Gresham Motorsports Park
 Gresham Motorsports Park in 2021 | |
| Location | Jefferson, Georgia, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°10′0″N 83°33′9″W / 34.16667°N 83.55250°W |
| Opened | 1967 2020 (one race event only) |
| Closed | 2014 |
| Major events | World Crown 300 |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | .5 miles (.8 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | 12° |
Gresham Motorsports Park (formerly Jefco Speedway, Georgia International 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.[1] 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.[2] The track was renamed Peach State Speedway in the early 1990s. The circuit was renamed and extensively renovated in 2009.[3] NASCAR started running K&N Pro Series East races in 2010.
NASCAR results
[edit]NASCAR Grand National Series races were held in 1968 and 1969. Busch Grand National Series races were held in 1986 and 1987.[4]
Grand National/Cup
[edit]| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Car | Length | Average Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | November 3 | Cale Yarborough | Mercury | 100 miles (160 km) | 77.737 mph (125.106 km/h) |
| 1969 | November 3 | Bobby Isaac | Dodge | 100 miles (160 km) | 85.106 mph (136.965 km/h) |
Busch Series
[edit]| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Car | Length | Average Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | May 10 | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet | 100 miles (160 km) | 85.776 mph (138.043 km/h) |
| 1987 | July 5 | Larry Pearson | Chevrolet | 100 miles (160 km) | 75.869 mph (122.099 km/h) |
| August 30 | Larry Pearson | Chevrolet | 100 miles (160 km) | 74.969 mph (120.651 km/h) |
Films
[edit]The track (then going by the name Georgia International Speedway) was used in filming some parts of the 1982 Six Pack comedy-drama film directed by Daniel Petrie and starring Kenny Rogers, Diane Lane, Erin Gray, Anthony Michael Hall, and Barry Corbin. Some local Jefferson teens were used as extras in the film.
References
[edit]- ^ "History". Gresham Motorsports Park. Archived from the original on September 4, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (November 12, 2009). "World Crown set for Gresham reopening". Main Street News Sports. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (June 19, 2009). "Track renovation continues at Gresham Motorsports Park". Main Street News Sports. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ "Gresham Motorsports Park". Racing-Reference.info. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
External links
[edit]- Official site
- Gresham Motorsports Park archive at Racing-Reference
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