Entries by Staff Writer

Braselton’s Shane Sawyer took control of the Pro Late Model event Saturday night at Lanier National Speedway on the 12th lap, and never looked back as he recorded his second win of the year at the Braselton short track.

“We have had back luck so far this year, but lucky it was one of those nights to where everything worked out right for us,” Sawyer said after the win.

The Braselton driver won the pole for the late model event, but was moved to fourth on an inversion dice roll. Tony Bennett led the first 12 laps before giving up the lead to Sawyer. [Full Story »] 

By Amy Glover
Hardcore racers came out despite the pavement-melting temperatures Saturday to see close racing at the Atlanta Dragway, including winners from Homer in both Junior Dragster categories.

It was a re-run of last weekend’s 8-12 Junior Dragster finals, with points leader Chris Bowden, age 13 of Homer, alongside Hunter James, age 10 of Cartersville, who came back for a little revenge.

James had a slight handicap with his 9.50 dial-in, next to Bowden’s 8.98 dial-in, but left the Christmas tree with a .136 green, a slow start beside Bowden’s .014 launch. [Full Story »] 

As far as impressive streaks are concerned, no athletic program in Northeast Georgia has been on a run like the Jefferson High School wrestling team.

Since 2001, the Dragons have reeled off nine consecutive traditional state titles and eight straight duals championships, giving the program 17 state titles in a nine-year span.

The nearly decade-long dominance has not gone unnoticed, and the Northeast Georgia Sports Hall of Fame has named the Dragons “Northeast Georgia’s Most Dominating Team.” [Full Story »] 

The 11-year-old Jeffersontown, Kentucky little league team took home top honors Wednesday from the Dizzy Dean World Series, held in Nicholson.

The Kentucky team defeated the North Port Nationals out of Alabama 16-6 to win in four innings, due to the 10 run rule.

The title game brought the World Series festivities, which began last Thursday with opening ceremonies at East Jackson Comprehensive High School, to a close.

[Full Story »] 

Hoschton teenager Cannie Ash has made the 2009 USA World’s Championship Team, and will be traveling to Moscow, Russia to represent the United States in the 2009 Jr. flatwater kayaking championships.

Only six girls were selected from around the country to make the team. [Full Story »] 

Out of 37 Jefferson Sea Dragons that took part in the last weekend’s GPRA District Meet at the Frances Meadows Aquatic Center in Gainesville, 33 will be traveling to state competition later this month.

Fourteen of those swimmers made state in one or two individual events, while the others are part of medley or freestyle relay teams that qualified. Eight swimmers qualified in two individual events and two relays.

By comparison, last year the team took 17 swimmers to state. [Full Story »] 

The Jefferson 13-year-old All Stars won the Dizzy Dean State Baseball Tournament in convincing fashion Tuesday night with a 17-2 demolition of Druid Hills. The game was called after 5 innings due to the 10 run mercy rule much to the delight of a packed house at the Jefferson Recreation Complex. This was Jefferson’s first State Baseball Title since 2002.

The Jefferson Parks and Recreation Department hosted the 5 day Tournament that featured 15 teams from all six Dizzy Dean districts.

Recreation Dept. Director Colt Green and Athletic Director Jeremy Smith were both very pleased with the attendance and support of all the parents from across the state. [Full Story »] 

Fans at Lanier National Speedway may have thought they were experiencing déjà vu during the July 3 Georgia Asphalt Series Independence Day 100.

Pendergrass’ Paul Kelley and Dacula’s Russell Fleeman, who finished 1-2 in last weekend’s ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour event at Lanier, battled it out again this weekend with Kelley taking his second straight win at Lanier and his first in the Georgia Asphalt Series, just 0.141 seconds ahead of Fleeman.

At the start of the Independence Day 100, pole sitter T.J. Reaid jumped out front of the field until the first caution on lap 11. On the restart, Kelley battled Reaid on the outside, pushing the nose of his car ahead to lead lap 12 before clearing Reaid on lap 13. [Full Story »]