Brandon Reed
By Brandon Reed
Posted in Columns 11/25/11
It’s not been very often that a good, solid friendship between the Georgia racing scene and television has come together.
That has not been the case, however, when it comes to Dave Wiley and this Commerce, Georgia based TV station, JBTV-54.
Dave’s channel has become a favorite of the locals in and around north Georgia. While it is carried solely on Windstream cable, Dave sends his programming all over north Georgia, including high school football, gospel music programs and other local based programming, including races from Gresham Motorsports Park.
Mike Bell
By Mike Bell
Posted in Columns 11/18/11
In the beginning of our research on the old days of racing, I found the library at the University of Georgia. I can’t remember who told me about it, but it was either Joe Cawley or Eddie Samples.
Eddie actually accompanied me on the first trip there. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. We stayed for hours. In the basement of that library were microfilms of almost every newspaper printed in the state of Georgia. I’ve been told that the only place with more is the Georgia State Archives, which is now located south of Atlanta near Ellenwood.
It took Ronnie Sanders 22 years to win the World Crown 300. Photo by Robert Turner
By Brandon Reed
Posted in Feature Stories 11/11/11
For Ronnie Sanders, it was the one major event that had eluded him.
He had lost the World Crown 300 at Peach State Speedway (now Gresham Motorsports Park) in Jefferson, Georgia, in just about every way you could imagine.
From cut tires to engine woes to getting caught up in other people’s problems, the Georgia speedster had seen strong runs at the crown fall apart time and time again, dating all the way back to the first running of the event in 1983.
A look at an untorn ticket from the inaugural World Crown 300 on Nov. 27, 1983 at Georgia International Speedway (now Gresham Motorsports Park) in Jefferson, Georgia. Photo courtesy George Seagraves
By Brandon Reed
Posted in Feature Stories 11/3/11
It came about as an idea for the ultimate short track event.
All Pro Series head man Bob Harmon had been looking for a late season event to pit the best short track racers from the south against the hottest hot shoes from the north. Teaming with former ASA official Rob Joyce, who had just taken over the position of promoter and general manager of Georgia International Speedway (now known as Gresham Motorsports Park) in Jefferson, Georgia, it appeared they had found just the right formula.
The 2011 Class of Inductees into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame were honored at the annual induction banquet and ceremony at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, Georgia Friday night. Photo by Justin Poole
By Brandon Reed
Posted in Feature Stories 10/82/11
Friday night was truly a night to remember, as the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame inducted its 2011 class and honored other racing luminaries at the Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, Georgia.
Those inducted included George Elliott of Dawsonville, Mike Head of Ellenwood, Harold Kite of College Park, Swayne Pritchett of Baldwin and Ken Ragan of Perry.
Senoia, Georgia's Bubba Pollard has had a banner year in 2011, and will be honored as the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Driver of the Year. Photo by Justin Poole
By Brandon Reed
Posted in Columns 10/21/11
2011 has been a Hall of Fame season for Bubba Pollard.
The Senoia, Georgia native has turned in a performance on the short tracks around the south that many drivers would love be able to call their entire career.
In 41 Late Model starts to date, Pollard has scored 18 victories, 30 top 5 finishes and 32 top 10 finishes.
The 2011 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame inductees are, left to right, George Elliott, Mike Head, Harold Kite, Swayne Pritchett and Ken Ragan.
By Brandon Reed
Posted in Feature 10/14/11
The time is almost here.
On Friday, Oct. 21, fans, friends and family will gather at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame to honor the 2011 class of inductees.
The 2011 inductees are George Elliott of Dawsonville, Mike Head of Ellenwood, Harold Kite of College Park, Swayne Pritchett of Baldwin and Ken Ragan of Unadilla.
With a class like this, a huge turnout is expected to be in Dawsonville, Georgia next Friday.
Brandon Reed
By Brandon Reed
Posted in Columns 10/6/11
Racing historian and GRH.com contributor Mike Bell is currently hard at work on a book chronicling all of the race tracks that have existed in the state of Georgia.
He says that, to date, he has discovered around 175 tracks that operated at one point or another in the state of Georgia. Of those, around 25 still are in operation.
Right now, the future of one of those has come into question.
Joe Lee Johnson would compete at NASCAR's highest level for several years, winning the inaugural World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1960, before becoming at track owner in Tennessee.
By Eddie Samples
Posted in Feature Stories 9/29/11
Joe Lee Johnson was a tall, quiet, unassuming man who seemed sure of himself.
While doing research on Atlanta’s Lakewood Speedway back in 1999, Sam Colvin, Kenny Bugg, Jimmy Mosteller and myself drove to Tennessee to visit with Joe Lee.
At the time, he owned an old fashioned quarter mile dirt speedway with wooden bleachers in Cleveland Tennessee, similar to what he raced on when he began his career in the early 1950s.
Mike Bell
By Mike Bell
Posted in Columns 9/23/11
In August of 2007, Walter “W.M.” Fulmer of Saluda, SC passed away at the age of 71. The former Marine Korean war veteran was born in Martinez, Georgia and was involved in racing most of his life.
W.M. Fulmer started racing in the late 1950s when they reopened the fairgrounds race track at Greenwood, SC. They ran flatheads and in-line six cylinders. On a very limited budget, Fulmer did quite well. His father-in-law, Lewis Maw, promoted Greenwood and Newberry Fairgrounds until the overheads took over.
