Gresham Motorsports Park
Encyclopedia
Gresham Motorsports Park (formerly Jefco Speedway and Peach State Speedway) is a half-mile (.8 km) paved oval auto racing
track in Jefferson, Georgia
. The track opened in 1967, named Jefco Speedway. Tom Pistone
won the inaugural event, a NASCAR Late Model Sportsman race. Two NASCAR Grand National races were held at the track in 1968 and 1969, won by Cale Yarborough
and Bobby Isaac
. Since 1983, the track has held the World Crown 300 for late model
stock cars. The track was renamed Peach State Speedway in the early 1990s. The circuit was renamed and extensively renovated in 2009.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
track in Jefferson, Georgia
Jefferson, Georgia
Jefferson is a city in Jackson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,825 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Jackson County. Jefferson is known for its superior recreation department...
. The track opened in 1967, named Jefco Speedway. Tom Pistone
Tom Pistone
"Tiger" Tom Pistone is a former NASCAR Grand National driver from Chicago. He made his Grand National debut in 1955. He won two races and finished 6th in championship points in the 1959 season for Carl Rupert, his best season statistically...
won the inaugural event, a NASCAR Late Model Sportsman race. Two NASCAR Grand National races were held at the track in 1968 and 1969, won by Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough
William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
and Bobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac is a former NASCAR Grand National champion.-Early life:Isaac grew up on a farm near Catawba, North Carolina, the second youngest of nine children...
. Since 1983, the track has held the World Crown 300 for late model
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
stock cars. The track was renamed Peach State Speedway in the early 1990s. The circuit was renamed and extensively renovated in 2009.
NASCAR results
NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) races were held in 1968 and 1968. Busch Grand National Series (now Nationwide Series) races were held in 1986 and 1987.Grand National/Cup
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Car | Length | Average Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | November 3 | Cale Yarborough Cale Yarborough William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships... |
Mercury Mercury (automobile) Mercury was an automobile marque of the Ford Motor Company launched in 1938 by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to market entry-level luxury cars slotted between Ford-branded regular models and Lincoln-branded luxury vehicles, similar to General Motors' Buick brand, and Chrysler's namesake brand... |
100 miles (160 km) | 77.737 mph (125.1 km/h) |
| 1969 | November 3 | Bobby Isaac Bobby Isaac Bobby Isaac is a former NASCAR Grand National champion.-Early life:Isaac grew up on a farm near Catawba, North Carolina, the second youngest of nine children... |
Dodge Dodge Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide.... |
100 miles (160 km) | 85.106 mph (137 km/h) |
Busch Series
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Car | Length | Average Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | May 10 | Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
100 miles (160 km) | 85.776 mph (138 km/h) |
| 1987 | July 5 | Larry Pearson Larry Pearson Larry Pearson is a former NASCAR driver and the son of three-time Winston Cup champion David Pearson. He won the Busch Series championship in 1986 and 1987, but struggled during his brief tenure in Winston Cup... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
100 miles (160 km) | 75.869 mph (122.1 km/h) |
| August 30 | Larry Pearson Larry Pearson Larry Pearson is a former NASCAR driver and the son of three-time Winston Cup champion David Pearson. He won the Busch Series championship in 1986 and 1987, but struggled during his brief tenure in Winston Cup... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
100 miles (160 km) | 74.969 mph (120.7 km/h) |