Track Officials React
Tony Gresham, pictured left, and Jim Gresham, pictured right, have put the right people into place to bring the Jefferson, Georgia track back into prominance. Photo by Brandon Reed
Tony Gresham, one of the track owners, said he felt the news of the track being chosen was “quite an accomplishment that we didn’t set out to make.”
“We just wanted to do something good for the racing community,” Gresham said. “As our vision grew and we worked closely with Dan and the folks with Jackson County and the project took a little more significance, we honed our focus a little to try to get things right. We realized along the way that there was a little more to it than bringing the track back up to speed. Both the immediate public community and the racing community were just unbelievable through the entire process and made it real clear that something special was going on.
“I think from all the feedback that we’ve gotten…with Dan’s hard work and a little bit of help from us, quite honestly, it sounds like we got most of the project right. We’re really proud to know that we’re being thought of in that way.”
Gresham said the track is in the late stages of preparing their 2010 schedule, saying that it will be more limited than race fans in the area are used to, but that’s by design.
“We want the shows that come to the track to be of the same quality and integrity that we’ve built the track around,” he said. “I think that’s exemplified by the return of Pro Cup and NASCAR validating the effort we’ve put forth in giving us the Camping World event, which, at this point in time, is the highest level race event we can host, period.”
Gresham said that short of installing soft walls at the speedway, the Camping World event is as high as they can go.
GMP General Manager Dan Elliott credits the Gresham family with the rebirth of the track. Photo by Brandon Reed
“For (NASCAR) to come out in the first full scheduled year of our existence and validate our efforts I think is huge.”
Gresham said the race schedule for 2010 is expected to be released shortly after the start of the New Year.
GMP General Manager Dan Elliott said that the Gresham family is the reason for the track’s rebirth.
“I honestly believe that given time, this will be one of the premier tracks of the southeast for sure,” he said. “Especially with the fact that NASCAR is coming back here in 2010 with the Camping World East series, which opens the door for the future.”
Elliott pointed to the forward thinking of those involved as something that will benefit the facility.
“When we got into the conversation with the Greshams about the track and what it was going to be like, we all agreed that it would not only lead the way in technology but also in new ideas and new ways,” he said. “This track is not only a race track, but it’s also very versatile and we plan to use that to our advantage for 2010 and beyond.
“It’s going to take a little time, like anything else. You just grow it.”