Southeast News: March 27,2009

Gresham Motorsports Park: Local Volunteer Fire Department Lends a Hand to Facility Renovation at Gresham Motorsports Park

JEFFERSON, Ga. -- The construction process at Gresham Motorsports Park (GMP) heated up this week with the razing of the press box and concession stand on the site of the former Peach State Speedway.

"We had the Harrisburg Volunteer Fire Department come out and burn the buildings down as a training exercise," said GMP General Manager Dan Elliott. "In addition to the press box at the half-mile track, they also burned down the press and concessions facility at the old go kart track. The whole process took about four hours."

The controlled burn was just one of many renovation projects scheduled for the historic Georgia racetrack. By the time the facility re-opens in November 2009 with the running of the 26th-Annual World Crown 300, Gresham Motorsports Park will have undergone a major transformation featuring a new racing surface, fencing and retaining walls for the half-mile oval. Additional scheduled improvements will also include a fresh aluminum grandstand, a lowered infield for better sight lines, a quarter-mile Legends track on infield of the half-mile oval, renovated restrooms, new concession areas and trackside parking.

The track, which opened in 1967 with a NASCAR Late Model Sportsman event, will be open full-time in 2010 featuring a schedule of top auto racing action as well as several regional and community events.

"Allowing the Fire Department to do a controlled burn was a great way for them to get some training and practice," said Elliott. "The buildings would have had to been torn down anyway, so it also helped us because it reduced the amount of debris we would have had to send to the recycling center. Some of the firemen who helped with the burn actually have worked at the track in the past as part of our Fire, Rescue and Safety Teams, so it was great to have them back here helping us out again."

About Gresham Motorsports Park
Opened as Jefco Speedway with a NASCAR Late Model Sportsman (now Nationwide) race in 1967, Gresham Motorsports Park has served the auto racing community for more than 40 years. The half-mile asphalt oval, located just outside Jefferson, GA, is currently under a total facility renovation and is expected to reopen with the 26th-Annual World Crown 300 November 12-15, 2009. The multi-purpose facility is currently formulating plans to host a wide range of events in 2010 including multiple divisions of auto racing, local and regional Craft Shows, Farmer"s and Flea Markets, Car Shows, Concerts and other community events.

For more information about Gresham Motorsports Park " or to enquire about booking a 2010 event at the facility - please log on to www.greshammotorsportspark.com or contact Dan Elliott at info@GreshamMotorsportsPark.com.