Local and Southeast Regional News Archives

• International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum Classic Car Show on Saturday June 12:
Come on out to support the Talladega Super Speedway and IMHOF's Spring Classic Car Show Saturday, June 12! Click the link attached for more information. A portion of all proceeds will go to support LOCAL CHARITIES and ALL are eligible to win fantastic door prizes including tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 this coming October.
Click here for more info >>>

NHRA Unleashed at ATL Dragway this Weekend NHRA Unleashed presented by Lucas Oil will be featured nationwide on Fox Sports Net in a series airing on consecutive weeks in November and December 2010. Come out and take in some action - the event runs through Sunday. Tickets available at atlantadragway.com See MSA photos

Chrome and Crabs Bike Night:
Joe's Crab Shack
Douglasville, GA - Wednesday, June 9th

Folks gathered at the newest location in town for Bike Night at Joe's Crab Shack on Wednesday night.

There was great food, and drink specials served by a friendly staff. Joe's has outside seating, games, live entertainment and plenty of parking for your ride.

Motorsport America's Fred Hanyon stopped by to check out his photos:

 

Skip Barber Racing School Moves Shop to Road Atlanta LAKEVILLE, Conn. -- Skip Barber Racing School announced the November move of its main shop and factory from Lakeville, Conn. to its facility at 5290 Winder Hwy. in Braselton, Ga., just outside the entrance of Road Atlanta. The move will bring additional engineering, fabrication, race car build (open wheel and MX-5 Cup), and engine and transmission rebuild facilities and will include the transfer of seven positions from Connecticut to Hall County. “The Atlanta market presents us with a tremendous growth opportunity,” said Michael Culver, CEO and Chairman of Skip Barber Racing School. “This move places our operations in a location central to all of the tracks we run programs at in the eastern United States and Canada.”

Southeast Drift Lights Up Gresham Motorsports Park Saturday, June 26th Sideways, tire-smoking action ruled Gresham Motorsports Park as Southeast Drift invaded the Jefferson, GA racing complex. The event featured six hours of radical action in both Pro and Amateur divisions. The event is the first of five Southeast Drift Pro AM competitions this season – three of them to be held at GMP. The program also featured the ATL Freestyle motorcycle stunt team and their unique brand of mindbending action. 2010 Southeast. Photos by Ross Monckton

WERA at Road Atlanta WERA Motorcycle Roadracing, Inc is one of the oldest and largest national sanctioning bodies conducting motorcycle races at road courses across the United States. 2004 marked the 30th Anniversary for WERA Motorcycle Roadracing. WERA offers rider's schools and entry level motorcyle racing for anyone with a motorcycle and offers three types of motorcycle racing. The WERA Sportsman Series - Southeast Division was at Road Atlanta for the June 25-27 weekend. Photos by MSA Staff.

NASA at Road Atlanta The National Auto Sport Association, Southeast Division, was at Road Atlanta for the June 18-20 weekend for HPDE, Sprint races, Time Trials and more. NASA is dedicated to organizing and promoting racing activities for both the aspiring or accomplished racer. Membership in the National Auto Sport Association will make you part of a large family of motorsports enthusiasts and will provide you many benefits such as being able to participate in NASA events across the county, free admission to most NASA events, and participation in other programs available to our members. Here’s some brief info on what NASA does, below. For more information, visit www.nasa-se.com. Photos by Ross Monckton for MSA.

Atlanta Motor Speedway's Friday Night Drags Week Seven Results by Matthew Simmons HAMPTON, Ga. (June 25, 2010) - Atlanta Motor Speedway's seventh week of Friday Night Drags opened with a crowd-pleasing burn-out contest and concluded with the points race tightening in Friday Night Drags' top division. Arif Hosein of Fayetteville started the show by claiming victory in the Friday Night Drags burn-out contest. Besting two other competitors, Hosein held his 1972 Chevrolet C-10 steady during his entire 30-second window and his back tires soon released a massive plume of smoke. By the midpoint of his burn-out, smoke billowed wide and high enough to conceal the truck from grandstand view.

Show N' Shine: Atlanta Motor Speedway Friday, June 25, 2010 Motorsport America was on hand for the Show N' Shine. You couldn't ask for a better night - cool breeze and hot cars! Along with the Friday Night Drags the evening also featured the inaugural Burn Out competition that was quite impressive. The Show N' Shine competition featured everything from new imports to classic muscle cars.

Bruton's Bluff by Dale Terry, Georgia Stock Car Racing Reported by Motorsports Network: Bruton's up to his old tricks. Having problems with an excessive bill from the Sheriff in Loudon, NH, Bruton is openly suggesting that he might pull one of the races at that facility. The last time Bruton had a hissy fit, he threatened to move Charlotte Motor Speedway out of the county. This is a high end game of poker, complete with bluffing and aggressive betting. At this point, though, I wouldn't bet too much on the Sherriff's position.

Remembering Raymond by Dale Terry, Georgia Stock Car Racing Of the late Glenn "Fireball" Roberts passing, sports writer Max Muhleman once wrote that it was like waking up to find that a mountain that had always been there was suddenly gone. That's how members of the Georgia racing community felt Sunday after learning of the passing of Mr. Raymond Parks. Brandon Reed at http://georgiaracinghistory.com. Raymond Parks - the "Rick Hendricks of his day" says Kyle Petty. Thanks to NASCAR revisionist history, Parks has long been a footnote in the pages of the sport. In reality, surely NASCAR - and perhaps even the sport of stock car racing itself - may not even exist today without the efforts or Raymond Parks.

8th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion Turns up the Heat June 18-20, 2010: This past Father’s Day weekend, thousands of immaculate hot rods and passionate nostalgic drag racing fans assembled in the beautiful southern town of Bowling Green, Ky for the 8th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion. The town was jammed with Reunion-goers as early as Tuesday to take in the many activities surrounding the three day event.The annual Hot Rod Reunion fun began on Thursday at the Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, the Reunion host hotel.

Johnson Gets Road Course Gift From Ambrose (June 20, 2010) SONOMA, Calif.—Jimmie Johnson scratched another item off his bucket list—but not without unintended help from Marcos Ambrose. Johnson inherited the lead in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway when Ambrose failed to keep up with the pace car during the final caution of the 110-lap race and pulled away from Robby Gordon in the final five laps to win the first road-course race of his career.

Raymond Parks 1914-2010 Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first championship winning owner, passed away Sunday morning in his Atlanta, Ga. home. He was 96. Parks, a true forefather of the sport, owned the championship winning car in both NASCAR’s first Modified season of 1948 and “Strictly Stock” season of 1949. Both championship-winning cars were driven by Red Byron.

Garmon Scores Memorable Victory At Gresham Motorsports Park JEFFERSON, GA (June 19, 2010) – Jimmy Garmon couldn’t remember the last time he won a race. It’s a sure bet he won’t ever forget Saturday’s Chapman Pools 100 Presented By Papa John’s Pizza at Gresham Motorsports Park. Garmon and Pollard proved to be the story over the final 50 laps as they swapped the lead twice before Garmon settled into the top spot with 41 circuits remaining. The Hoschton, GA driver built up as much as a five-car length lead and appeared to be headed to an easy victory only to have Pollard mounted a late charge that saw the two drivers dead even heading into the first turn on the final lap.

Goodyear Tire Test at Atlanta Motor Speedway Results in Perceived Competitive Advantage and Praise for Tire Compound HAMPTON, Ga. (June 16, 2010) - During day two of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company tire testing at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray conveyed to the media that the test provides a competitive advantage approaching the track's Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend as the drivers vie for vital points entering the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Newman and McMurray currently sit 15th and 18th respectively in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings and each believes the test provides an advantage.

Thank Dad with Tickets to USA's Biggest Labor Day Party at Atlanta Motor Speedway For NASCAR fans, no Father's Day gift says, "Thanks Dad," more than tickets to the biggest Labor Day party in the USA during Atlanta Motor Speedway's NASCAR night racing weekend on Sept. 4 and 5. Atlanta Motor Speedway is offering ticket packages for the track's Labor Day weekend NASCAR night races that make a perfect gift for any father and family, including the Family Four Pack and tickets to the Great Clips 300 Nationwide Series race with children admitted free of charge.

ATLANTA DRAGWAY REGULARS SWEEP INDEX CLASSES AT INAUGURAL NHRA UNLEASHED EVENT ON SUNDAY Story by: Tim Glover Photos by Motorsport America Staff (Commerce, GA – June 11-13) Atlanta Dragway had the honor of hosting the inaugural NHRA Unleashed event, a televised four event series for 2010 featuring ten classes of racing for all makes of automobiles, an interactive manufacturer’s midway, car show, car corral, swap meet, kid zone, autocross course, and even a “Beat the Heat” program, pairing anyone who wanted to race an actual police officer on the track. The interactive portion of the midway featured a regulation autocross course, a go-kart booth, and even a Kid Zone play area featuring rides and inflatable slides. The midway had many performance oriented goodies from manufacturers like B&M, McLeod, Hurst, Edelbrock, MSD, Quick Fuel and more.

Atlanta Motor Speedway's Thursday Thunder Week Two Results HAMPTON, Ga. (June 10, 2010) - Atlanta Motor Speedway's week two of Thursday Thunder showcased two first-time winners and a 12-year veteran competitor scoring his 25th career Thursday Thunder win and making his mark in the record-books. Garrett Smithley took the green flag to get the Dixie Home Crafters Semi-Pro feature underway. On lap four, Mike Weed made the pass for the top spot. Amber Colvin and Jordan Coker made contact in turn two on lap 13, bringing out the caution and tightening up the field. After the restart, Weed continued to inch away from the field, holding them off for the final seven circuits to seize his first-career Dixie Home Crafters Semi-Pro win. Photos by Ross Monckton

Chrome and Crabs Bike Night: Joe's Crab Shack Douglasville, GA - Wednesday, June 9th Folks gathered at the newest location in town for Bike Night at Joe's Crab Shack on Wednesday night. There was great food, and drink specials served by a friendly staff. Joe's has outside seating, games, live entertainment and plenty of parking for your ride. Motorsport America's Fred Hanyon stopped by to check out his photos:

Atlanta Motor Speedway Searching for Fans Who Attended First Race in 1960 by Marcy Scott Atlanta Motor Speedway is seeking fans who attended the track’s first race, the 1960 Dixie 300, to take part in their 50th Anniversary celebration and pre-race festivities before the track’s Labor Day weekend NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race. Select fans from the Speedway’s inaugural race in 1960 will be chosen to take part in the Labor Day weekend NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race on Sunday, Sept. 5.

Offshore Super Series at Lake Cumberland, Kentucky Motorsport America headed north to KY to take in the OSS race this weekend. MSA's Leon McVay brought back these photos. Results and more news can be found at www.offshoresuperseries.com as it becomes available.

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Hamlin Wins Green-White-Checker Finish Denny Hamlin won his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the season Sunday at Pocono Raceway. The 30-year-old driver from Chesapeake, Va., took the lead from three-time Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish, Jr., and a green-white-checker restart set up by a three-lap-to-go crash between Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano to win the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 at Pocono Raceway. Harvick and Logano touched going into Turn 3, causing Logano to spin. Harvick went on to finish fourth, and Logano wound up 13th. Hamlin's teammate, pole sitter Kyle Busch, was second and Tony Stewart third.

DIXON, HAGAN, EDWARDS, TONGLET FIND WINNER’S CIRCLE IN CHICAGO Larry Dixon raced past defending world champion Tony Schumacher to grab the win at the rain-delayed United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. Matt Hagan, Mike Edwards and LE Tonglet also won in their respective categories at the 10th of 23 events on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Dixon drove his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to a 3.823-second run at 323.12 mph past Schumacher to earn his fifth win of the season and 53rd of his career. It was also the sixth time this season that Dixon and Schumacher met each other during eliminations.

Dad’s Get Free Admission to Gresham Motorsports Park Father’s Day Speedtacular Gresham Motorsports Park has the perfect present for Father’s Day – a free night at the races for Dad! That’s right, all Dads will get in free to the Saturday, June 19 racing program when Mom or a family member buys a regular $20 adult ticket for the Father’s Day Speedtacular at Gresham Motorsports Park. Included in the full program of racing events will be a 100-lap Super Late Model headliner with feature races in the Outlaw Late Model, Renegade Street Stock, Truck and Mini-Stock divisions. Additionally, the always popular Mini Cup Stock Cars will make their first appearance at GMP this season.

Rome Season Opener rescheduled for June 6th It promised to be one of the best races for the 2010 season at Rome's season opener on Memorial Day Weekend. The stands were packed and so was pits and infield with racers and their cars. The track was looking great and you could tell the racers were itching to get out there and go. But five minutes into heats, you could feel tiny drops of rain hitting your face and arms like a mist. And it got heavier and windy as we waited it out for the decision from the announcer. Rainchecks from May 30th will be honored on Sunday June 6th for the second attempt at the Rome Season Opener. Motorsport America's Fred Hanyon did get these photos before the bad weather set in.

Outlaw Drag Racing Association There's a new kid on the block for drag racing called the ODRA. Motorsport America visited them at the U.S. 19 Dragstrip in Albany, GA the weekend of May 28-29. Unfortunately, the weather didn't co-operate and the race was scrubbed. For more information about the ODRA, visit www.odraracing.com. The series will be back in Georgia August 13th - 14th at the Macon National Dragway. Before Mother Nature turned on the waterworks, our Motorsport America Staff got these photos to bring back.