Long Time Racer to Hit 31st Annual Peachtree City Classic

He hasn’t run all previous 30 Classic races, but he ran the first one in 1981, has run most of them since, and plans to run the next one this October. In 1981 Bill Brackin was living in Riverdale and heard about a race over in Peachtree City that he wanted to do. He ran it and was so impressed with the scenic cart paths, that he decided he wanted to move to PTC to live. He did just that a couple of years later and has been a fixture in the Fayette County road racing scene ever since. Bill says that as best as he can recollect, the race started and finished at City Hall in those early days. But as the race grew in stature and popularity, it eventually moved to the Fred Brown Amphitheater where it still is today. Bill will be lacing up his shoes again this year for the 31st edition.

The races will take place Saturday, October 15th, along the scenic golf cart paths of Peachtree City. It is one of the most popular runs not only in Georgia, but in the Southeast as well. The race is unique in its use of paved cart paths for the race. This scenic race is run mostly on the paths through the greenbelt areas, by lakes, through small tunnels, in the beautiful planned community of Peachtree City. The 15K was voted the best 15K course in Georgia by Georgia Athlete Magazine and always a sellout, so participants are strongly encouraged to register early. This year’s race director, George Martin, is looking forward to the using computerized timing chips for the tenth consecutive year.

The Classic actually consists of three different races: a women’s 5K, a men’s 5K, and the 15K open. All races are run on separate TAC-certified courses, and start and finish at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater. The 5K races for men and women are open to the first 800 entrants in each category. The popular 15K is open to the first 1500 entrants. All finishers in the different races will receive a special commemorative edition technical shirt to mark the 31st year of this Classic event.

A Pre-Race Expo will be held at the Fred Brown Amphitheater on Friday, October 14th, from 4:30 – 8:30 PM. A Race Day Expo will be held on Saturday from 7:00 – 11:00 AM also at the Frederick Brown Amphitheater. The Expos will include health and fitness products, sponsors, and selected vendors.

Applications are available at various locations in Peachtree City, Newnan, and Fayetteville, including local recreation departments, libraries, and sporting goods stores. Applications are also available at World Gym, Ultimate Fitness, T&G All Sports, Smith and Davis, Play It Again Sports, and AIS Computers. You can also register on line at www.ptcrc.com If you have any further questions about the race, you can send e-mail to ptcclassic@aol.com

Fayette Senior Services Adds 10K to Annual Run/Walk and Establishes New “Fayette Charity Classic” to Benefit Fayette County Non-profits

Fayette Senior Services (FSS) annual March For Meals 5K/1 Mile Run Walk will have a new look and expanded purpose when the 4th annual event is held next year on March 17, 2012. Thanks to help from the City of Fayetteville and the Fayetteville Police Department, FSS will be adding a challenging new 10K route to its existing 5K and 1 mile run/walk. In addition, FSS has renamed the event The Fayette Charity Classic with proceeds to not only benefit non-profit Fayette Senior Services, but other Fayette County charities as well. The Fayette Charity Classic 10K as well as the 5K will both be USA Track and Field (USATF) certified and qualifiers for the Peachtree Road Race.

Dawn Davis, FSS Health, Wellness, and Program Manager is the event’s race director. Davis worked closely with Capt. Lynn Crawshaw of the Fayetteville Police Department to develop the route that begins at Fayette Senior Services Life Enrichment Center located at 4 Center Drive in Fayetteville (across from the Fayette County Justice Center). Says Davis, “By expanding the event to include a 10K we are able to leverage the success of our former March For Meals Run/Walk. Our goal was to attract a larger audience to a fitness activity and in turn increase awareness–and financial support–for the programs and services that we provide to our community’s seniors.” Davis adds, “We then took our expanded event one step further and designed it to help other Fayette County charities, many of which continue to face challenges as a result of the current economy. It’s a win-win for Fayette Senior Services, the charities who wish to participate, and the community as a whole.”

Event details and registration packets are still being finalized and are expected to be available soon. Anyone interested in receiving more information should send their name, address, and phone number to FCClassic@fayss.org.About Fayette Senior Services, Inc. For more than 30 years, Fayette Senior Services, Inc. (FSS), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has been making a meaningful difference in the emotional, social, and physical well-being of older adults; preserving their independence, improving their quality of life, and connecting them to the community. FSS offers supportive services such as Meals On Wheels, Transportation, In-Home Personal Care/Homemaker Services, Information Assistance, Care Management, and more. For active older adults age 50 and better, Fayette Senior Services Life Enrichment Center offers a wide variety of social, leisure, fitness and recreational activities and the award-winning Ultimate Café. For more information visit www.FayetteLifeEnrichment.org or call 770-461-0813.

Peachtree City: 5K to Stop Sex Trafficking; Wellspring Living, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

5K run sponsoring Wellspring Living, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to aid in the rehabilitation and restoration of women and children who have suffered childhood sexual abuse and exploitation. The Stop Injustice Run draws more than 250 participants each year around the Atlanta area. Teams of 12 or more are encouraged to register and name their team by August 26th in order to have team name listed on the T-shirt. Prizes will be given to the 1st and 2nd place runners in each division. Each participant will receive a T-shirt and official time card.

WHY: To benefit the organization’s recovery homes and educational and therapeutic programs designed for women and children seeking a refuge from human trafficking.

Registration Fee: $30

Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 8:00 a.m.

The Bridge Community Center
225 Willowbend Road
Peachtree City, GA

***BACKGROUND: There are approximately 100 girls under the age or 18 who are sexually trafficked on a typical night in Georgia. The average life expectancy of a girl in forced prostitution is 7 years with homicide or HIV/AIDS as the cause of death. Wellspring Living offers residential rehabilitation programs and advocates for victims of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation.

Gladiators Narrow Coaching Candidates

Gwinnett Gladiators President Steve Chapman announced Friday that the candidates for the team’s coaching search have been narrowed to three finalists: Steve Weeks, Leigh Mendelson and John Wroblewski. The organization plans to name their second head coach in team history to replace Jeff Pyle within the next seven days. Pyle was named the head coach of the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League on July 13th.

Over the past two weeks, the Gladiators received over 50 inquiries from interested applicants concerning the position. After a detailed preliminary review and screening process, the list was narrowed to about a dozen candidates for phone interviews.

“The sheer number and quality of the applicants was quite impressive,” said Chapman. “It was very difficult to pare the applicants down to a workable number, but that is certainly a good problem to have. It’s also a tribute to the solid reputation established by the Gladiators organization within the professional hockey community to see such a large number of qualified coaches express their interest in leading this team.”

Weeks served as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Thrashers for eight seasons from 2001-2010. Prior to his time with the Thrashers, Weeks spent eight seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes (and previously Hartford Whalers) organization from 1993 to 2001 as an assistant coach and scout. He played 13 NHL seasons from 1980 to 1993 with the New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks and the New York Islanders. Prior to turning pro, he played four seasons at Northern Michigan University where he helped the Wildcats to the 1980 “Frozen Four”.

Mendelson was an assistant coach with the Utah Grizzlies last year during the 2010-2011 season and he helped the Grizzlies advance to the Western Conference Semifinals before falling to the Victoria Salmon Kings. He served as an interim head coach with the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL during the 2009-10 season posting a 7-7-2 record during his time behind the bench. He was also an assistant with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies during the 2001-2002 season.

Wroblewski served as an assistant coach for the Wheeling Nailers last season and helped the Nailers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Prior to that, he served as an Assistant Head Coach for the United States National Development Team from 2007 – 2010. Wroblewski skated four seasons in the ECHL with the Fresno Falcons from 2003 through 2007 amassing 299 total points during his pro career while also serving as Team Captain in his final two seasons. Before turning pro, Wroblewski played four seasons at the University of Notre Dame from 1999 to 2003 and also served as Team Captain in his final season of collegiate hockey.

“All three candidates bring quality coaching experience and significant leadership abilities to the table,” said Chapman. “Honestly, any one of these three would be great choices.”

Relative to a new affiliation agreement, the Gladiators are in discussions with three separate NHL hockey teams about the possibility of a working relationship. The team hopes to make an announcement on their affiliation plans in the next 2 to 4 weeks.

The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the Premier “AA” Hockey League and play all home games at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

Nelms at the Helm for New Senoia Raceway Inaugural Weaterless Boat Race

July 31, 2011 (Senoia, GA) Michael Nelms has won his share of racing at the 3/8ths mile clay oval just west of Senoia, GA. But, he has never been the victor in a more bizarre way than he was on Saturday night when he crashed, smashed and bashed his way to victory in the inaugural ‘waterless boat race’ at New Senoia Raceway.

“This car has been beaten up before,” explained an amused Nelms along a junk filled front stretch. “But, I have never run into a boat on a race track.”

Nelms survived the fifteen minute crash-filled special event featuring various vehicles pulling old boats around the track without the assistance of any wheeled trailers. The Newnan stock car racing veteran outlasted fellow Newnan competitor Ricky Payton as the crowd of 1,027 fans cheered with excitement.

The path to victory was not in the fastest driver with his boat, but the only one remaining with the boat intact at the end of the event. To the delight of the younger fans in attendance, the strategy was to knock your opponents boat from it’s race car power source. The end result was a track full of disabled boats and cars trying to avoid the carnage.

“That was a blast,” said third place finisher Josh ‘Boom Boom’ Ballard of Griffin. “He (Nelms) got me caught up in the third turn and snagged my boat off against the wall. All I saw was the boat being smashed into pieces and then the car felt a lot lighter. I knew he got my boat.”

Other winners in the weekly stock car racing action included Locust Grove’s Racin’ Jason Williams in the Mike Wheeler’s Automotive & Transmission Late Models, LaGrange’s Tod Dard in the Crown Security Crate Late Models, Marcus Caswell of Newnan in the Newnan Bonding B Cadets, Carrollton’s Clifton Moran in the Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stocks and Dusty Jones, also of LaGrange, in the Mini Stocks.

Williams out dueled current points leader Lavon Sparks in the Late Model division. The fierce competitors were separated by only eleven points entering their 25-lap main event. The Phenix City, AL, driver, Sparks, tried to stay with the hottest driver at New Senoia Raceway, Williams, at the drop of the green, but Williams showed his muscle once again holding him off and snagging the lead from the drop of the green.

While Williams, Sparks and Thomaston’s Shane Fulcher pulled away from the pack, Newnan’s Scott Duffey and Thomaston’s Laddie Fulcher were in a classic New Senoia Raceway battle for the number four spot. Duffey and Fulcher swapped the spot back and forth twice on lap nine before Duffey slid to the high side in turn two. After the two made contact exiting the turn, Duffey clipped the outside retaining wall which caused the race’s first caution.

Up front, Sparks would get close, but was never able to get a good enough run to squeak past Williams. The end result was Williams bringing home his eighth feature win of the season including four straight in the month of July. Sparks would settle for second again with Shane Fulcher third. Fayetteville’s Glenn Morris would fight his way to the number four spot and Newnan’s Nicky Prosser would take home his first top five of the season finishing fifth.

On the strength of his fourth consecutive win, Williams is now within eight points of the top spot in the standings for the Mike Wheeler’s Automotive & Transmission Late Models. Lavon Sparks has led the race for the championship since opening week this past April and was crowned the mid-season champion two weeks ago. This Saturday, August 6, is a double points night for all the divisions at New Senoia Raceway. At the last double points event in early June, Sparks out ran Williams to increase his lead on the points. Williams has been chipping away at that lead ever since.

Tod Darda is working on his points position in the Crown Security Crate Late Models. Darda finds himself in a regional points battle for the NeSmith Crate Series title and his current win streak at New Senoia Raceway is helping him climb the rankings.

Darda picked up his sixth race of the season and third straight on Saturday night. He held off Phenix City’s Russ Ogletree for the win. Ogletree was the dominant driver early in the season winning three feature races. But, Saturday night’s runner-up has not visited victory lane at New Senoia Raceway since the first weekend of May.

Carrollton’s Carey Smith returned on Saturday night and started scratch on the field. Smith was the hard charger of the night as he scooted past competitors to snare a top five finish.

Current track point’s leader Doug Ludwig of Grantville finished in the number four spot while LaGrange’s Dennis Hale was third behind Darda and Ogletree.

“They are not getting any easier,” said Darda afterwards. “Eighty-eight (Ogletree) pressured me the entire race. I could not make any mistakes.”

Newnan’s Marcus Caswell went from the outhouse to the penthouse this week in the Newnan Bonding B Cadets. Caswell had his driveshaft come up through the cockpit of his race car a week ago Saturday night narrowly missing serious injury. This week, Caswell shot out to the lead and never looked back posting the wire to wire victory over Stockbridge’s Jeff Carter and Fayetteville’s TJ Joiner. Last week’s victor, Blake Griffin of Grantville finished fourth followed up by newcomer Richard Davis of Griffin in fifth.

Short fields in the Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks disappointed fans, but still produced great racing action with Clifton ‘Hog Head’ Moran picking up his eleventh win of the season for the Hobby Stocks. Moran outlasted Kerry Carden for the win. Brook’s Carden claimed his best finish of the season with a second place run. Newnan’s Rusty ‘Rocketman’ Johnson came home third.

LaGrange’s Dusty Jones walked away to his seventh win of the season in the Mini Stock division. Barnesville’s Gary Parker finished in the runner-up spot followed by Griffin’s Bo Chambers and Whitesburg’s Dorough Bright.

Parker’s second place finish coupled together with Bright’s fourth place finish has tightened up the points battle for the four cylinder stock car racing division. Parker has slashed the points lead to seven points as the duo heads into this Saturday’s double points night. The point separation is three positions on the race track.

The double points opportunity this Saturday, August 6 allows the drivers in all weekly divisions to move up spots or move closer to their nearest competitors in the season point standings. The top ten in each division will be awarded prize money at the end of the season this September.

Family fun is also planned again for Saturday night as the track will host it’s Kid’s Bicycle Races. Children of all ages are invited to bring their bicycles to New Senoia Raceway where officials will separate the group into age categories and conduct fun-filled bicycle races along the front stretch and around the high banks of the track. All participants should bring their bike helmets.

The pit gates open at 5:00pm. The grandstands open at 6:00pm. Hot laps begin just after 7:00pm with racing set to go green at 8:00pm. Grandstand admission is only $12 for adults with kids six through twelve admitted for five bucks. Children five and under are admitted for free.

For additional information on New Senoia Raceway, visit the speedway website at www.newsenoiaraceway.com, join their family of friends on Facebook or call the speedway at 770-599-6161.


By Katherine Adams

OFFICIAL RESULTS FROM SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2011

Mike Wheelers Automotive & Transmission Late Models

Feature: 1-Jason Williams, Locust Grove 2-Lavon Saprks, Phenix City, AL 3-Shane Fulcher, Thomaston 4-Glenn Morris, Fayetteville 5-Nicky Prosser, Senoia 6-Laddie Fulcher, Thomaston 7-Scott Duffey, Newnan Fast Qualifier: Williams (15.203 seconds)

Crown Security Crate Late Models

Feature: 1-Tod Darda, LaGrange 2-Russ Ogletree, Phenix City, AL 3-Dennis Hale, LaGrange 4-Doug Ludwig, Grantville 5-Carey Smith, Carrollton 6-Trey White, Jenkinsburg 7-Troy Tyson, Fayetteville 8-Kyle Lowry, Covington 9-Roger Cassell, Franklin 10-Todd Mitchell, LaGrange Fast Qualifier: Darda (15.870 seconds)

Newnan Bonding B-Cadets

Feature: 1-Marcus Caswell, Newnan 2-Jeff Carter, Stockbridge 3-TJ Joiner, Lithia Springs 4-Blake Griffin, Grantville 5-Richard Davis, Griffin 6-Corey Payton, Newnan 7-Chris Carr, Newnan 8-Buck Williams, Watkinsville 9-Lee McElwaney, Newnan

Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stocks

Feature: 1-Clifton Moran, Carrollton 2-Kerry Carden, Brooks 3-Rusty Johnson, Newnan 4-Mike Jenkins, Brooks 5-Zak Sockwell, Newnan

Mini Stocks Feature: 1-Dusty Jones, LaGrange 2-Gary Parker, Barnesville 3-Bo Chambers, Griffin 4-Dorough Bright, Whitesburg

Gladiators Announce Schedule for 9th season at Gwinnett Arena

The Gwinnett Gladiators announce the schedule for the 2011-2012 season as the team returns for their 9th season in the ECHL in October of 2011.

Opening Weekend at the spectacular Gwinnett Arena (seating capacity: 11,355) is scheduled for Friday, October 21st and Saturday, October 22nd, as the “I-85 Series” continues when the Gladiators host the Road Warriors from Greenville, South Carolina. The Gladiators have posted an impressive 6-0-2 record all-time in regular season home openers.

The weekend prior, the Gladiators will open the season on the road with a pair of games against the Florida Everblades on Friday, October 14th and Saturday, October 15th. It will be the second consecutive season that the Gladiators will open the season on the road and against the Everblades in Estero, FL.

Many Gladiators games have turned into annual events featuring various community, charitable, and holiday themes, and those traditions will continue during the 2011-2012 season. For the 9th consecutive season, the Gladiators will host the annual Thanksgiving Night matchup and Kroger Food Drive on Thursday, Nov. 24th. The Gladiators will again feature the “Kids Day Out” MLK Jr. holiday matinee matchup on Monday, January 16th, the hugely popular annual Teddy Bear Toss returns on Saturday, January 14th, and the team will host a special St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Saturday, March 17th.

Of the Gladiators 36 home games during the 2010-11 season, 27 games are on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Start times for all home games remain unchanged from last season with all games starting at 7:05 p.m. except Friday games, which will begin at 7:35 p.m., and Sunday games, which will again start at 4:05 p.m. As previously established, the Gladiators annual Kids Day Game on the MLK Jr. Holiday will start at 12:30 p.m.

The Gladiators will face each team from the ECHL’s Eastern Conference at least one time at the Gwinnett Arena during the 2011-12 season. The Gladiators will see the defending Eastern Conference Champion Kalamazoo Wings on Sunday, February 12th while ECHL newcomer Chicago Express will visit the Gwinnett Arena on Saturday, February 11th. In addition, the Gladiators will host the Greenville Road Warriors eight times, the South Carolina Stingrays and the Florida Everblades seven times, the Cincinnati Cyclones and Trenton Devils three times each, the Wheeling Nailers and Elmira Jackals two times and the Reading Royals and Toledo Walleye once each at the Gwinnett Arena.

Gwinnett Gladiators 2011-2012 Schedule

Friday, October 14th @ Florida

Saturday, October 15th @ Florida

Friday, October 21st vs. Greenville

Saturday, October 22nd vs. Greenville

Wednesday, October 26th @ Trenton

Friday, October 28th @ Wheeling

Saturday, October 29th @ Reading

Tuesday, November 1st vs.. Florida

Saturday, November 5th vs. Reading

Sunday, November 6th vs. Toledo

Wednesday, November 9th @ Elmira

Friday, November 11th @ Toledo

Saturday, November 12th @ Toledo

Sunday, November 13th @ Chicago

Friday, November 18th vs.. South Carolina

Saturday, November 19th @ South Carolina

Sunday, November 20th @ South Carolina

Thursday, November 24th vs. Wheeling

Friday, November 25th vs.. Wheeling

Saturday, November 26th @ South Carolina

Wednesday, November 30th @ Florida

Friday, December 2nd @ Florida

Saturday, December 3rd @ Florida

Thursday, December 8th @ Greenville

Saturday, December 10th vs. South Carolina

Sunday, December 11th vs.. South Carolina

Thursday, December 15th vs. Florida

Friday, December 16th @ South Carolina

Saturday, December 17th @ South Carolina

Tuesday, December 20th @ South Carolina

Monday, December 26th vs.. South Carolina

Wednesday, December 28th vs. South Carolina

Friday, December 30th vs.. Florida

Friday, January 6th vs. Florida

Saturday, January 7th vs.. Florida

Thursday, January 12th @ Greenville

Friday, January 13th @ Greenville

Saturday, January 14th vs. Greenville

Monday, January 16th vs. Greenville

Friday, January 20th vs. Florida

Saturday, January 21st @ Greenville

Sunday, January 22nd @ Greenville

Thursday, January 26th vs. Elmira

Saturday, January 28th vs. Elmira

Sunday, January 29th vs. Trenton

Friday, February 3rd vs. Greenville

Saturday, February 4th vs. Greenville

*Friday, February 10th vs. Florida

Saturday, February 11th vs. Chicago

Sunday, February 12th vs.. Kalamazoo

Tuesday, February 14th @ Greenville

Friday, February 17th @ Chicago

Saturday, February 18th @ Kalamazoo

Monday, February 20th @ Cincinnati

Wednesday, February 22nd @ Cincinnati

Friday, February 24th @ South Carolina

Saturday, February 25th @ South Carolina

Wednesday, February 29th vs. South Carolina

Friday, March 2nd vs. Trenton

Saturday, March 3rd vs. South Carolina

Sunday, March 4th vs. Trenton

Tuesday, March 6th @ Greenville

Saturday, March 10th vs. Cincinnati

Sunday, March 11th vs. Greenville

Wednesday, March 14th vs.. Cincinnati

Friday, March 16th vs. Cincinnati

Saturday, March 17th vs. Greenville

Friday, March 23rd @ Greenville

Saturday, March 24th @ Greenville

Wednesday, March 28th @ Florida

Friday, March 30th @ Florida

Saturday, March 31st @ Florida

The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the Premier “AA” Hockey League and play all home games at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

Repeat Winners Create a Freeze Frame at New Senoia Raceway

Saturday night’s results at New Senoia Raceway were a freeze frame from the previous Saturday night as all winners from May 28th repeated as winners on June 4th with the only exception in the Mini Stocks.

Racin’ Jason Williams repeated in the Mike Wheelers Automotive & Transmission Late Models as did his teammate Doug Stevens in the Crown Security Crate Late Models. Billy Bright, Sr. picked up the laurels for the second straight week in the Newnan Bonding B Cadets while Clifton ‘Hog Head’ Moran won for the sixth time in the Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stocks. The only change in the winner’s line-up from the previous week was in the Mini Stocks where Dusty Jones claimed the victory, but Jones was piloting the same four cylinder stock car that won the previous week with Eric Hogsed behind the wheel.

Locust Grove’s Williams paced the field of Late Models for the entire 25 lap feature race. He was pressured for several laps at the mid-point of the contest by Thomaston’s Shane Fulcher, but pulled away in the end to garner his second straight win and third of the season. The final order also pulled Williams and Fulcher closer to current point’s leader Lavon Sparks who finished third. The three drivers enter this Saturday’s (June 11) double points contest separated by only eleven markers.

Griffin’s Doug Stevens capped his week with a second straight trip to victory lane for the Crown Security Late Models. Stevens bookended a win at Rome Speedway on Sunday evening with the back to back victories at New Senoia Raceway. LaGrange’s Tod Darda followed Stevens across the finish line with Grantville’s Doug Ludwig nabbing third place.

The best race of the night for the Crown Security Crate Late Models was the battle for fourth, fifth and sixth. Waco’s Tim Bright, Jr., Newnan’s Parrish Duncan and Jenkinsburg’s Trey White swapped positions throughout the 25-lap main event. White snuck past Duncan at lap seven before moving past Bright with only ten circuits remaining. Bright and Duncan fought back, but White held off all the challenges to finish in the number four spot. Duncan would come home fifth and Bright would end up one lap down in sixth.

A four car pile-up at the beginning of the Newnan Bonding B Cadet feature started when Lithia Spring’s pilot TJ Joiner lost the grip in turn four and spun in front of the hard charging field. Union City’s Billy Bright, Jr. was caught in the melee for the second straight week while West Point’s Charlie Garrett and Gay’s Jay Conner also plowed in behind.

When the action resumed Union City’s Billy Bright, Sr. bested the field for the second straight week. Teammate and son Billy Bright, Jr. recovered from the early race wreck to finish second. Villa Rica’s ‘Smokin’ Joe Hillman finished third. Bright, Sr. showcased his familiar fedora hat during the victory lane interview and was quickly dubbed the ‘Cat in the Hat’ by the New Senoia Raceway track announcer.

Carrollton’s Clifton ‘Hog Head’ Moran bounced back from an initial start altercation with Locust Grove’s Wilson Boozer to snare his sixth win of the season in the Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stocks. Newnan’s Rusty ‘Rocketman’ Johnson finished second while Barnesville’s Eddie Albitron gained his second straight top three finish of the season. Temple’s Steven Parker and Brook’s Kerry Carden rounded out the first five.

A classic New Senoia Raceway battle formed in the mighty Mini Stock class Saturday night. Barnesville’s Gary Parker was chasing down Douglasville’s Matt Black while Whiteburg’s Dorough Bright and LaGrange’s Dusty Jones charged through the pack. Jones came from the back row of the starting field to snare fourth by the second circuit of the 15-lapper.

Jones made his way past Parker on lap eight and set his sights on Black who had bolted out to a several car length lead over the race for second. Dorough Bright continued Parker’s descent on a lap 10 restart which set the stage for the final five laps.

Black used the high side of the track while Jones worked the bottom side. Bright followed closely as did Parker waiting for the chance to move up a spot or two. Jones worked the low side to perfection coming out of turn four to receive the white flag. He powered past Black on the final lap to snare the victory in the same car that won the previous Saturday only with Eric Hogsed behind the wheel. Black would come home second, Dorough Bright third followed by Parker and Newnan’s Joe Spencer.

The Mini Stocks final tally would change after Matt Black’s mustang was found to be outside the rules and was disqualified. Black’s engine was found to have solid lifters which are not allowed in the class at New Senoia Raceway. The disqualification cost Black his position, points and prize money for the night. The result drops the recent high school graduate out of the points lead and hands it back over to Dorough Bright. The two drivers have swapped the lead back and forth over the past three races.

The highlight of the night for the track’s youngest race fans was New Senoia Raceway’s newest promotion of allowing the kids to ride in the race cars prior to the racing action. Hundreds of kids hopped on board with their favorite driver to ride along for a few controlled laps on the high banked 3/8ths mile clay oval.

This Saturday night, New Senoia Raceway will entertain the kids again as they present the Kid’s Box Car Races. This special event allows kids to create their own race cars made from cardboard boxes. The young race fans should cut openings in the box for their arms and head (they must wear the boxes). They should decorate, paint and make-up their box car racers with numbers, sponsors and racing decals. The track will award prizes for the best decorated, designed and engineered box car racers. The kids will also have the opportunity to participate in Box Car races where they will wear their creations while racing each other.

The fun, family oriented event will also feature a full night of stock car racing with double points on the line for the drivers in the Mike Wheeler’s Automotive & Transmission Late Models, Crown Security Crate Late Models, Newnan Bonding B Cadets, Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stocks and the Mini Stocks. The Bombers have also been added to the racing action this Saturday, June 11th.

The pit gates open at 5:00pm Saturday. The grandstands open at 6:00pm. Hot laps begin just after 7:00pm with racing set to go green at 8:00pm.

For additional information on New Senoia Raceway, visit the speedway website at www.newsenoiaraceway.com, join their family of friends on Facebook or call the speedway at 770-599-6161.



By Katherine Adams

OFFICIAL RESULTS FROM SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2011
Mike Wheelers Automotive & Transmission Late Models

Feature: 1-Jason Williams, Locust Grove 2-Shane Fulcher, Thomaston 3-Lavon Sparks, Phenix City, AL 4-Glenn Morris, Fayetteville 5-David Burton, Fayetteville 6-Laddie Fulcher, Thomaston Fast Qualifier: Williams (15.349 seconds)

Crown Security Crate Late Models

Feature: 1-Doug Stevens, Grffin 2-Tod Darda, LaGrange 3-Doug Ludwig, Grantville 4-Trey White, Jenkinsburg 5-Parrish Duncan, Newnan 6-Tim Bright, Jr., Waco 7-Russ Ogletree, Phenix City, AL Fast Qualifier: Stevens (15.692 seconds)

Newnan Bonding B-Cadets

Feature: 1-Billy Bright, Sr., Union City 2-Billy Bright, Jr., Union City 3-Joe Hillman, Villa Rica 4-Marcus Caswell, Newnan 5-TJ Joiner, Lithia Springs 6-Jeff Carter, Stockbridge 7-Corey Payton, Newnan 8-Chris Carr, Newnan 9-Jay Conner, Gay 10-Charlie Garrett, West Point

Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stocks

Feature: 1-Clifton Moran, Carrollton 2-Rusty Johnson, Newnan 3-Eddie Albitron, Barnesville 4-Steve Parker, Temple 5-Kerry Carden, Brooks 6-Zak Sockwell, Newnan 7-Randy Futral, Covington 8-Bill Brown, Loganville 9-Brandon Jones, Newnan 10-Wilson Boozer, Locust Grove

Mini Stocks Feature: 1-Dusty Jones, LaGrange 2-Dorough Bright, Whitesburg 3-Gary Parker, Barnesville 4-Joe Spencer, Newnan 5-Matt Thompson, Douglasville 6-Matt Swancey, Hogansville 7-Robbie Scardon, Senoia 8-Rocky Johnson, Douglasville 9-Stephen Hill, LaGrange DNS-Bobby Arnold, Newnan DQ-Matt Black, Douglasville