was one of the best in weeks. Steven Sofield went to his ninth victory last week. Edwards-2556, 6. Hamlin-2518, Hornaday has now won five The Tri-County Junior cide with the reduced schedule. 7. Newman-2606, 8. Kahne- races this season and built a Golf Association is looking for- The TCGJA invites the 2482, 9. Martin-2471, 10. lead of almost 200 points. He ward to another year of junior public to watch our junior Montoya-2461, 11. Biffle-2445, earns people’s respect because golf tournaments in our area. players participate in this 12. Kenseth-2429 he is a pure racer. He wants to With a new year comes a new year’s Mountain Falls Junior Edwards backflips at ORP win, period, and his skill is on tour sponsor. ”We are de- Golf Tour. The TCJGA is INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.-- display every week. He’s also lighted to have Mountain Falls adding a new course, Old passed Kyle not afraid to speak his mind, as our tour sponsor this year Union Golf Course, to our Busch with 22 laps to go Satur- something else that endears and take great pride in naming schedule and will be playing day night at O’Reilly Raceway him to fans. the 2009 junior tour the Moun- there on Thursday, September tain Falls Junior Golf Tour”, 24th. We are delighted to be stated Steve Gonyea, TCGJA adding two new tournament President and Brasstown Val- sponsors this year, Scott ley Resort Golf Course Super- Carter Insurance & Invest- North Georgia Rapids Swim Team intendent. This year’s tour ments and Rotary’s Interact. Young Harris driver Randy Nichols won the Mid-Season schedule will be featuring five The 2009 tournament schedule Championship. tournaments rather than our is as follows: Thursday, Sep- normal seven. ”We are con- tember 3, the Blue Ridge cerned about the state of the Mountain EMC Masters at local economy and do not want Chatuge Shores Golf Course to overburden our relationships in ; Thursday, with the local golf courses”, September 10, the Community continued Steve, ”The local Bank & Trust Classic at golf courses go out of their way Brasstown Valley Resort for to accommodate our junior the younger junior players (4 players by allowing them to use and 5 hole players) and the their courses each week. We Appalachian Community Bank appreciate their cooperation Open at Butternut Creek Golf with our junior tour.” TCJGA Course for the older junior 2008 members should have al- players (9 hole players); ready received their 2009 mem- Thursday, September 17, the bership sign up packets in the Scott Carter Insurance Open Bobby Panter and Kenny Garrett celebrate last week's US mail. The deadline for at Chatuge Shores Golf championship run. 2008 members to sign up for Course (4 and 5 hole players) Photo by Jack Appleget the 2009 Mountain Falls Jun- and the Bank of Hiawassee ior Golf Tour is July 28, 2009. Classic at Brasstown Valley All potential new members Resort (9 hole players); Thurs- Chatuge Shores Ladies golf scores North Georgia Rapids Swim earning her a fourth place over- must wait until August 11, 2009 day, September 24, the Young Team Summer Update all finish in the highly competi- to sign up in person and new Harris College Junior Open at The Chatuge Shores Ladies 3rd--Jan Still Approximately 570 tive girls 12 and under age member registration will be Old Union Golf Course; Thurs- Golf Association played Odds and 4th--Kay Watts swimmers recently competed group. Neffe’s younger sister based on availability. Informa- day, October 1, the Interact Evens for their weekly tournament. Everyone was a winner in the two day North Georgia Jemina won two ribbons and tion regarding the status of new Junior Invitational at Butter- While the ladies played the regu- with a beautiful day for golf. Swim League (NGSL) Cham- swam three personal best member registration will be nut Creek Golf Course and a lar 18 holes, only the odd numbered The ladies made time to dis- pionship meet held in times. available after August 1, 2009 rain-out make-up date if holes on the front nine and the even cuss the coming August 4th Gainesville. Our area’s local Tanner Gay, the team’s and can be obtained by contact- needed of October 8 at numbered holes on the back nine tournament benefiting the food team, the North Georgia Rap- oldest male swimmer at 14, ing either Steve Gonyea at 706- Chatuge Shores Golf Course. counted for the prize money. pantries in the tri-county area. ids, sent 12 swimmers and had an excellent meet winning 379-1532 or Cathy Lewis at 828- Please visit any of the tour- Flight A--1st--Loretta Hughes They will be joined by the made an excellent showing. four medals. Tanner missed 389-1867. This year’s fee has naments and watch our juniors 2nd--Mary Reece Men’s Association as well as Millie Burger, age 8, his age group’s high point tro- been reduced to $ 60 to coin- tee it up. 3rd--Barbara Boswell golfers from the area in an who lives in Blue Ridge, won phy by five-hundredths of a sec- 4th--Opal Rose effort to make known the tre- her age group out of 54 swim- ond. All of his swims were Flight B--1st--Susan Palmich mendous need of the local food mers, winning 4 medals and personal best times. 2nd--Sally Mirocke pantries. All golfers are in- bringing home the high point The team’s showing was 3rd--Nancy Steck vited to participate. Call the trophy. Way to go Millie! impressive considering its size. 4th--Jackie Rossi Chatuge Golf Course, Shane Smith and Tucker Congratulations to our swim- Chatuge Shores Golf Benefit Flight C--1st--Sandy Navarre 828.389.8940 to join the effort. Weldon competed in the boys mers! With several new swim- 2nd--Carol Mann Eighteen holes of golf, a put- 8 and under division and fin- mers recently joining the team, Chatuge Shores Golf istration required). $30 Entry 3rd--Carol Younger ting contest, and lunch are in- ished the day placing 2nd and we look forward to continued Pantry Picnic to benefit the Fee includes greens fees, 4th--Lorene Avery cluded for only $30.00. The 6th respectively out of 46 boys. success. Towns County Food Pantries lunch, a few prizes, bragging Flight D--1st--Lucy Newman scramble begins at 9:00 am, Both boys brought home numer- Our swimmers work hard will be held on Tuesday Aug. rights and lots of fun. There 2nd--Jan Thumberg registration starts at 8:00 am. ous medals and ribbons. and practice year round at the 4 with registration from 8- will also be a putting contest! Shane’s older sister Lilly also Blue Ridge Mountain Fitness 8:45 am and the shotgun start The deadline is Sunday, Au- Chatuge Shores Men’s golf scores swims on the team. Club in Blairsville. For more at 9 am. Lunch and awards to gust 2 at noon. For more info, Neffe DeLaCruz information contact Coach Barry follow. contact Chatuge Shores Golf 7-23-09 Winning team, Tom Moyher,Jim Taylor, Jim medaled in 3 of her 4 events, Gay at 706-835-1662. Format: Scramble (Reg- Course at 828-389-8940. Fletcher, Gene Hinson with a Score 67, -5 Under

July 30 2009 sports.p65 2 7/27/2009, 3:53 PM