Towns County Herald’s Sporting News

Cats open 1st round of GJCAA Region XVII against Andrew Local Racing ment against the #7 Tigers of however, pitched his way out cials decided to call the game JIM BRYANT Andrew College (19-35). The of the inning. It looked like just short of one out needed to Action Sports Writer Tigers opened well with a the Cats would get back in the make it a complete game. In booming HR in the second in- fray in the bottom when Bryson talking with one of the officials ning for a 3-0 lead. The Cats Smith singled, Kenny Swab fol- on Saturday, he stated that the by Carl Vanzura Torrential rains sus- battled back in the bottom with lowed with a sing and Travis deciding factor to suspend the pend game one of best of a walk by Austin Schultz, a Echols hit into a fielder’s game came when a high popup Shawn Chastain takes top honors at Tri-County two series. HBP to Matt Lowery and a choice, getting Swab out at sec- in the infield could not be seen On a day that rain just about washed away the pits, walk by Scoop Pharr to load. ond. Echols then stole second and risked hitting the player parking area and the track, promoter Steve Morris managed Things started poorly, The Cats let them die on the and on the attempted pick, a trying to field the ball. Suspended to get the track in shape for some exciting action at Tri- the scoreboard was out, the diamond and the Tiger lead wild throw sent GJCAA Player play was resumed the next day County Race Track. The car count and spectator count was heavens opened and the rains stood. The Tigers turned to the of the Year, Bryson Smith with YHC leading 12-3. Pitcher, way down, but the drivers told Morris they wanted to race came. Even starting early, the bunt in the third and put run- across the plate, 3-1. Kurt Frisbee allowed a 2-run even if the track surface was questionable. #2 Mountain Lions (41-10) ners on first and second after a The Cats battled the Ti- double, 12-5 but the Cats came Murphy’s Shawn Chastain out paced his older brother were not able to complete the misplayed bunt by starting gers and the elements into the back when Travis Echols scored Johnny during qualifying turning 13.212 to Johnny’s 13.321. full game in round one of the pitcher Bryan Cole and first top of the seventh inning, where to make it a 13-5 win over the On the start, Shawn set sail and walked away with the fea- GJCAA Region XVII Tourna- baseman Clay Remole. Cole they had taken charge of the Tigers. Bryson Smith smashed ture. Johnny took second followed by George Mashburn who game with a 12-3 lead. Finally, his 21st HR of the season, tying had to hold off Gabe Wilson who took fourth. Jamie Oliver, in a pouring down rain that him with Nick Markakis for the Young Harris’s Randy Nichols, Randy Dillard and Danny heavily affected play, the offi- single season record. Ledford rounded out the Super Late Model field. Bobby Panter blasted around the track for a win in the Sportsman class. Trig Parris, Preston Crisp, Doug Sneed and Devin Dillbeck rounded out the top five. It was Murphy’s Jacob Anderson all the way in the Nesmith Crate Late Model main event as Jason Deal, Josh Henry, Kevin Sutton and Terry Ledford filled the top five spots. Greg Sudderth had another good night in the Modified Street feature as nobody could catch him even though Jim Twiggs was making up distance on him when the checkers fell. Michael Anderson, Heather Taylor and Scot Welch took the checkers in that order. Hiawassee driver Stephen Sofield won his fourth Street Stock feature in this young season. Charles Toomey and Josh Roberts rounded out the slim field. A good field of Mini Stocks saw Sylvia driver Justin Woodard battle some strong cars to take the win. In his first race in three years, Andrews driver Marty Clark took sec- ond place, followed by Blairsville’s Shannon Jones, Casey Carter and Phil Henderson. Racing returns to Tri-County this Friday night with the first ever go kart event ever scheduled at the track. On Austin Schultz and Scoop Pharr run together and subsequently Saturday night all six classes will be on the program. drop the ball. Kenny Swab slides in at second base in game one of the GJCAA In other action this weekend, Danny Ledford won at Tournament. Sugar Creek Friday night in the Supers and Blairsville’s Brian Kinnersley to the Crate honors. Kinnersley also won the special $1,000 to win Crate race at Toccoa Saturday night. Johnny Chastain drove Randall Twiggs car to a sec- ond place finish. Rain cancelled races at Cleveland , Dixie and Maryville as well as Friday night at Boyds. Didn’t get a full report, but word came in that 13-year old won the 100 lap Georgia Asphalt Series event at Lanier Speedway Saturday. Tom Schutte out of Blairsville had a strong eighth place finish. Lets hope we have some good racing weather for this week’s races, and everybody go and support our drivers and race tracks.

Travis Echols slides in a second as the Andrew Tiger drops the Bryson Smith belts his 21st HR of the season to tie the record held ball on the tag. by Nick Markakis. Photos by Jim and Lisa Bryant NASCAR 2009 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter

MARTIN WINS AGAIN Kenseth. I'm motivated. Going to the Bonnett. He was to debut the Bobby Panter drove Kenny Garrett's Chevy to victory Saturday DARLINGTON, S.C.— Top-12 Chase Contend- racetrack every weekend is still No. 51 Chevy at Speedweeks. at Tri-County. Photos by Jack Appleget did it again. The ers after 11 of 26: 1. J. Gor- really fun, and that's the key. Bonnett lost his life in a crash oldest driver in the 43-car field don-1601, 2. Stewart-1572, 3. There's more gas in my tank.” after hitting the outside wall showed the youngsters a thing -1546, 4. Johnson- Who Is James Finch during the first practice session. or two Saturday night in the 1465, 5. Hamlin-1445, 6. Bur- James Finch is a hero to Finch is hoping for more at Darlington ton-1384, 7. -1380, all the fans who root for the wins. “I would like to get some Raceway. 8. Newman-1363, 9. Biffle- underdog in racing. more Busch Grand National “It's absolutely unbeliev- 1345, 10. Kenseth-1326, 11. I imagine Finch felt like wins and I hope to run both able,” Martin said. “This is a Martin-1316, 12. Edwards-1271 giving up many times. Daytona and Talladega Cup big surprise. We had a strong Dale Earnhardt Jr. con- “I would race a while, races. Those two tracks are very car, but I never expected to win. tinues to struggle. He finished work a while, build up some close to my home, so they are Alan Gustafson (Martin’s crew seven laps down in 27th. more money and then come personal to me,” said Finch. chief) is absolutely the best. I , driver back and race,” said Finch. Next Week: What is Hap- may have been his childhood of the No. 41 Toyota, Tony “Some people try and do it the pening to Dale Jr. hero, but I'm living a second Martin, a licensed crew mem- other way-and bam-in a year or Weekend Racing: Fri- childhood now -- and he's my ber of the No. 34 Sprint Cup so, they have to fold up or what- day, May 15, the Camping childhood hero. Series team and Ben Williams, ever because it’s really, really World Trucks will be at the Steven Sofield drove to victory for the fourth time this year. “We had a good enough licensed crew member of the expensive to do this.” 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway. It car to do it, and pit strategy put No. 16 Nationwide Series As an independent race will be televised on Speed, be- us in a position to pull it off.” team, have been suspended in- team owner, he had been try- ginning at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). Fifty-year-old Martin, definitely from NASCAR for ing to win a NASCAR Cup race The 2009 edition of the Girl Scouts say thank you!!! charged home ahead of three- violation of NASCAR's Sub- since 1990. His record going Sprint All-Star Race will be run time Sprint Cup champion stance Abuse Policy into the 2009 season was 105 Saturday, May 16 at Lowe’s and other Kenseth Gets Darlington tries with zero wins. His best Motor Speedway. There will be younger drivers to win the 367- Nationwide Win finishes were two top-fives; one a total of 100 laps on the 1.5-mile lap marathon on what is known Matt Kenseth capital- with Geoffrey Bodine in 2002 tri-oval. There will be four seg- as NASCAR's toughest track. ized on Kyle Busch's flat tire and Mike Wallace in 2007 ments – with a 50-lap first seg- Martin, an ageless rac- with three laps to go to win All of us have one par- ment, two 20-lap segments and ing junkie who tried to retire a Friday night’s Nationwide Se- ticular chunk of life we wish one 10-lap shootout to the finish couple years ago but couldn't, ries race. Top-10 points lead- we could go back and live all line. It will be televised on Speed won the race in style, pulling ers: 1. Kyle Busch-1539, 2. over again. The one time that beginning at 7 p.m. (EDT). away from Johnson at the end. Edwards-1502, 3. Leffler-1386, will forever stand out with The Nationwide teams Physically fit and pumped 4. Logano-1340, 5. Finch was his win in the have an off week. up for the season in a Hendrick Keslelowski-1331, 6. Keller- Aaron’s 499 at Talladega, with Racing Trivia Question: Chevrolet, Martin ran with the 1181, 7. Ragan-1139, 8, young at the How many Cup wins does Rick big dogs up front all night, keep- Lagasse-1095, 9. Allgaier-1089, wheel of his No. 1 Chevrolet. Mears, driver of the 07 ing his car in one piece and 10. S. Wallace-1088 Before the Aaron’s 499 Chevrolet have? The Towns County Girl These girls were able to saving the best for last. Another Year For Mark Martin most racing fans outside Last Week’s Question: run, play basketball, sing, play It was a record-setting Mark Martin will return Florida, or southern short Scouts say thank you to the After a brief absence Sterling Towns County Recreation De- games and watch a movie. The night for cautions under a full in 2010 to drive the No. 5 tracks had never heard of Marlin is back in Cup racing. pizzas were an extra surprise South Carolina moon. Seven- Chevrolets of Hendrick James Finch, or his Phoenix partment, Papa’s Pizza, Domi- Which team does he drive for? noes Pizza, Ingle’s, Dollar for them, and they were so good. teen times the caution waved Motorsports for the entire 36- Racing team. Answer. He is driving part time The next morning—what as driver after driver made race NASCAR Sprint Cup Se- Born in Panama City, General, and Hardees. in the 09 Phoenix Racing Dodge. The Girl Scouts of Towns a way to end our sleepover with contact with Darlington's fa- ries. It will be the 22nd full- Fla., his love for racing never You may contact the Rac- Hardees biscuits. The adults mous walls. Most of them time Cup campaign of Martin's swayed him from leaving his County would like to thank you ing Reporter at: for everything you donated to and girls wish to send you all a didn't just get a Darlington career and his second with car Florida home. He built his race [email protected]. BIG THANK YOU! Stripe as is the norm for this owner . shop in nearby Lynn Haven and the sleepover on March 27. These girls had a wonderful You all added to the fun 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval. Last July, Martin signed has been there ever since. In for this sleepover for all the They hit hard enough to take a two-year contract with 2000, Phoenix Racing and Yel- time. Starting with the Rec. Room, what a great place to girls. Sincerely, Girl Scouts of the paint off the whole right side covering low Freight joined forces and Towns County of the car. one full Sprint Cup season in since then their teamwork has have a sleepover. Trailing martin and 2009 and one part-time sched- provided great results. Johnson across the stripe were ule of 26 events in 2010. The Instead of dress slacks and his teammate revised agreement was signed and sponsor adorned team shirts Corn Hole Tournament on May 30 Ryan Newman. Stewart’s this past week. Finch opts for a more laid back third-place run was his fifth top- With his April 18 victory look; cowboy boots, untucked Towns County High begins at 11am and runs until five in his last six starts. at Phoenix, Martin became just shirts and work jeans. Polished School and the Towns County finished. The cost is $10 per “This is the best I’ve run the fourth driver to record 400 and flashy is not in his make- Lady Indians Basketball Pro- person and $20 per team regis- in the 500, so I’m ecstatic about top-10 finishes in Sprint Cup com- up. Instead Finch chooses to be gram are holding a cae wash tration. Registration will last it. We’re doing things right, it’s petition. It was his 36th career a blue collar guy with a blue and cook out on May 30. A car until l0am on May 30, but just a matter of time,” said win in NASCAR's top series. collar work ethic. Everything wash from 10am to 3 pm will please register ASAP. See a Stewart. “It means a lot to drive about him says, ‘”working guy.” be $5 or any donation. A ham- Varsity or JV Lady Indian Bas- The remaining top-10 fin- the No. 5 Chevy for Rick and Finch dedicated the burger or hotdog plate (avail- ketball Player for your tickets ishers were: 5. , 6. for Hendrick Motorsports,” Talladega win to another great able from 11am to 2pm) will or call Coach Melton at 706- Martin Truex, 7. Brad said Martin, 50, of Batesville, driver in NASCAR that was to be $5, which includes slaw, 896-4131 (ext 1231) for more Keselowski, 8. Greg Biffle, 9. Ark. “I'm in the best condition make his comeback driving for baked beans, dessert and chips. details and Corn Hole Regis- Joey Logano, 10. Matt of my life, I'm recharged, and Finch in 1994. It was Neil The Corn Hole Tournament tration Forms.

May 14 2009 sports.p65 1 5/11/2009, 3:27 PM