Catchfence

JEFFERSON, GA (November 14, 2009) – Gresham Motorsports Park added some sizzle to its 2010 schedule today with the announcement that the totally renovated facility would play host to a NASCAR Camping World Series East event next season.

According to Gresham Motorsports Park General Manager, the Camping World Series East race will mark the return of NASCAR to the historic half-mile Georgia oval on Saturday, August 28, 2010.

“This is a great day for us,” said Elliott. “Gresham Motorsports Park opened as Jefco Speedway in 1967 and the first event was a NASCAR Sportsman (now Nationwide) race won by ‘Tiger’ Tom Pistone. Later, NASCAR greats Cale Yarborough and Bobby Isacc won what are now NASCAR Sprint Cup races here. To say we are elated to have a NASCAR event back on our schedule is an understatement.”

The previous incarnation of the NASCAR Camping World Series East division actually has competed at GMP. On July 24, 1968, Tiny Lund won a NASCAR Grand Touring Series at the then named Jefco Speedway. Lund would win another Grand Touring event – the Bulldog 400 – at Jefco on March 16, 1969.

In 2009, the NASCAR Camping World Series East contested 11 races including events at Watkins Glen International, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway and Iowa Speedway.

The GMP NASCAR event is just one of 12 high-profile oval track races the former Peach State Speedway will stage in 2010. Purchased by the Gresham family in January, the track was closed all season as the facility was leveled and replaced with a state-of-the-art facility. In addition to the complete makeover that included all new racing surfaces and lighting, a drive-thru Infield Tech Center, new grandstands, rest rooms and concession facilities were also constructed. The track is also one of the most technologically advanced in the country featuring 7-loop data/scoring capacity and wireless, remote control solar powered track safety lighting.

The announcement of the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Series East race was made at the 26th-Annual World Crown 300 this weekend – the inaugural event at the new Gresham Motorsports Park track.

- Gresham Motorsports Park Press Release