HISTORY

Jefco Speedway

Gresham Motorsports Park has a 40-year history providing significant and memorable auto races.

Originally opened at Jefco Speedway in 1967, the inaugural event at the track was a NASCAR Late Model Sportsman (now Nationwide) Division race. The ‘Tiger 200’ was ironically won by ‘Tiger Tom’ Pistone from Chicago, IL.

Meanwhile, a pair of NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) races were also contested at the Georgia half-mile oval with Cale Yarborough wheeling a Mercury to a victory in the November 3, 1968 Peach State 200 and Bobby Isacc coming home first in the November 9, 1969 Jefco 200.

While NASCAR racing put the track on the map in the late 1960’s, it was the regular weekly auto racing programs that defined the early years of Jefco Speedway.

Early racing heroes such as Jody Ridley, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Curtis Turner and Wendell Scott thrilled local fans and established the raceway as one of the best in the southeast. By the early 1980’s, the track had been renamed as Georgia International Speedway and was hosting top regional events including the inaugural World Crown 300 in 1983.

The November 27, 1983 classic featured an honor roll of top national short-track stock car drivers like Jody Ridley, Mark Martin, Freddy Fryar, Darrell Waltrip, Alan Kulwicki and Rusty Wallace. ‘Alabama Gang’ racing legends Neil Bonnett, Bobby, Donnie and Davey Allison also competed in the first World Crown 300 event.

Noted Wisconsin short-tracker Dick Trickle captured the inaugural World Crown 300 beginning a long tradition of legendary winners in what has become Georgia’s annual premiere stock car event. That tradition will continue at Gresham Motorsports Park with the running of the 28th-Annual World Crown 300 on November 10-13, 2011.

In the early 1990’s, the track was renamed yet again becoming Peach State Speedway. Since then, the half-mile paved oval has been a staple on multiple touring series schedules including USAR Hooters Pro Cup, American Speed Association, Georgia Asphalt, United Sprint Car, Vintage Racing Association division events.

Additional information about Gresham Motorsports Park can be viewed on this website or by contacting info@greshammotorsportspark.com.