Hoschton’s Jimmy Garmon couldn’t remember the last time he won a race. It’s a sure bet he won’t ever forget Saturday’s Super Late Model feature at Gresham Motorsports Park.
“I want to say it was 2003, maybe 2004 the last time I won a race,” said a jubilant Garmon after holding off Senoia’s Bubba Pollard to win the 100-lap event. “It was here at Gresham when the track was still Peach State Speedway. They had two 40-lap features one night and I won one of them. This is pretty special.”
Garmon and Pollard proved to be the story over the final 50 laps as they swapped the lead twice before Garmon settled into the top spot with 41 circuits remaining. He built up as much as a five-car length lead and appeared to be headed to an easy victory only to have Pollard mount a late charge that saw the two drivers dead even heading into the first turn on the final lap.
Garmon was able to find the power to surge ahead on the back straight and held off Pollard at the finish line. Greg Simpson was third with Johnny Henderson and Johanna Long rounding out the top five.
After the win, the popular veteran was mobbed by fans in Victory Lane, a testament to how special the win was for both the driver and those who follow short-track racing in Georgia.
“I got a little emotional there in Victory Lane,” Garmon stated. “This means so much to me. Let’s face it, I’m no spring chicken anymore, but I think I can still drive. I guess I proved it tonight.”
Garmon’s win had an extra bonus in that it earned him a guaranteed spot in the 27th Annual World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park Nov. 14.
For the second event in a row, Alabama driver Brittany Finley captured the 35-lap Truck Series main event. Finley, who won on the Gresham half-mile oval on May 15, had to come from behind, slipping by Bill Hoose for the lead with a handful of laps remaining. Hoose managed to hang on for second followed by Joel Townsend, Kevin Vassar and Brandon Franklin.
The Mini-Stock main event also featured a repeat winner. Spanky Hicks out dueled Avery Burgess, William Earnest, Tim Greer and Bill George to become the first three-time winner at GMP this season.
That distinction didn’t last long as Jason Bates – and his dog Roscoe – made their third appearance in Victory Lane at Gresham Motorsports Park this season when he won the Outlaw Late Model feature.
Bates first held off Tina Stephens, the winner of the last Outlaw Late Model event, and then David Murphy to capture the 35-lap test. Stephens finished third while Mike Davidson and Terry Martin completed the Top-5 finishers.
Jody Trivett won the Renegade Street Stock main event. Shawn Campbell was second with Doug Sexton third.
Mason Elzey led wire-to-wire to win the first Mini Cup race of the season on the GMP quarter-mile oval, beating Brody Bullard, Emilee Riley, Will Fagen, Eric Brookshire and Brad Stiffler.
In the second Mini Cup feature, Casey Willingham won the Outlaw division headliner.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald or The Commerce News.
