Photos by MSA Staff

Jimmy 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.

“I want to say it was 2003, maybe 2004 the last time I won a race,” said a jubilant Garmon after holding off Bubba Pollard to win the 100-lap Super Late Model event. “It was here at Gresham when the track was still Peach State Speedway. They had two 40-lap features one night and I won one of them. This is pretty special.”

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.

Garmon was able to find the power to surge ahead on the back straight and held off the hard-charging Pollard at the finish line. Greg Simpson was third with Johnny Henderson and Johanna Long completing the Top-5 finishers.

I’ve been doing this a long time – 22 years – and that might be the strongest engine I’ve ever sat behind,” said Garmon. “It just really pulled all night long.”

After the win, the popular veteran was mobbed by fans in Victory Lane, a testament to how special the win was for both the driver and those who follow short-track racing in Georgia.

“I got a little emotional there in Victory Lane,” Garmon stated. “This means so much to me. Let’s face it, I’m no spring chicken anymore, but I think I can still drive. I guess I proved it tonight.”

Garmon’s win had an extra bonus in that it earned him a guaranteed spot in the 27th-Annual World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park later this year on November 14.

Garmon wasn’t the only driver to send the largest crowd of the year at GMP home smiling. For the second event in a row, Alabama driver Brittany Finley captured the 35-lap Truck Series main event. Finley, who won on the Gresham half-mile oval on May 15, had to come from behind this time around slipping by Bill Hoose for the lead with a handful of laps remaining. Hoose managed to hang on for second followed by Joel Townsend, Kevin Vassar and Brandon Franklin.

The Mini-Stock main event also featured a repeat winner – and the most spectacular wreck of the evening. Spanky Hicks may have won the race, but the fans will best remember Brian Powell’s wicked barrel roll down the main straight early in the event. The wreck, which also involved Michael Buckner, red-flagged the event as track crews removed the two battered racers.

Back under green, Hicks outdueled Avery Burgess, William Earnest, Tim Greer and Bill George to become the first three-time winner at GMP this season.

That distinction didn’t last long as Jason Bates – and his dog Roscoe – made their third appearance in Victory Lane at Gresham Motorsports Park this season when he won the Outlaw Late Model feature.

That event was also spiced by a hard wreck as Hoyt Stephens and Chad Atha took out the hydro barrier at the entrance of Turn 3. Both drivers were uninjured in the incident.

Back up front, Bates first held off Tina Stephens, the winner of the last Outlaw Late Model event, and then David Murphy to capture the 35-lap test. Stephens held on to take third while Mike Davidson and Terry Martin completed the Top-5 finishers.

Jody Trivett gave the Father’s Day special crowd a thrill with a trio of tire-smoking burnouts after winning the Renegade Street Stock main event. Shawn Campbell was second with Doug Sexton third.

Finally, Mason Elzey led wire-to-wire to win the first Mini Cup race of the season on the GMP quarter-mile oval beating Brody Bullard, Emilee Riley, Will Fagen, Eric Brookshire and Brad Stiffler to the checkered flag.

In the second Mini Cup feature, Casey Willingham drove away from the field to win the Outlaw division headliner.

Sideways tire-smoking action is next up on the Gresham Motorsports Park calendar when Southeast Drift invades GMP Saturday, June 26. Both pro and amateur divisions are scheduled for six hours of radical lit up action - plus – ATL Freestyle will be here with a thrilling program of mind-bending motorcycle stunt action. Spectator admission is just 10 bucks and gates open at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

Gresham Motorsports Park will also host the Opening Ceremonies for the Dizzy Dean 13-Year-Old Baseball World Series presented by US Auto Sales on Thursday evening, July 14.

Put on the Jackson County Parks And Recreation Department - the Opening Ceremonies will include a Parade of Teams, a racing demonstration on the GMP half-mile oval, games and go karts from Funopolis Family Fun Center and a fireworks show right after dark.

The event is open to the public free of charge and GMP will be selling Buy One, Get One Free Adult Grandstand and Trackside Parking general admission tickets to the Saturday, July 17 World Series of Speed event featuring the CRA Super Late Models that evening.

Joining the CRA Supers on Saturday, July 17 will be the Outlaw Late Models, Trucks, Renegades, Mini-Stocks and Mini-Cups. There will also be a special motorcycle thrill show to round out the exciting night of racing action.

Gresham Motorsports Park is located right off I-85 at Exit 140, next to the Jackson County Airport In Jefferson. GA.

For more information about Gresham Motorsports Park, please log on to www.GreshamMotorsportsPark.com.

Event Results

Chapman Pools 100 Super Late Models Presented By Papa John’s Pizza 1. Jimmy Garmon 2. Bubba Pollard 3. Greg Simpson 4. Johnny Henderson 5. Johanna Long 6. Allen Karnes 7. Bill Hoose 8. Jason Hogan 9. Mike Garvey 10. Chase Elliott

Mini Stocks – 20 Laps 1. Spanky Hicks 2. Avery Burgess 3. William Earnest 4. Tim Greer 5. Bill George 6. Bryan Bellew 7. Blake Freeman 8. Scott Beck 9. Jimmy Burgess 10. Brian Powell 11. Greg Stephens 12. Michael Buckner 13. Vernon Hicks 14. Ken Cadiotti, Sr. 15. Matt Vasser 16. Steve Hill

Renegades – 25 Laps 1. Jody Trivett 2. Shawn Campbell 3. Doug Sexton

Trucks – 35 Laps 1.Brittney Finley 2. Bill Hoose 3. Joel Townsend 4. Kevin Vasser 5. Brendon Franklin 6. Jeremy Parris 7. Matt Vasser 8. Ruben Tarca

Outlaw Late Models – 35 Laps 1. Jason Bates 2. David Murphy 3. Tina Stephens 4. Mike Davidson 5. Terry Martin 6. Brian Hardman 7. Todd Vanderford 8. Chad Atha 9. Hoyt Stephens

Mini Cups – Feature #1 – 20 Laps 1. Mason Elzey 2. Brody Bullard 3. Emilee Riley 4. Will Fagen 5. Eric Brookshire 6. Brad Stiffler

Mini Cups – Feature #2 – 20 Laps 1.Casey Willingham 2.Emilee Riley

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 the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Dizzy Dean Little League World Series, the Georgia Electric Car Rally and the Laps For Literacy Fun Run/Walk. Drifting and Motorcycle shows, local and regional Craft Shows, Car Shows, Concerts and other community activities are also being considered for 2010. 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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