Monday, October 27, 2008

World Crown's Legendary History

World Crown Has Legendary History At Peach State By Brandon Reed Jefferson, GA - - The first time you hold a race, it’s a happening. The tenth time, it’s an event. The twentieth time, it’s a tradition. But when the 25th race comes around, it’s a legend. That’s what Pro Late Model drivers that take the green flag in the World Crown at Peach State Speedway on Nov. 9 will be taking part in – a legendary event that crowns the “King of the Short Tracks.” Along with the annual Pro Late Model event, Peach State will host several events during the World Crown Weekend, beginning on Nov. 7 with feature events by the Mini Stock, Sportsman and Renegade classes, along with heat events. Saturday, Nov. 8 will feature the US Auto Sales 100 Super Late Model event, along with races for the Super Truck division, and an Open Wheel Modified event that marks only the second appearance for the division at Peach State in history. On Sunday afternoon, Nov. 9, fans will be treated not only to the headliner World Crown event, but also to an Outlaw Late Model feature. All of these drivers will be racing in the tire tracks of history. The World Crown began as the brainchild of the late Rob Joyce when he took over as track promoter for Peach State back in 1983. He envisioned an event that would bring drivers from all over the country together, including stars from the ASA and around the southeast, to determine once and for all who the best of the best was by duking it out on Georgia’s fastest paved half mile oval. The starting lineup on Nov. 27, 1983 read like a who’s who of short track racing, with names like Jody Ridley, Mark Martin, Freddy Fryar, Darrell Waltrip, Alan Kulwicki, Rusty Wallace and Mike Alexander. The Alabama Gang was there in force as well, with Bobbie, Donnie and Davey Allison taking part, along with family friend Neil Bonnett. The finish is one still talked about in the annals of racing history. Greenville, S.C. native Butch Lindley had the lead late, and was running away with the race when a blown tire sent his car over the turn two guardrail, and out of the track. Lindley was uninjured, and waved to the crowd, but his race was over. That gave the lead to legendary Wisconsin racer Dick Trickle, who held off hard charges from fellow ASA aces Mike Eddy and Bob Senneker to take the win. In victory lane, Joyce placed the first of many crowns for the event on Trickle’s head, proclaiming him the ‘King of the Short Tracks’. “I'm not a king,” Trickle said at the time. “I'm just a race car driver.” Trickle would go on to become one of the winningest drivers in short track history, but still refers to the 1983 World Crown as one of the biggest wins of his career. From that point on, victory lane at the World Crown became a major destination for some of the best drivers in the country. In 1984, Gary Balough held off a hard charging Mark Martin for the win. ASA legend Mike Eddy added his name to the list in 1985. Then in 1986, NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip came to town. Attacking the track much like he did his native Nashville Speedway, Waltrip piloted his way to victory over a field that included Dave Mader III, Randy Porter and legendary driver Tim Richmond. In 1987, Ol’ D.W. added another chapter to the World Crown legacy by becoming the first multiple winner of the event, holding off a fast moving Mader to go back-to-back on Peach State’s high banks. Wisconsin driver Rich Bickle held off a fast field for the win in the 1990 edition of the World Crown. Two years later, Bickle would become the second two-time winner of the event, as he cashed in on the 1992 World Crown victory, while Billy Bigley, Jr. wore the crown in 1993. NASCAR veteran Rick Crawford broke into victory lane in the World Crown’s 1994 edition, with Bobby Gill and Georgia Hall of Fame racer Jody Ridley nipping at his heels. The All-Pro cars would again run the World Crown one year later, with Mike Cope holding off Ron Young and future NASCAR Cup series champion Matt Kenseth to take top honors. World Crown winners over the next few years read like a directory of great short track winners. Freddie Query won in 1996, Bobby Gill in 1997, and hometown hero Jimmy Garmon, of nearby Braselton, GA., wore the crown in 1998. Freddie Querry added another chapter to the World Crown record book, as he became only the second driver to win multiple World Crown events by taking the victory in 1999. In 2000, the era of the hometown hero began at Peach State, as Georgia native Micky Cain won his first and only World Crown title. The next year, Paul Kelley, of Pendergrass, GA., held off Commerce, GA. racer Lee Langford for his first World Crown. Hometown driver Clay Dale, of Jefferson, GA., won in 2003, recording the win over Langford. Veteran drivers Ronnie Sanders, of Watkinsville, Ga., and Frederick Moore, of Gainesville, Ga., fought for the World Crown win in 2005, with the wily Sanders pulling out the victory. In 2006, Paul Kelley served notice that he was the ‘King of the World Crown’. Kelley became the fourth two-time winner of the event when he held off Korey Ruble for the victory. One year later, Kelley and his crew played out a risky tire strategy that allowed him to make a late race charge on Matt Hawkins. Kelley made the final pass for the lead with two laps remaining, and pulled away to become the first three-time World Crown champion. “It’s awesome,” Kelley said after his third overall World Crown victory. “We had a really good car, good crew, good tire guy. The crew chief and everybody worked together. Thank the Lord.” Kelley will be looking for his fourth World Crown victory on Nov. 9, and to become the first driver to pull of the three-peat in the legendary event. But there will be lots of other drivers out there looking to add their name to the Rob Joyce Memorial Trophy, including Bubba Pollard, 2008 GAS series champion Russell Fleeman, local drivers Joey Senter and Taylor Satterfield, and Florida sensation Ryan Crane. In addition, any driver who competes in the World Crown who is a 2008 Pro Late Model track or 2008 touring series champion has the opportunity to take home an additional $1,000 should they wear the crown at the end of the day. For more information, call 706-387-7490, or go online to www.peachstspeedway.com. Peach State Speedway is located between Atlanta and Greenville, SC off I-85 at Exit 140. World Crown Fast-Facts Past Winners 1983 Dick Trickle – Wisconsin Rapids, WI 1984 Gary Balough – Ft. Lauderdale, FL 1985 Mike Eddy – Midland, MI 1986 Darrell Waltrip – Franklin, TN 1987 Darrell Waltrip – Franklin, TN 1990 Rich Bickle – Edgerton, WI 1992 Rich Bickle – Edgerton, WI 1993 Billy Bigley, Jr. – Naples, FL 1994 Rick Crawford – Mobile, AL 1995 Mike Cope – Pinellas Park, FL 1996 Freddy Query – Mooresville, NC 1997 Bobby Gill – Bradenton, FL 1998 Jimmy Garmon – Braselton, GA 1999 Freddy Query – Mooresville, NC 2000 Micky Cain – Cleveland, GA 2001 Paul Kelley – Pendergrass, GA 2003 Clay Dale – Jefferson, GA 2004 Fredrick Moore – Gainesville, GA 2005 Ronnie Sanders – Fayetteville, GA 2006 Paul Kelley – Pendergrass, GA 2007 Paul Kelley – Pendergrass, GA Results from 1988-89, 1991 and 2002 not available Various Pole Winners 1983 Gary Balough – 17.725 (102.127 mph) 1984 Rusty Wallace – 17.374 (103.603 mph) 1986 Micky Gibbs - 17.549 (102.563 mph) 1995 Tony Walls – 17.253 (104.329 mph)* 1999 Wayne Willard – 17.270 (104.227 mph) 2004 Fredrick Moore – 19.385 (92.855 mph)** 2005 Kevin Stephens – 18.464 (97.487 mph) 2006 Korey Ruble – 18.153 (99.157 mph) 2007 Matt Hawkins – 17.609 (102.220 mph) *World Crown pole record **Only World Crown winner to start from the pole

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