Photos by David Allio for MSA

Augie 'Grills Em' In Gresham Motorsports Park CRA 125 Season Opener

Augie Grill dominated the Champion Racing Association (CRA) Super Late Model season opening event at Gresham Motorsports Park Saturday, March 13th, in Jefferson, GA..

The Hayden, AL driver served notice early that he would be the driver to beat posting fast time in qualifying with a 16.169 second tour of the GMP half-mile oval. Grill started third on the 26-car starting field after the post-qualifying inversion and wasted little time moving to the front taking the lead from Ryan Lawler on Lap 16.

From there on out, it was smooth sailing for the Jani-King sponsored driver as he survived a series of late restarts to win the 125-lap headliner going away.

Meanwhile, a series of challengers took their turns battling for the runner-up spot. Lawler held on to the position until Chase Elliott inherited the spot on a Lap 48 when Lawler headed to the pits with rear end problems.

Several drivers including Casey Roderick, T.J. Reid all took turns in the Top-Five only to fall out of contention. Only a late caution made it close as Grill roared to victory over Elliott, Bubba Pollard, Jason Hogan and Mike Garvey. Scott Hantz, Russell Fleeman, Jeff Fultz, Greg Simpson and Cale Gale rounded out the Top-10 finishers.

In the Outlaw Late Model main event, Jason Bates held off Mike Davidson in the closest event of the evening. Tina Stephens was third with Terry Martin and David Murphy completing the Top-Five finishers.

Joel Townsend won the slam-bang 50-lap Truck Series main. The event - spiced by several wrecks - appeared to be Paul Antley's to win, but Antley got into the front-stretch wall on a late restart allowing Townsend to take home the win. Branden Franklin was second while Antley was third. Brittany Finley finished fourth and Jeremy Parris was fifth.

Gresham Motorsports Park will next host an Electric Car Competition Saturday, March 20. The event will feature several area high schools and different types of electric vehicles in multiple competitions. The event is free of charge to the public.

The next racing action on the GMP half-mile oval will be on Saturday, March 27 when the USARacing Pro Cup cars make their first of two appearances this season. Tickets for the 250-lap event are just $25 and are available at http://greshammotorsportspark.ticketforce.com/

CRA 125 Results

1. Augie Grill, Hayden, AL  125 laps

2. Chase Elliott, Dawsonville, GA 125 laps

3. Bubba Pollard, Senoia, GA 125 laps

4. Jason Hogan, Cleveland, GA 125 laps

5. Mike Garvey, Atlanta, GA 125 laps

6. Scott Hantz, Angola, IN 125 laps

7. Russell Fleeman, Dacula, GA 125 laps

8. Jeff Fultz, Troutman, GA 125 laps

9. Greg Simpson, Gainesville, GA 125 laps

10. Cale Gale, Winston Salem, NC 124 laps

11. T.J. Reaid, Acworth, GA 118 laps

12. Mason Mingus, Brentwood, TN 118 laps

13. Joey Senter, Jefferson, GA 101 laps

Photos below by Fred Hanyon, MSA

14. Ryan Crane, Panama City, FL 101 laps

15. Donnie Wilson, Oklahoma City, OK 80 laps

16. Johanna Long, Pensacola, FL 76 laps

17. Allen Karnes, Sharpsburg, GA 74 laps

18. Lane Morrow, Monroe, GA 60 laps

19. Johnny Henderson, Conyers, GA 54 laps

20. Randy Gentry, Easley,SC 52 laps

21. Ryan Lawler, Mooresville, NC 49 laps

22. Casey Roderick, Dawsonville, GA 47 laps

23. Jimmy Garmon, Braselton, GA 45 laps

24. Don Young, Hopkinsville, KY 26 laps

25. Scott Smith, Logansville, GA 1 lap

26. Johnny VanDoorn, Coopersville, MI 1 lap

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 underwent a complete renovation in 2009. In 2010, the multi-use motorsports facility will host a wide range of Stock Car Racing events including the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, USARacing Pro Cup Series, Super, Pro and Outlaw Late Models, Trucks Street Stocks and US Legends International competition. Additionally, Jackson County's largest event center will be the site of numerous other events including Drifting and Motorcycle shows, local and regional Craft Shows, Car Shows, Concerts and other community activities. 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.

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