T.J. Reaid hopes to cap off a great 2008 season with a win in this year’s World Crown at Peach State Speedway Nov. 9. Photos by Brandon Reed
Racers Prepare For 25th World Crown at Peach State Sunday
With 25 years of history, drivers from all around the country are preparing to travel to Peach State Speedway in Jefferson this weekend to take part in the World Crown weekend, with the highlight being an opportunity to add your name to the list of winners, including Darrell Waltrip, Dick Trickle, Rick Crawford and three-time winner Paul Kelley.
Drivers from New York, Colorado, Maine and around the southeast are entered to compete for the right to wear the coveted crown in victory lane, and to take home the Rob Joyce Memorial trophy.
For some, there’s no such thing as too much practice as they get ready for the World Crown.
2008 Georgia Asphalt Series Five Star Wheels Rookie of the Year T.J. Reaid hit the track last week to work to dial his car in for the big event. The Acworth native says he feels confident going into the Nov. 9 event.
“We’re trying some stuff here today that we’ve messed around with at the shop that we think may help us.”
Click on the video above to see a preview of this weekend's World Crown 300
Video courtesy Lyn Sengupta
Reaid won his first late model event at New Senoia Raceway back on Aug. 16, and would like to make the World Crown his second win.
For Royston’s Jeremy Rice, Sunday’s World Crown represents an opportunity to end his season on a high note.
“We didn’t make the last race at Lanier due to fuel problems,” Rice said. “We’ve had problems the last few months, but we think we’ve finally gotten it fixed. We hope to have a good showing all weekend.”
It will be Rice’s first appearance of the year at Peach State.
Seventeen-year-old James Nealis is a two-and-a-half year Pro Late Model veteran. The Gainesville area driver says he enjoys coming to Peach State to compete, and the history of the World Crown is not lost on him.
Gainesville’s James Nealis said his game plan for the World Crown is to dominate from start to finish.
Reaid said there’s definite importance to winning an event with a rich history of the World Crown, where drivers will be racing in the tire tracks of racing legends.
“With that caliber of drivers, it is kind of awesome to know they were here,” he said. “It means a lot to drivers to run races like this and win.
“It would be awesome. To be rookie of the year and to win the World Crown would be a real plus on my resume.”
Rice echoed those sentiments.
“It’s real important,” he said. “This would mean a lot to me and to everybody on crew. A lot of big names have won this race. It’s one of the biggest events you can win.”
Nealis made it clear how he intends to approach the World Crown.
“When we come here Thursday, we want to dominate. We want to sit on the pole and take the win.”
The only problem is that everyone else will have the same game plan.
This is the view that Jeremy Rice hopes the entire field has of him on Sunday as he looks for his first win in the World Crown.
Saturday features the 100 lap U.S Auto Sales 100 for Super Late Models, as well as an Open Wheel Modified event, the Super Truck division and the Pro Challenge touring series. Racing begins at 7 p.m.
Sunday’s World Crown festivities begin on Sunday with an autograph session for the fans at noon, with racing beginning at 2 p.m. Along with the World Crown Pro Late Model event, a 50 lap Outlaw Late Model race will also be held. Racing begins at 2 p.m.
For more information about the World Crown weekend, check online at www.peachstspeedway.com, or call 706-387-7490.
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