Charlie Gresham Rolls To Fifth-Place Finish At AMS
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GRIFFIN, GA (March 8, 2010) - Charlie Gresham opened his 2010 racing season with a solid fifth-place finish in the US Legends International Young Lions main event Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The 13-year-old Milner, GA driver started on the outside of the third row and immediately backed up as the top groove proved to be the slow line around the AMS quarter-mile oval.
Now near the back of the field, Gresham methodically marched through the field to score the fifth-place finish in his first outing of the 2010 campaign.
Meanwhile, Gresham’s older brother, Max, wasn’t as fortunate as a mechanical problem derailed an apparent winning effort in the US Legends International Thunder Car main event.
Gresham jumped from his third starting position into the runner-up spot at the drop of the green flag and quickly challenged Ed Clark for the lead. After several attempts to pass, Gresham ducked to the inside and into the lead only to have the clutch go south in his Gresham Motorsports racer as he exited Turn 2 with just a handful of laps remaining.
The Gresham brothers will stay busy this season with Charlie regularly competing in the Thursday Thunder US Legends International at AMS. He will also compete in other select US Legends International events throughout the Southeast in 2010.
Max Gresham will wheel a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota full-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2010 as well as compete in select ARCA events in a Gresham Motorsports entry.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with the Gresham Motorsports ARCA, Late Model or US Legends International efforts, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Motorsports Stays 'Wide Open' In Preparation For 2010 Racing Season
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Griffin, GA (March 4, 2009) – It’s been a busy off-season as Gresham Motorsports prepares for a full 2010 racing season.
The organization, led by veteran team manager Gene Roberts, has been building a Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) car for Max Gresham as well as readying a pair of the team’s familiar 7-11 racers.
“We’ve been wide open,” said Roberts in a recent phone interview. “The ARCA car is a completely different deal than we have been working on the past. There’s a lot of things we have run into like getting the right parts and pieces that have slowed us up a little bit, but it’s going to be a really nice car when we’re done. We’re looking forward to doing some testing later this month .”
Gresham will make his ARCA debut in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 at Salem (IN) Speedway on Saturday, April 11.
Meanwhile, the Gresham Motorsports crew has also been busy tuning up a pair of 7-11 racers for Late Model and US Legends International competition.
“We’re going to be announcing a new development driver for the 7-11 Late Model very soon,” said Roberts. “We’re working on the final details and schedule for the deal, but we’re very excited about the direction this program is going.”
Meanwhile, Charlie Gresham will make his 2010 US Legends International debut this Saturday, March 6 at Atlanta Motor Speedway as part of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event.
To see a photo gallery of the construction process of the new Gresham Motorsports ARCA and Late Model cars, please access the following Gresham Motorsports web link –
http://www.greshammotorsports.com/album.php?id_album=5
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Gresham Motorsports ARCA, Late Model or US Legends International efforts, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Fleeman, Gresham Motorsports Fast But Foiled At Lanier Speedfest CRA Super Series Show
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BRASELTON, GA (January 31, 2010) – You’d have never guessed Russell Fleeman hadn’t been in a CRA Super Series Late Model Stock Car in more than a year based on his performance in Sunday’s Speedfest 250 at Lanier National Speedway.
“I think the last time I drove a Super was at Nashville in 2008,” said Fleeman, who was making his first-ever appearance in a Gresham Motorsports ride. “I really enjoyed having a big horsepower engine under the hood again. The whole weekend was really fun. That is, until we got wrecked and knocked out of the race.”
Fleeman had little time to get used to the seat normally occupied by Max Gresham as cold, wet weather washed out all but a few laps of practice over two days at the Braselton, GA paved oval. Still, the veteran driver was able to qualify his No. 11 Gresham Motorsports racer 13th in the stellar field of 32 cars with a lap of 13.894 seconds.
“We knew we had a really good car, but we had so little practice that we had to make the decision to pretty much qualify with our race set-up,” said Fleeman. “I always like to make a run at the pole and I especially would have liked to do that for the Gresham’s but Gene (GMS crew chief Gene Roberts), the crew, and I talked and we decided the best thing to do was to have a good set-up for the race.”
The team strategy decision quickly paid off as Fleeman rocketed his way into the top-10 just three laps into the event and ran as high as seventh before the race was flagged to a half for a halftime break on the 125th circuit.
Back on the track and ready to make his move to the front, Fleeman’s day was short-circuited when he was swept up into a multi-car accident on Lap 129.
“I’m not exactly sure what happened, but it looked like the car in front of me got tangled up with a lapped car,” Fleeman stated. “I got slowed down and would have missed it, but then David Stremme hit me from behind and shoved me into the wreck. It was really a shame – we were sixth or seventh at the time – and we were just cruising, waiting for the race to shake out and pass the cars in front of us one at a time. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to do that.”
His Gresham & Associates sponsored racer too badly damaged to continue, Fleeman called it a day and was officially credited with 22nd in the final running order. NASCAR Sprint Cup star Kyle Busch took the win followed by Steven Wallace, Jeff Fultz, Bubba Pollard and Drew Bannon.
“They have a great group of guys over here at Gresham Motorsports,” said Fleeman. “I’ve know most of them for a long time and they run a first-class operation. The goal was to win. There were a lot of great cars and drivers here and to run as well as we did says a lot about how good this team is. They usually have a good outcome. Even though we ran well, that unfortunately wasn’t the case for us today.”
Gresham Motorsports will field cars in several different divisions this season including an entry for Max Gresham in select 2010 ARCA events. The team is actively pursuing qualified candidates with sponsorship funding interested in campaigning its Super and Pro Late Model entries in 2010.
For more information about how to get involved with the Gresham Motorsports Super and Pro Late Model programs, please contact Gene Roberts at gene@greshamotorsports.com.
For additional information about sponsorship/partnering with the Gresham Motorsports ARCA effort or with Max Gresham’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series ride fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Max Gresham To Wheel Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR K&N Pro Series Entry In 2010
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Griffin, GA (January 22, 2010) – Max Gresham has taken the first lap on what he hopes to be a very successful 2010 season announcing he will be driving a Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR K&N Pro Series entry full-time in 2010.
Gresham and the JGR Toyota Camry will make their 2010 debut in the season-opening NASCAR K&N race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, SC on Saturday, March 27. The team will run the entire 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series nine-event schedule competing for the Owner’s, Driver’s and Rookie Of The Year championships.
“We’re going to have a lot on our plate with our Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR K&N Series car this season,” said Gresham. “I’m going to do my best to hold up my end of the deal. This is a top team. It’s great to be able to drive for such an awesome team and organization. I’m not sure if any team has ever won the Owner’s, Driver’s and Rookie titles - all three championships – in one season. If anyone can do it, I believe this JGR team is the group.”
The 2010 Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR K&N program will be an extension of the 2009 campaign when Gresham piloted the No. 18 Gibbs’ Toyota in four division events posting a seventh-place finishing average.
Veteran crew chief Mike Sibley will again lead the JGR K&N effort this season. According to Gresham, that was one of the biggest benefits to his association with Joe Gibbs Racing.
“I worked with Mike and the JGR guys really well last year,” Gresham stated. “We developed a strong bond in our four races and going forward I know that’s going make us a better team.”
In addition to the season opening event at Greenville, the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series tour will have several familiar stops for the 16-year-old driver. Those include Iowa Speedway – where he finished third last year – and New Hampshire Motor Speedway – where Gresham sat on the outside pole in his first-ever one-mile track experience. (a full 2010 NKNPS schedule is included below).
“Running those events, especially on the bigger tracks like Iowa and New Hampshire, gave me a much better understanding of what the car needs and how I need to be driving it,” said Gresham, who will also compete in select ARCA events behind the wheel of a Gresham Motorsports entry in 2010. “That experience was a big leap forward for me and we expect to have that same kind of growth this year. It’s on all of us to win some races. This JGR team did that and plans on doing it again this year.”
Gresham and the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR K&N Pro Series team will take the green flag Saturday, March 27 at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, SC. The 150–lap event on the venerable Greenville half-mile oval will get underway at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham’s NASCAR and ARCA racing efforts, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series Schedule
March 27 - Greenville Pickens Speedway, Greenville, SC
April 3- South Boston Speedway, South Boston, VA
May 23 - Iowa Speedway, Newton, IA
June 23 - New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH
July 3 - Lime Rock Park, Lime Rock, CT
July 30 - Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH
August 28 - Gresham Motorsports Park, Jefferson, GA
Sept. 14 - New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH
Sept. 24 - Dover International Speedway, Dover, DE
Gresham Motorsports Driver Development Program Looking For Qualified Candidates
The 2010 racing season is here and so is your opportunity to be a part of one of the best short-track teams in the country – Gresham Motorsports.
The Gresham Motorsports Driver Development program is looking for qualified driver candidates with sponsorship funding interested in wheeling the Gresham Motorsports Pro and Super Late Model entries in 2010.
Previously, David Ragan, Joey Logano, Beau Slocumb – and most recently, Max Gresham - have all benefited from their association with the 7-11 team. Gresham’s departure for the ARCA ranks in 2010 has provided an opportunity for yet another group of up and coming drivers to gain valuable on- and off-track experience.
Qualified drivers interested in the Gresham Motorsports Pro and Super Late Model Driver Development Program are encouraged to inquire at info@greshammotorsports.com.
Happy Holidays From Gresham Motorsports
We had a great 2009 – wins and top finishes throughout the season – and we’re looking forward to an even better 2010!
That said, Gresham Motorsports would like to thank everyone who supported us this year and wish all the best of holiday seasons.
Take care, stay safe, and we’ll see you at the racetrack in 2010.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Gresham Motorsports
Max Gresham, Gresham Motorsports To Make Jump To ARCA Ranks In 2010 - GMS Late Model Program Looking For New Driver Development Candidates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (December 21, 2009) – Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports took a big leap into the future today with the announcement that both would be entering the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) ranks in 2010.
According to Gresham, the Griffin, GA based Late Model Stock Car team will compete in a select number of ARCA events next season including races at Iowa Speedway (July 10) and Rockingham Speedway (October 9).
“This is going to be a great opportunity for me and my team,” said Gresham. “It’s cool that we will be able to run this out of our Gresham Motorsports shops. We’ve got a great bunch of guys and we won’t have to spend any time getting to know each other. We already have a tight bond. It will be like wearing a new pair of socks with an old pair of comfortable shoes.”
A staple of American motorsports since 1953, the ARCA Series has provided young drivers an opportunity to compete in a national series in NASCAR-style full bodied stock cars. In addition to Gresham, several other top drivers - including Indy Car star Danica Patrick - will test the ARCA waters in 2010.
Gresham – who will turn 17 next April – posted an outstanding 2009 campaign winning two American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour events. The young driver was even more impressive with four solid showings – including two Top-5 and three Top-10 finishes - in the Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Camping World Series East division entry in 2009.
“The key will be getting used to a new, heavier car and a bunch of new racetracks,” said Gresham. “It’s going to be a major learning year for us. We’ll be looking to do the same things we did in our Late Model and in the Gibbs' car – post strong qualifying runs and finishes. I can’t wait to get the season going to see what it holds for us.”
Gresham is just the latest driver to have taken advantage of the Gresham Motorsports Driver Development program. Previously, David Ragan, Joey Logano and Beau Slocumb have all benefited from their association with the team. Gresham’s departure from the seat of the No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports Pro and Super Late Model programs will provide an opportunity for yet another group of up and coming drivers to gain valuable on- and off-track experience.
“I think our track record speaks for itself.” said Gresham Motorsports General Manager Gene Roberts. “We’ve had great success with David, Joey and Max and I personally had a lot of success developing Reed Sorenson. We have a great team here with people who have top notch experience levels. I would compare our record with anyone out there. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished here. We’ve had a great success rate.”
Qualified candidates with sponsorship funding interested in the Gresham Motorsports Pro and Super Late Model Driver Development Program are encouraged to inquire at info@greshammotorsportspark.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports ARCA effort, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Fast, But Fails To Make Snowball Derby Starting Grid
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Griffin, GA (December 6, 2009) – After a solid two days of practice leading up to the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL, Max Gresham and his Gresham Motorsports team were brimming with confidence.
“We had great practices,” said Gresham, who timed in second in the Friday morning test session leading up to qualifying later that day. “The guys were really excited and everyone was looking forward to the race. Then the bottom kind of fell out of things.”
Gresham’s dreams of winning the 42nd-annual event began to go south in qualifying Friday evening when cold conditions and a loose racecar knocked him from the ranks of contender for the win to a spot in the last-chance qualifying race.
“Qualifying was a big disappointment,” said Gresham, who timed in 39th in the massive 58-car field that tried to make the race. “We were second in the first practice Friday and really confident in getting into the show and running well in the race. Then we went out for qualifying and everything kind of went south.”
Gresham and his team regrouped Saturday morning and were poised to make a run at one of the final four Snowball Derby starting positions awarded in the 50-lap Last Chance event. Unfortunately, the Griffin, GA teenager wasn’t on the gas long after the drop of the green flag as his window net came down on the second circuit.
“That was the first time that ever happened to me and it really dumbfounded me,” Gresham stated. “I held it up for a lap or two and then we got a caution. I tried to put it back up and I was really close a couple of times. I thought I had it once, but then I hit a bump on the track and it knocked it loose again. There was nothing I could do by come into the pits to get it hooked back up.”
That’s where things took a terminal turn for Gresham.
“As I was leaving the pits, the rear end came out of the car,” Gresham stated. “I don’t think I left real hard. It just spit right out in pieces on pit road. That ended it for us. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be for me to make my first Snowball Derby this year.”
While his initial Pensacola Derby weekend didn’t turn out to be what he had hoped, Gresham’s 2009 racing season was anything but a disappointment. Two American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour event wins early in the year and four solid showings in the Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Camping World Series East division highlighted the campaign for the young driver.
“We had a great season, regardless of what happened here this weekend,” said Gresham. “We ran third at Iowa Speedway and notched an outside pole and eighth-place run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the Gibbs car and our Gresham Motorsports team won early in the year. We added a couple of people to our team this year that really helped us. They had a big influence and overall, I think we had a great year. We were blessed to have the success we had with both the Gibbs car and our own effort. I can’t wait to get going again next season.”
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports for the 2010 season, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Takes Aim At Strong Finish In First Snowball Derby Start
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (December 2, 2009) – After a big year of firsts for Max Gresham, the talented young driver will experience another career milestone when he takes the green flag in the 42nd-Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL this Sunday.
“This will be my first time running the Derby,” said Gresham. “We ran really well in the Snowflake 100 at Pensacola last year and turned in a strong seventh-place finish. Honestly, about the only thing that’s different between the two races is the increased horsepower in the Super Late Model car and the longer distance of the Derby. I know my Gresham Motorsports team has gone all out to give me the best opportunity to do well this weekend. Now it’s just up to me to do my best.”
The last time Gresham visited the Five Flags half-mile oval, the racing fates weren’t on his side as a Lap 1 crash eliminated him from the Blizzard 100 September 25.
“That was my first-ever attempt at a Super Late Model race and needless to say, it didn’t turn out too good for us,” said Gresham. “We took the green and everything felt good coming up off Turn 2. I ran up on the guy in front of me through Turns 3-4 before someone five or six cars in front of me got loose. The guy in front of me also got way loose and in an effort to miss him, I turned left down the banking. The car just got out from under me and I slid into the inside retaining wall pretty hard. The impact tore up the left front suspension pretty bad and we were done for the night.”
While his initial Pensacola Super Late Model effort got short-circuited, the rest of Gresham’s 2009 season has been electric. The 16-year-old high school Junior student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA won a pair of American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour events early in the year and then followed it up with four solid showings in the Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Camping World Series East division. Gresham ran third at Iowa Speedway and notched an outside pole and eighth-place run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to highlight the Gibbs’ association.
Last time out, the Griffin, GA teenager raced his way from a lap down to lead late and eventually finish second in the World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park. The November 15 effort was later erased when a post-race technical violation dropped him to 38th in the final running order.
“We had a great effort there,” said Gresham. “We were good at the end of that race and I know that we will be good at the end of the race Sunday. With a little luck, we’re going to be up there racing for it at the end of the day. To win the Snowball Derby would really be something for me and my Gresham Motorsports team. If you win that race, you are the Top Dog for a whole year.”
The 42nd-Annual Snowball Derby Park will take the green flag at 10 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, December 4 with alternating rounds of Super and Late Model Stock Car practice. Friday’s action will be highlighted by qualifying for the Snowball Derby at 6 p.m. to be followed by feature event action in the Modified and Super Stock divisions. Saturday’s bill of events includes a last-chance race for the Snowball Derby, qualifying for the Snowflake 100, two last-chance races for the Snowflake 100, and the Snowflake 100 itself beginning at 7 p.m.
Sunday’s 42nd-Annual Snowball Derby will roll off at 2 p.m. Central Time Sunday. The event can be heard live on the Internet on www.Speed51.com.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Has Emotional Day At GMP World Crown 300
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Griffin, GA (November 17, 2009) – Max Gresham was disappointed after finishing second in the 26th-Annual World Crown 300 Sunday, so when the news came his Gresham Motorsports 7-11 racer was disqualified for a post-race technical violation, the news wasn’t all that devastating.
“We had a great race,” said Gresham. “I wanted to win so badly, not only because it was the World Crown 300, but because it was the first race at our family-owned race track. We did everything we could to win and I am very proud of our effort. There were 38 cars in this race and we beat all but one of them. Sure, it was disappointing to have a problem in tech and have our great run disqualified, but the real disappointment was not winning in the first place.”
Gresham had a solid effort from the drop of the green flag on the three-day racing spectacular. The 16-year-old high school junior student qualified 11th in Saturday’s Monolith Companies Pole Position Qualifying with a lap of 16.472 seconds (109.276 miles per hour average), well below the previous track record on the former Peach State Speedway.
At the drop of the green flag, Gresham quickly started to work his way to the front of the pack only to have his progress slowed when he was ordered to pit road for an apparent mechanical problem.
“We got caught a lap down because they thought we had a rear end leak,” said Gresham. “Our car was on a rail and we were as fast as or faster than most everyone out there all day. Fortunately, we were able to drive back on to the lead lap and contend for the win at the end of the race.”
Now back on track, Gresham raced his way back on to the lead lap and took over the top spot on Lap 243. The winner of two American Speed Association feature events this season then staged a furious battle with Augie Grill and Jeff Choquette much to the delight of the full house crowd attending the inaugural event at the totally renovated Gresham Motorsports Park oval.
“Augie is a great competitor and I was doing everything I could to keep him behind me,” said Gresham. “Both he and Jeff raced me hard and clean, so I have to thank them for that. Everyone put on an awesome race.”
Grill was the first contender to fall aside when he fell out of the event with transmission problems. That left the race to the checkered flag to Gresham and Choquette with Choquette slipping by for the lead at Lap 277. Try as he might, Gresham wasn’t able to return the favor over the final 20 circuits giving him an apparent runner-up finish.
Later, even when his effort was negated in post-race tech inspection, Gresham had nothing but praise for the event and the new track.
“Honestly, I have to thank everyone for a great event,” said Gresham. “I was so proud to be a part of it and I have to thank everyone from my grandfather, who made the investment in area racing by rebuilding this track, to Dan Elliott and all the staff who put on this race. It was an emotional day for my family and our extended GMP family. They all did a great job and I can’t wait to come back here and race in the World Crown 300 next year.”
Gresham will be looking to add another prestigious title to his racing resume when he travels to Pensacola, FL and the famed Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway. That event is scheduled for Sunday, December 6.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Has Multiple Goals Set For World Crown 300
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Griffin, GA (November 10, 2009) – Max Gresham will be racing to achieve both his professional and personal goals when he straps in for the 26th-Annual World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park this Sunday.
“This year’s World Crown 300 is going to be an interesting experience for us,” said Gresham. “We’ll be racing on an all-new track, one that is owned by my grandfather. It’s my name on the racetrack too, so you know I want to do well. We want to do that at every race, but given the circumstances, this is one event that we are extremely focused on. That’s the way we approach every race. I don’t think there is any extra pressure. It’s the World Crown 300 – just trying to win that race is enough to keep our team digging hard.”
Gresham has had an impressive 2010 season. The 16-year-old high school Junior student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA won a pair of American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour events early in the year and then followed it up with four solid showings in the Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Camping World Series East division. Gresham ran third at Iowa Speedway and notched an outside pole and eighth-place run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to highlight the Gibbs’ association.
Last week, Gresham qualified fourth in his second-ever Super Late Model event – the CRA North/South 125 Shootout at Concord (NC) Motorsports Park. He eventually finished 14th after losing power steering in his No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports entry halfway through the race.
Now, Gresham will face one of his biggest challenges of the season in the World Crown 300 this weekend.
“We had a really good car last year,” said Gresham, who finished ninth in the 2009 WC 300 classic. “We were allowed eight tires for the race and we tried a different pit strategy. We saved a set of right-side tires for the end of the race and the cautions didn’t fall the way we wanted them to, so we never got to use them. That kind of hurt us, but we still had one of the fastest cars at the end of the race and that gives us a lot of confidence coming into this year’s World Crown 300.”
As for this year’s race, Gresham has his sights set high.
“Of course, winning the World Crown 300 would be extremely special,” said Gresham. “Knowing all the time and effort that everyone – my grandfather, dad, and the staff of the speedway – have put into that place to turn it into something special would make winning there even sweeter. It would be really sweet for my team too. It would be great to win the first-ever race at Gresham Motorsports Park for a lot of reasons.”
The 26th-Annual World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park will take the green flag Friday, November 13, with the first-ever appearance of the INEX/600 Racing Legends, Bandoleros and Thunder Cars taking to the freshly minted GMP quarter- and half-mile ovals.
Saturday’s action will feature racing in four divisions – Iceman Late Models, Mini-Stocks, Renegades and Trucks – as well as Late Model Monolith Companies Pole Award qualifying to see who will lead the field to the start of Sunday’s World Crown 300.
Sunday’s race will roll off at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Muscles Up To Finish 14th In Concord North/South Super Late Model Battle
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CONCORD, NC (November 8, 2009) – Max Gresham started out strong and then had to muscle his way to the finish coming home 14th in the CRA North/South Shootout Super Late Model 125 at Concord Motorsport Park Saturday.
“For my first real Super Late Model race, I was really pleased,” said Gresham. “To be as strong as we were, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. It was a big learning experience for me, getting used to driving those cars with the throttle. I’m disappointed we didn’t finish better. My guys deserved better.”
After turning in a sold practice time of 16.291 seconds – good enough for ninth on the speed sheets - Gresham piloted his Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300 super late model to a lightening quick time of 15.782 seconds and the fourth starting position in the 27-car starting field.
“We really wanted to be in the Top-5 in qualifying because we didn’t want to run the last-chance race,” said Gresham. “That was huge for us. It allowed our team to get to bed early Friday night and be fresh for the race Saturday. We also didn’t have to use up our race car in the qualifying race. Qualifying well really helped us out a lot. I have to thank Gene (Gresham Motorsports crew chief Gene Roberts) for getting the car right for qualifying. It allowed me to go out there and get a good starting position for us.”
Gresham showed he belonged in the front of the pack running in the Top-5 throughout the first third of the race. Then, a mechanical malfunction made Gresham’s race more about surviving than winning.
“We had a real strong car,” Gresham stated. “Then we broke a power steering line and I had to drive the last 80 laps of the race without power steering. The car was hooked up, real fast, but I just couldn’t do anything with the car. I couldn’t react quickly enough if the car would get loose, so I just had to be patient and not force the issue. I just had to cruise and try to finish the race.”
The result was Gresham slightly off the winning pace, just enough to get him one lap down and 14th in the final running order.
“I certainly got a lot more respect for the old race car drivers who drove these things without power steering,” laughed Gresham. “I’d rather not do that again.”
Gresham will be looking for smoother sailing when he points his No. 7-11 racer toward Northeast Georgia and the World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park this Friday-Sunday, November 13-15.
The event at the totally refurbished former Peach State Speedway will get underway with Late Model practice Friday and conclude with the 300-lap World Crown event on the freshly minted GMP half-mile oval on Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Heads To Concord For North-South Super Late Model Clash
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (November 2, 2009) – Max Gresham has had more than his share of detours during the 2009 racing season.
“It seems like I can’t go anywhere without raining for a test or a race getting canceled for about two months now,” said Gresham. “We can’t catch a break. I haven’t raced since September at New Hampshire. I sure hope I remember how to do it this weekend at Concord.”
Gresham will wheel the No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300 sponsored entry in the North-South Shootout this weekend at Concord Motorsports Park in Concord, NC. Gresham, a 16-year-old high school Junior student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA, got his first taste of the unique Concord half-mile tri-oval layout at a recent test.
“My first reaction was ‘wow, this is one messed up track.’” said Gresham. “But then I got to running on it and we were pretty fast. It didn’t take long and I started to like it a lot. It’s definitely different, especially around that bootleg on the back. I was able to run wide open through there, so that’s a pretty fun, but fast, part of the racetrack.”
For all intents and purposes, this weekend’s Shootout at Concord will be Gresham’s first true Super Late Model start. The young driving star completed less than a lap in his Super Late Model debut at Pensacola. FL last month, swept out of the race in a multi-car crash. Since then, wet weather and event cancelations have kept Gresham – who
banked two American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour wins and three Top-10 finishes and an outside pole in four NASCAR Camping World Series East starts driving for Joe Gibbs Racing earlier this season - on the sidelines.
“This is going to be a fun place to race,” said Gresham of Concord. “There are some bumps coming out of Turn 1 as you haul off toward the bootleg on the back. They can upset the car real bad and you can’t get back into the gas the way you want to. It’s also a good place to get run over if you aren’t careful. We had our car flying through there during the test, so I’m not too worried about that.
“We got knocked out real early in out only other attempt at a Super Late Model race this season,” Gresham continued. “I’m pretty eager to see how this is going to turn out for us this weekend at Concord. It will be good to get back in a racecar again.”
The North/South Shootout is set for November 6-8 at Concord Motorsports Park. For more information, please log on to www.concordmotorsportspark.com or www.northsouthshootout.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Nashville Pulls Plug On All American Weekend
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (October 28, 2009) – Citing possible bad weather this weekend, officials at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway today cancelled the All American Weekend at the track.
Max Gresham - set to compete in the CRA Super Series portion of the event - will next race at Concord (NC) Motor Speedway the weekend of November 7-8.
Gresham To Face Stiff Test In Nashville All American Event This Weekend
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (October 26, 2009) – Max Gresham is just one in a long list of solid competitors entered for the CRA Super Series portion of the All American Weekend at the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville this Friday-Sunday, October 30-November 1.
Included in the mix of competitors are defending CRA All American winner Chris Gabehart,, recently crowned 2009 CRA Super Series Champion Johnny VanDoorn, Eddie Hoffman, Scott Hantz, Eddie Mercer, Chase Elliott, Ross Kenseth, Johanna Long, Bubba Pollard, John Bolen, Rick Turner, Josh Vadnais, Dennis Schoenfeld, Brian Ickler, Chris Wimmer, Mark Day and Jeff Fultz.
According to Gresham, a 16-year-old high school Junior student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA, this year’s All American event will be one of the toughest of his young racing career.
“This is truly going to be my first-ever Super Late Model start,” said Gresham. “We got wrecked on the first lap of my only other Super start earlier this year, so that really didn’t count because we never got to race. Given the very tough field entered at Nashville, just making the race is going to be a major accomplishment this weekend. To win it would be phenomenal. To do well at Nashville would be a big confidence booster for us going into the string of big races we have to end the season like the World Crown 300 and the Snowball Derby.”
Gresham, who will wheel the No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300 sponsored entry Sunday at Nashville, recently tested at the historic half-mile fairgrounds oval.
“The test went real well,” said Gresham. “We were very consistent and we think we got to the point where our lap times will be very competitive. We’re running a different tire than they did last year at this event, so we won’t know exactly what a really good time is until all the other cars get there for the race this weekend.
“I’ve only raced at Nashville one other time and that was in a Pro Late Model car last year,” Gresham continued. “This is going to be way different. The Super Late Model car has way more engine and you are running way harder into and off the. It’s really easy to burn the tires off the Super car, a lot easier than it is the Pro Late Model. I’m just going to have to be on top of my game, make the race and take care of the car and tires. If we can do that, I think we’ll have a successful weekend.”
The All American Weekend in Nashville will start with an open practice on Friday, October 30, from 4-9 p.m. Pits open on Saturday, October 31, at 8:30 a.m. with practice beginning at 11 and qualifying at 3:45 p.m. There will be racing on Saturday night with 50-lap features for the Howe CRA Late Model Series with the Nashville Super Trucks, the CRA Street Stocks with the Nashville Sportsman cars and for the USA Modifieds.
The pit area will open on Sunday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m. The All American events will begin at 1 p.m. beginning with the 250-lap CRA All American event followed by the 150-lap GAS Series All American event.
More event information is available at www.fairgroundsspeedwayatnashville.com. More information on all the CRA Series is available at www.craracing.net.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Charlie Gresham Goes To School At Lanier Legends Nationals
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BRASELTON, GA (October 11, 2009) – Charlie Gresham found out just what it takes to be a top-notch competitor in the popular INEX/600 Racing Series in the Legends Nationals at Lanier National Speedway this weekend.
“I got to compete against some of the best racers in the nation, compete against guys I’ve never raced against, and see how guys from other parts of the country race,” said Gresham of the national event. “It was a real eye opener for me and a confidence builder too because I found out that I can race and compete with at least some of them.”
Gresham, just 13 years old and a first-year Legends division competitor, turned in a solid performance driving his way from the 13th starting position to second in the 30-lap B-Main Saturday.
“I kept looking low in Turn 3, diving to the apron and poking my nose under the leaders,” said Gresham. “I kept looking down there, but I just couldn’t get by. In the end, there weren’t enough laps to get it done, but finishing second and getting the experience was still good for me.”
While the effort didn’t transfer Gresham to the main event of the multi-day INEX/600 Racing event, he was still happy with his performance.
“I feel good about my weekend,” said Gresham. “This is my first year in a Legends car and I’m still getting used to driving a new car with a different feel and engine combination. I think I’ve made a lot of progress this year and I hope to improve even more next season.”
Before Gresham takes the green flag for the 2010 season, he hopes to close out the 2009 campaign in the inaugural INEX/600 Racing program at Gresham Motorsports Park on Friday, November 13. The opening-day event of the 26th-Annual World Crown 300 will feature full programs of Legends, Bandoleros and Thunder Cars on the newly minted GMP oval.
Racing action is set to begin at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Charlie Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Gets Short Shift Thanks To Pensacola Crash, Mobile Washout
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GRIFFIN, GA (September 27, 2009) – Max Gresham had the kind of weekend most race drivers would care to forget.
Gresham, making his first two Super Late Model starts of the 2009 season at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL Friday and Mobile (AL) International Speedway Saturday, never got past the first lap of Friday’s Blizzard 100 getting swept up in a multi-car crash. The damage to his No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports racer was severe enough to sideline him at Pensacola and to scratch him from Saturday’s event at Mobile - a moot point when that event got rained out.
“Friday was a pretty tough day for everyone,” said Gresham, who was officially credited with the 28th finishing position in the final rundown at Pensacola. “We started out the day by getting the hauler stuck, so we got to the track late and missed a half hour of practice. Once we did get out and practice, we really weren’t that bad. We ran 17.80’s (seconds per lap) and for the first time out with a Super Late Model this season, we were happy with that.”
Gresham and his Gene Roberts led race team were even more pleased when they picked up their time in qualifying.
“We dropped down to a 17.01 in qualifying, a pretty big jump from where we practiced, but because the field was tight, that still put us 13th at the start,” Gresham stated. “It was an accomplishment just to make the field.”
Gresham had little time to celebrate making the 29-car field when a multi-car wreck on the first circuit ended his day prematurely.
“We took the green and everything felt good coming up off Turn 2,” stated Gresham. “I ran up on the guy in front of me through Turns 3-4 before someone five or six cars in front of me got loose. The guy in front of me also got way loose and in an effort to miss him, I turned left down the banking. The car just got out from under me and I slid into the inside retaining wall pretty hard. The impact tore up the left front suspension pretty bad and we were done for the night. Worst of all, the chassis was damaged badly enough that we were done for the weekend too. We wouldn’t have been able to race Saturday at Mobile, so I guess it was a good thing that race got rained out.”
While the sudden end to his weekend was disappointing, Gresham – an 11th-grade student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA – was still upbeat about his first Super Late Model experience of the season.
“Honestly, I was pleased how things went overall at Pensacola,” Gresham commented. “We were fast and I was happy with the performance of the team. I couldn’t ask for more from those guys. I was just bummed that we only got to run one lap. There was just nothing we could do about that.”
Next up for Gresham and his No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300 entry will be another Super Late Model event, this one at Montgomery (AL) Speedway on Saturday, October 3.
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Ready To Make 2009 Super Late Model Debut This Weekend At Pensacola, Mobile
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (September 22, 2009) – Max Gresham will make his first two Super Late Model starts of the season this weekend when he competes at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL Friday and Mobile (AL) International Speedway Saturday.
The two high-speed events will be yet another challenge for the 16-year-old Gresham, who closed out a successful run as part of the Joe Gibbs Racing Driver Development Program last weekend with a solid ninth-place finish in the Heluva Good! Fall 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
“There’s probably going to be a lot more riding time racing a Super Late Model compared to my Pro Late Model or NASCAR Camping World East stock car,” said Gresham, who has two Pro Late Model wins to his credit this season. “The Super Late Model cars will just burn the tires off if you aren’t careful, so I am going to have to make sure I take care of them so we have something left to race with at the end at Pensacola and Mobile this weekend.”
Friday’s 100-lap Blizzard Series event at Pensacola will be the second time Gresham has competed at the tricky Five Flags half-mile oval this season. Earlier this year, the driver of the No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports entry led a good portion of an American Speed Association Pro Late Model event before eventually finishing 10th.
“I burned the tires off the car by about Lap 75,” stated Gresham after the event. “From there, I was just holding on trying to get the best finish I could. We still got the good finish – a Top-10 – that we were looking for, but it could have been a lot more.”
A trip to Mobile and another ASA Pro Late Model clash on March 28 proved to be much more successful as the 11th-grade student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA won the Ride-On Tire Protection System 100.
“To win at Mobile was phenomenal,” Gresham commented. “I was so happy for my race team. They have put so much time into getting this right. It was awesome to win. We kept saying all week long that we were going to win. We knew we could do it. It was great that we could go out and prove it.”
While Gresham is excited to return to the both Mobile and Pensacola, he knows a whole new set of challenges await him and his Gene Roberts led Gresham Motorsports team this weekend.
“I know this it is going to be a lot different running a Super Late Model car at both of these places, but I’m confident my Gresham Motorsports guys are going to give me another great car and a chance to win again,” Gresham stated. “I can’t wait to get in another different kind of car this weekend and see what we can do. I’m looking forward to Pensacola because it will give us an opportunity to prepare for the Snowball Derby there later this year and you always want to go back to a track like Mobile – a place where you have won before. It’s going to be a very exciting weekend for me and my Gresham Motorsports team.”
Friday’s event at Pensacola – Round 5 of the Blizzard Series Championship – and Saturday’s Miller Lite 100 at Mobile will each roll off at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Notches Another Top-10 Finish In Gibbs Driver Development Ride At New Hampshire
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LOUDON, NH (September 20, 2009) – Max Gresham closed out a successful four-race run as part of the Joe Gibbs Racing Driver Development Program with a solid ninth-place finish in the Heluva Good! Fall 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Friday.
The Top-10 effort – Gresham’s third in the four events this season – left the 11th-grade student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA looking for more.
“I wish we had done a little better tonight," said Gresham. "I can’t fault these Joe Gibbs Racing guys. They gave me an awesome car. We just didn’t get to make our last pit stop. I would have really liked to have a set of fresh tires for the end of the race. I really think we would have had something for them and a shot of winning the race if we had been able to make that last stop.”
Gresham quickly adapted to the flat, one-mile New Hampshire oval posting the eighth best time in practice. The 16-year-old driver then upped the ante in qualifying pushing his Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300 sponsored Toyota Camry to a lap of 30.052 seconds (126.740 average miles per hour) – good enough for second and an outside pole starting position for Friday’s race.
“To qualify on the outside pole at a place like New Hampshire was huge for me,” said Gresham. “I’m not always the best of qualifiers, but to put the car on the front row was very special. To do that here, in front of all these other NASCAR teams and drivers – especially those guys over in the Sprint Cup garage – made me extremely happy.”
A brief rain shower just after the driver’s strapped in forced NASCAR to shorten the 125-lap event to 100 circuits. The delay did little to slow Gresham as he quickly settled in to the third position at the drop of the green flag.
A pit stop for fuel during the first caution of the event on Lap 15 put Gresham back in the ninth position on the restart. It took the young driver just 20 laps to move back into the Top-5 where he ran as high as third before an incident on one of four late-race restarts dropped Gresham to ninth in the final running order.
“I came off Turn 2 on one of those late restarts and we got a right-front tire rub,” said Gresham. “It was pretty crazy out there and I must have gotten into someone. I could hardly feel it, but at a track this size, that can make a big difference. I hate it that we fell back a couple of positions at the end, but we came out of it okay. It’s over and done with now, so there’s not much we can do about it. It was still a solid Top-10 finish, but we were way better than that.”
In his four races as part of the Joe Gibbs Driver Development Program this season, Gresham averaged a seventh-place finish with the highlights coming at Iowa Speedway (third) and South Boston Speedway (fifth).
“Coming into this deal, my expectations were to try and score Top-10 finishes,” Gresham stated. “Once I got on the track, that all changed because of the quality of this Joe Gibbs Racing team and car. I knew right away I had a great opportunity to run up front and contend for wins. It was an awesome experience for me and one that I know is going to benefit me throughout my racing career.
“I can’t believe I have run as well as I have in the few races we competed in,” Gresham continued. “I can’t wait to get another shot in this car. Hopefully, I will get to do that again next season. With these guys backing me, I know I can compete, run with the leaders and win races. My confidence level is through the roof right now. I just can’t thank Joe Gibbs Racing enough for the opportunity and the experience I had this season.”
Gresham will continue his learning process this coming weekend when he competes in his first two Super Late Model events of the year at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL on Friday and at Mobile International Speedway in Mobile, AL Saturday.
Friday’s event at Pensacola – Round 5 of the Blizzard Series Championship – and Saturday’s Miller Lite 100 at Mobile will roll off at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Ready For High Speeds In New Hampshire NASCAR Camping World Series East Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (September 15, 2009) – A strong third-place finish in the NASCAR Camping World Series West Central Iowa Building And Construction Trades 125 at Iowa Speedway two weeks ago has Max Gresham looking forward to his next ride in the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry - the Heluva Good Fall 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this Friday, September 18.
“I can’t wait to get to New Hampshire because it is so different than Iowa," said Gresham. "New Hampshire has long straights and flat turns. Like Iowa, it’s the biggest track I will have race on to date in my career. I’m sure it will be super fast. I am really looking forward to hooking up with the guys from Joe Gibbs Racing again and turning in another strong run with them. I can’t wait to get on the plane and get up there.”
Gresham, an 11th-grade student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA, will be making his fourth and final start this season as part of the JGR Driver Development Program. A fifth at South Boston (VA) in his Camping World Series debut in May and a 14th at Adirondack (New Bremen, NY) in July prepped the young driver for the recent Iowa test.
Now, those results and the prospect of competing on the one-mile, high-speed New Hampshire oval have him amped for Friday’s Heluva Good 125.
“If you don’t like speed, then you shouldn’t be a race car driver,” said Gresham. “Speed is what drives you to excel in this sport. I’ve been fortunate to do well the last couple of times I’ve gone to a bigger track where the speeds have been faster and faster for me each time. New Hampshire is going to be my biggest test yet.
“I wasn’t real sure how I might do on a one-mile track, but after racing at Iowa (7/8-mile), I feel like I can handle it. I’m ready to take on New Hampshire and do well there. I believe we can go to New Hampshire, run as well as we have everywhere else, and maybe even contend for the win. I’m hoping it’s going to be a big weekend for me and my Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300 Toyota.”
Gresham and his JGR red and black Toyota Camry will take the green flag in the Heluva Good! Fall 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Friday, September 18 at 5:10 p.m.
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Finishes 10th InJames Garrison Memorial At Lanier
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BRASELTON, GA (September 13, 2009) – Max Gresham and his No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports late model ‘experimented’ their way to a 10th-place finish in the James Garrison Memorial 100 at Lanier National Speedway Saturday.
“We worked for days on a new handling package,” said Gresham. “It was all about running a new line hard into the corner and still being able to drive the car hard off the corner. We weren’t where we wanted to be with the set-up, but because we put so much time into it and because this wasn’t a point’s race, we decided not to throw it out and run it. We didn’t get the finish we usually get, but we learned a lot and we didn’t give up on what we had worked on all week.”
Gresham, looking to score his first Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS) victory of the season, got a slow start in qualifying gridding his Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300-sponsored late model 13th for the 100-lap event on the 3/8-mile Lanier paved oval.
At the drop of the green flag, the 16-year-old Woodward Academy student set his sights on the front of the field, but handling issues only allowed him to work his way to 10th by the end of the event.
“The field was really close,” said Gresham. “I think there was only a tenth of a second that separated first through 15th in qualifying. There were a lot of good cars and it was hard to pass. We were pretty loose from the center of the corner off throughout the race and that made it even harder to get by guys.
“In the end, we pulled through," Gresham continued. "Everyone on this Gresham Motorsports team worked their butts off this week. It was a hard week and I’m pretty sure everyone slept pretty good after it was all over.”
Gresham will park his late model ride this week and take another swing at the NASCAR Camping World Series East in the Heluva Good! Fall 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The race, part of a NASCAR weekend tripleheader along with the Truck and Cup divisions, will take the green flag Friday, September 18 at 5:10 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Ready For Strong Performance In James Garrison Memorial At Lanier
FOR IMMEDITATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (September 9, 2009) – After a week off testing the NASCAR waters, Max Gresham will return to familiar territory this Saturday when he and his No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports late model team compete in the James Garrison Memorial 100 at Lanier National Speedway.
“I expect a real strong performance from us Saturday,” said Gresham, who is coming off an impressive third-place finish in the NASCAR Camping World Series West event last Friday at Iowa Speedway. “We’ve been working very hard at the shop and we’re going to be ready for this race. Everyone at Gresham Motorsports wants to get another win under our belts.”
Gresham, who has two American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour late model event wins to his credit this season, will be looking to score his first 2009 Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS) victory Saturday at Lanier. To do it, his Gresham Motorsports team will have to shake off the rust of inactivity.
“It’s been pretty hard for our team to find a groove this season,” said Gresham. “When you have had as many rain outs and cancellations as we have this season, it’s tough to get into a rythmn. It’s just tough, tough, tough to build some momentum when you are racing just once or twice a month. Our racing schedule this season is pretty spread out to begin with and when we don’t get to race, it makes it just that much tougher to get back in a groove again.”
Gresham is hoping he and his Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300 sponsored late model will be able to find that sweet spot a Lanier, a track where the 16-year-old driver has raced and won many times in his eight-year driving career.
“There’s no reason we can’t win at Lanier Saturday night,” said Gresham. “I know the team is ready and I’m coming off a solid performance from last week in the NASCAR Camping World West race at Iowa, so I know we are going to be pumped. Like every race, we’re going to Lanier this weekend to win. It would be a great honor to win the James Garrison Memorial 100. I think we can do it.”
Racing Saturday at Lanier will begin Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Rolls To Third-Place Finish In Iowa NASCAR Camping World West Event
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NEWTON, IA (September 7, 2009) – Max Gresham proved he was ready for bigger and better things rolling to a third-place finish in the NASCAR Camping World Series West Central Iowa Building And Construction Trades 125 at Iowa Speedway Friday.
“We had an amazing run,” said Gresham, who wheeled the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry in the event. “Everything pretty much went right. The car was really fast. I couldn’t ask for much more. The guys at Joe Gibbs Racing put a lot of work into our car and I can’t thank them enough. ”
Gresham – who had never raced on a track larger than a half-mile in length - initially had trouble finding the fast way around the 7/8-mile Iowa oval in practice. Solid work by his JGR mates, however, eventually got the 16-year-old driver up to speed and ready for qualifying.
“We struggled in practice,” Gresham stated. “We alternated between tight and loose and we had trouble finding the right balance in the car. Then, the guys made some adjustments for qualifying and the race and those changes were right on because we were really good after that. The combination of having a really good engine and having the car be so fast was a blast for me.”
Gresham, 19th in the final practice, qualified fifth with a time of 24.157 (130.397 miles per hour average) and quickly showed he was ready to race taking over the third position on the first lap of the 125-circuit test.
The 11th-grade student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA ran as high as second before staging a furious battle with local favorite Brett Moffitt for third place over the final laps.
“I think we raced the No. 4 (Moffitt) car the final 15 laps or so,” said Gresham. “I wasn’t sure how things were going to turn out, but I knew if I kept running the high line, I would have a good chance of beating him for third. My car would just rocket off the top of the corner I could really pull him down the straightaway.
“I really have to give it to Brett,” Gresham continued. “He really raced me clean. We were side-by-side for a lot of laps and he we never touched once. We put on a great show for the fans and had a great time doing it too. It doesn’t get better than that. Third place is a great finish for me and this Joe Gibbs Racing team. That’s especially true because this was the first time I ever raced here. I couldn’t be happier right now.”
Gresham’s solid effort marked his second Top-5 finish in just three career starts in the NASCAR Camping World Series this season as part of the Joe Gibbs Racing Driver Development Program. It also had the young driver looking forward to his next NCWS test in the JGR Toyota Camry in the Heluva Good Fall 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, September 18.
“I’m a lot more confident now going to New Hampshire,” said Gresham. “I wasn’t real sure how I might do on a one-mile track, but after racing here at Iowa on a bigger track, I feel like I can handle it. I feel like I am ready to take on New Hampshire and do well there. I believe we can go to New Hampshire, run as well as we have everywhere else and maybe even contend for the win. I can’t wait to get back in the car again.”
Before Gresham and his JGR Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300 sponsored red and black Toyota Camry head to New Hampshire for the Friday, September 18 event, there’s some other business to take care of at Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, GA this Saturday, September 12. That’s when Gresham will wheel his familiar No. 7-11 late model in an American Speed Association/Georgia Asphalt Series event.
“I’m looking forward to the Lanier race and getting back with my Gresham Motorsports team,” said Gresham. “We’ve had a ton of rainouts and cancellations this year and I know they are really ready to race. I’ve got a lot of laps at Lanier and we’re going there looking to win.”
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Has Clear Goal For Iowa NASCAR Camping World Event
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GRIFFIN, GA (August 31, 2009) – Max Gresham leaves little doubt when asked about the goals he’s set for himself in this Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Series Central Iowa Building And Construction Trades 125 at Iowa Speedway.
“I want to pull off a real strong finish, for both my sake and the team’s sake,” said Gresham, who will wheel the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry in the event. “I’m going there with the mindset that we’re going to win the race. That’s my goal. I’m shooting to win that race. Anything less than that is going to be a disappointment. This car and team has proven they can win at Iowa doing it this past May with Kyle Busch driving. I’m going to try to do the same.”
Gresham, just 16 years old, is currently second in the American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour ranks with two wins this season. He knows his Iowa NASCAR Camping World goals are lofty especially given this will be just his third start in the division as part of the Joe Gibbs Racing Driver Development Program. The Woodward Academy (College Park, GA) Junior student made his NCWS and JGR Toyota Camry debut in May with a fifth-place effort at South Boston (VA) Speedway before finishing 16th at Adirondack (New Bremen, NY) International Speedway last month.
“Racing with the Gibbs team has been very cool,” said Gresham. “The level of professionalism they bring to the track is awesome. I am so lucky to have this chance to run the No. 18 Camry this year, to be on a team with Matt DiBendetto and Kyle Busch. It’s a great opportunity for me. I couldn’t ask for anything more other than to finish better and I’m confident we’re going to do that at Iowa.”
In tackling the Iowa 7/8-mile track, Gresham will face one of the biggest challenges in his young stock car career.
“I’m pretty excited because the biggest track I have raced at in my career so far is a half-mile” said Gresham. “I’m going to have to adapt to the higher speed and aerodynamic issues quickly on the bigger track at Iowa, but I know I will be up to it. It’s great to go to a track where you can learn new skill sets that advance your career. Racing at Iowa, and driving the JGR Camping World car at the one-mile track at New Hampshire again in two weeks, will do that for me.”
Gresham and his Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300 sponsored red and black No. 18 Toyota Camry will hit Iowa Speedway oval Friday, September 4, with a 9 a.m. Central Time practice session. Qualifying for the Central Iowa Building And Construction Trades 125 will roll off at 4:30 p.m. with the green flag for the 125-lap event falling at 8 p.m.
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com
Gresham Looking To 'Tune Up' At Lanier Saturday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (August 28, 2009) – Practice makes perfect. That’s the theory Max Gresham and his Gresham Motorsports Late Model stock car team will embrace this Saturday when they take on Lanier National Speedway.
“We’re going race at Lanier Saturday night to tune up for the James Garrison Memorial 100 that will be held there in a couple of weeks,” said Gresham Motorsports team manager Gene Roberts. “That’s a big race on their schedule this season and we want to be prepared. Lanier might look easy, but that place is nasty. I’m not sure you can practice enough to be good at that place.”
Gresham, a 16-year-old high school Junior student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA, has had success in the past at the high-speed 3/8-mile Braselton, GA oval in both the Legends and Late Model divisions.
“I have a lot of laps at Lanier,” said Gresham, who will wheel the No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports Park/World Crown 300 sponsored entry Saturday at Lanier. “I’ve won quite a few races there including two Georgia State Championships - one in a Legends car and one in a Late Model. It’s a tough place and no matter how many times you come back to it, it changes. It can really be a beast sometimes depending how much or little rubber there is on the track. It changes considerably every time.”
Last time Gresham visited Lanier, he drove his way from a 14th starting position to a fourth-place finish in the American Speed Association 100-lap event June 27.
“Our car was really good at Lanier the last time we were there, way better than we qualified or finished,” said Gresham. “We had a first- or second-place car, but sometimes you just have to take the finish you get and be happy with it. We were points racing that night, so we were happy with finishing fourth.”
Gresham and his family-owned Gresham Motorsports No. 7-11 ASA Late Model Stock Car will take the green flag in this Saturday’s regularly-scheduled Lanier weekly racing program at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
ASA Sacks Orange County Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (August 17, 2009) – American Speed Association officials today cancelled the Saturday, August 22 RC Cola/Moon Pie 100 at Orange County Speedway.
The event was originally set to run July 11 at the Rougemont, NC oval, but was lost when heavy rains hit the speedway after qualifying.
Next up for Max Gresham and the Gresham Motorsports team will be Melon 100 at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA onySaturday, August 29.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Mechanical Problems Relegate Gresham To 13th-Place Finish In Anderson ASA Southeast Event
FOR IMMEDITATE RELEASE
ANDERSON, SC (August 9, 2009) – Starting fourth in Saturday’s Anderson 100 American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour event at Anderson (SC) Speedway, Max Gresham knew he had one of the best cars in the field.
“We were fastest or second fastest in practice all day,” said Gresham of his No. 7-11 Gresham & Associates late model racer. “We had a really good car. It was good in race trim and it qualified well. At the start of the race, I could tell something wasn’t right. It was hardly drivable. I couldn’t do anything with it.”
After the race, Gresham found out a faulty rear end gear was the culprit, turning his dreams of winning a third ASA Southeast Tour event this season into a 13th-place finish.
“I would get back in the gas and the car would just want to spin out,” said Gresham. “One tire would spin and the other wouldn’t sometimes. One tire was free spooling and the other was still driving. The car would over rotate every time I got back on the gas. Every lap was different, a new ballgame. I never knew what it was going to do coming off the corner. It was pretty unnerving and frustrating too. We were so good in practice and I was hoping to win and expecting no worse than a Top-5 finish.”
Despite the problem, Gresham was able to stay on the lead lap until just 30 circuits remaining in the 100-lap ASA test. While the 13th-place effort wasn’t what he and his Gresham Motorsports team had in mind when they invaded the 3/8-mile paved Anderson oval, Gresham was able to take some positives out of the event.
“We’ve got two races until the championship chase starts,” said Gresham, who entered the event third in ASA Southeast Tour season points. “I’m sure we’re going to recover in those and be better than we have been all season when the chase starts. The guys on this Gresham Motorsports team work very hard and I can’t thank them enough for the great cars they put on the racetrack. I know we’ll bounce back and be right in the middle of the championship battle.”
Gresham will next take the green flag in ASA Southeast competition at Orange County Speedway in Rougement, NC Saturday August 22. The event is a make-up date for a rained out event earlier this season and will roll off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Looking To Find 'Real Speed' In Anderson ASA Southeast Tour Event
FOR IMMEDITATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (August 5, 2009) – On the surface, Saturday’s Anderson 100 American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour event at Anderson (SC) Speedway might look like any other race on a 3/8-mile oval. According to Max Gresham, however, it’s the little things that make Anderson different from the rest of the speedways on the circuit.
“A lot of the tracks we race on in the ASA Southeast Series are similar, but you have to approach each one differently,” said Gresham. “Each one has their little quirks – Anderson will certainly have its share of them. When you figure out with those little things are, that’s when you find the real speed at that track. If you try to run every track the same way, you never find that real speed.”
Gresham and his Gresham Motorsports No. 7-11 Late Model have had plenty of speed in ASA competition this season winning two of the seven division events contested. Recently, however, that speed has been negated by a string of bad luck that has dropped him from first to third in the championship standings - 48 points out of the top spot.
“I need to do well in this race,” said Gresham of Saturday’s Anderson 100-lap headliner. “We’ve struggled in the last couple of ASA races with a wreck at Cordele and then another crash in the most recent event at Montgomery. We finished fourth at Lanier between those two races, but we need to pull out another win or a top finish to get us back on track.”
To do that, Gresham will have to master the tight Anderson oval – a place where he has never competed in a full-bodied Late Model Stock Car.
“I’ve run a couple of Legends races at Anderson, but I have never raced a Late Model there,” said Gresham. “It’s a pretty tough little track. It’s got some decent banking to it and it wears tires pretty well. It’s going to be another one of those races where you are going to have to conserve what you have in the early part of the event so you have something left to race with at the end.”
Despite his recent sub-par ASA finishes, Gresham - a 16-year-old student who will begin his Junior year at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA in a couple of weeks – is confident he and his team can rebound down the stretch and contend for the ASA division title.
“I still think we have a great chance of winning the ASA Southeast championship,” Gresham stated. “I know we have a great shot of winning every time we go to the racetrack thanks to the efforts of my crew chief Gene Roberts and the rest of the guys on this Gresham Motorsports team. My dad told me one time ‘why go to the race track if you don’t think you can win?’ We’ve already proven we can win this season and we think we can again. Now we just have to go out and try to do it again this weekend at Anderson.”
Gresham will take the green flag in the Anderson 100 at Anderson Speedway Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Gets Education In NASCAR Camping World East Event At Adirondack
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW BREMEN, NY (August 2, 2009) – Max Gresham got a season’s worth of experience in one race Saturday driving the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Camping World Series East Toyota to a 16th-place finish in the Edge Hotel 150 at Adirondack International Speedway.
“We were fast, sideways and backwards, so I guess we had everything covered” said Gresham. “It wasn’t the finish we wanted or expected, but I learned a lot and got a lot of experience. That’s what this Joe Gibbs Racing Driver Development Program is all about. I know what I learned at Adirondack will help me down the road, so while I wanted to finish better, I’m not disappointed with our finish either.”
Gresham, just 16 and a star in the American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour ranks with two wins this season, was making his second start in the potent JGR Toyota Camry after wheeling his way to a fifth-place finish in his NCWSE debut at South Boston (VA) Speedway in May.
“We were fast in practice, but we didn’t make a mock qualifying run and I kind of lost it thanks to the combination of new tires and changing track conditions,” said Gresham. “We wound up starting 14th, which isn’t where we wanted to start and not an indication as to just how good our car was.”
Gresham and his Gresham & Associates sponsored red and black Camry spent the early laps of the 150-circuit event on the New Bremen, NY half-mile oval trying to work his way into the Top-10. By Lap 50, the Woodward Academy high school junior had done just that when the tricky Adirondack track jumped up and bit him.
“We were coming through the pack pretty good when I hooked the left-front tire in the grass in Turn 2 and lost the car,” said Gresham of his Lap 51 spin. “We were about 10th at the time and I wound up losing a lap. We made a pit stop and the crew made some adjustments that made us the fastest car on the track – about a tenth of a second a lap faster than the leader and almost three-tenths quicker than the rest of the field. The guys really put a lot of time into the car and made it very fast. We had a Top-5 car and they sure didn’t deserve a 16th-place finish.”
Despite the less than expected result, Gresham was still positive about the experience and was looking forward to his next turn behind the wheel of the JGR Driver Development ride.
“I can’t complain,” said Gresham. “We had a really fast car. I had a lot of fun passing a lot of cars. I’m new to this kind of car and series, so it was a real challenge. I’m learning and I can’t wait to get another chance when we go to Iowa Speedway next month. The Gibbs guys have pretty much won every time they’ve gone there, so they have a great set-up for the car. I know we’re going to be fast and maybe I can get my first NASCAR Camping World Series East win there.”
Gresham will return to ASA Southeast Tour action this weekend with a 100-lap headline event at Anderson (SC) Speedway. The green flag on the 3/8-mile oval is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Gresham will next hit the NASCAR Camping World Series trail Friday, September 4 at Iowa Speedway. The 125-lap event on the 7/8-mile oval will roll off at 8 p.m. Central Time.
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Ready For Second Ride In Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Camping World East Series Entry
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (July 28, 2009) – Max Gresham will ride the strength of a solid fifth-place finish in his first-ever NASCAR Camping World East Series event into this weekend’s Edge Hotel 150 at Adirondack International Speedway.
“That was a good race for us,” said Gresham of his NCWE debut in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry at South Boston Speedway May 30. “My goal was to finish in the Top-10, maybe the Top-5 if I could. We were able to do that despite the fact that South Boston was a really tough place to pass. Honestly, all I really wanted to do was bring the car back intact. We accomplished all of that.”
Gresham’s second Camping World East test will be just as difficult as the 16-year-old JGR Driver Development Program participant will tackle the tough New Bremen, NY half-mile oval. According to Gresham, the track has its own set of unique characteristics.
“I’ve never raced there, but from what I have been told, you are turning pretty much all the time,” said the 11th-grade student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA. “Adirondack appears to be a big circle. About the only track I have raced on that I can compare it to is Lanier Speedway in Georgia. That’s a pretty round track and you have to try to keep it on the bottom there too. It’ll be tough, but I know I will have a great Toyota Camry thanks to the guys at Joe Gibbs Racing, so I’m sure we’ll figure it out pretty quickly.”
The JGR NASCAR Camping World East crew has been a quick study this season winning three of seven division events with Kyle Busch and Matt DiBenedetto handling the driving chores. While Gresham hopes to win at Adirondack this weekend, he’s also looking at the big picture as he tries to drive his way up the racing ladder.
“I suppose there’s a little pressure to win because Kyle and Matt have already won for JGR this season,” said Gresham. “I know the car is capable of winning and I think I am too. My situation is a little different because it’s important for me to learn and run well. I need to get the laps completed and bring the car back with all the fenders on it. That’s what the goal was at South Boston and that’s what I will be looking to do again this weekend. It worked out good there and, hopefully, we’ll have the same or better results this weekend at Adirondack.”
The NASCAR Camping World East Series Edge Hotel 150 will roll off Saturday with practice at 12:15 p.m. Qualifying is set for 4:15 p.m. with the 150-lap NASCAR headline event at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The main event will be followed by ASA and Allison Legacy feature events.]
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com
Gresham Has Bumpy Ride In ASA Southeast Battle
FOR IMMEDITATE RELEASE
MONTGOMERY, AL (July 26, 2009) – A subpar qualifying run led to a less than expected finish for Max Gresham in Saturday’s American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour Gateway 100 at Montgomery Motor Speedway.
“We had the car pretty good in practice,” said Gresham, who wound up qualifying 21st and finishing 25th in the event on the half-mile Montgomery oval. “I don’t know if I communicated what I needed to get the car set up before qualifying, but we were way off and qualified back in the pack. When that happens, you are usually in trouble.”
Gresham, the ASA Southeast division points leader heading into the event, quickly found out just how much trouble he was in as a first-lap crash had him and his No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports stocker headed to the pit area for repairs.
“At the start of the race, I stayed back a little bit just to let things shake out,” Gresham stated. “The car to my outside filled the hole in front of me and I lost the buffer I had. Just about then, there was a spin as we went into Turn 1 and while I spun to miss the wreck, a car behind me didn’t get checked up in time and he knocked the rear end out of our car. Gene (Gresham Motorsports crew chief Gene Roberts) and the guys did a great job of getting the car back together and got me back on the track in just 18 laps. The car was pretty hurt and after that, I was just trying to stay out of the way.”
Even that didn’t work out well for the 16-year-old 11th-grade student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA.
“We got caught up in another wreck around Lap 70,” said Gresham. “After that, we just decided to park the car for the night and not tear it up anymore.”
While the finish was disappointing for Gresham, he also was philosophical about the evening’s results.
“I feel like we’ve had a chance to win every ASA race we have gone to this season,” said Gresham, who will wheel a Joe Gibbs Racing entry in the NASCAR Camping World East Series Edge Hotel 150 at Adirondack International Speedway in New Bremen, NY this Saturday. “Even when we crashed at Cordele (GA) and didn’t finish as well as we wanted to at Pensacola (FL), we had a good car and a chance to win. This was the first time all season where we just missed it. You’ll have that sometimes.”
Gresham will return to ASA action at Anderson (SC) Speedway on Saturday, August 8.
Meanwhile, this Saturday’s Edge Hotel 150 NASCAR Camping World East Series race will roll off Saturday with practice at 12:15 p.m. Qualifying is set for 4:15 p.m. with the 100-lap headline event at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The NASCAR main event will be followed by ASA and Allison Legacy feature events.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Takes Thunder Roadster Win, ASA Southeast Tour Mongomery Clash Next
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (July 21, 2009) – After seeing a number of his late model stock car races get lost to wet weather recently, Max Gresham took matters into his own hands last week jumping into Thunder Roadster car and winning the division’s main event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“Make sure you tell everyone I won in the Thunder Roadster car last week,” said the 16-year-old Gresham in a phone interview Tuesday. “I was really frustrated not racing, so I drove our Gresham Motorsports Thunder Roadster and won. I had a blast.”
Gresham has been having fun in his American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour late model this season winning two of the seven events contested and leading the series points by an 822-785 advantage over runner-up Jason Hogan.
This Saturday, Gresham hopes to add to both of those totals when he takes the green flag in the Gateway 100 ASA Southeast clash at Montgomery (AL) Motor Speedway.
“I’ve only been to Montgomery one time and that was for a test,” said Gresham of the 15-degree banked half-mile paved oval. “It has an old racing surface and it is definitely a tire killer. We are going to have to conserve our tires if we want to win the race. Montgomery is definitely one of a kind. I liked it. It was a fun track and I think it’s going to produce a lot of great racing Saturday night.”
In his last ASA outing, Gresham started 14th and finished a solid fourth at Lanier National Speedway. On Saturday, the rising Junior student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA hopes to start a little closer to the front.
“We’ll race for the win this weekend at Montgomery if we can,” said Gresham. “Of course we want to be able to put ourselves in that position if we can, but regardless of what happens we’ll get the best finish we can. That’s what we did in the last ASA race at Lanier. Our plan changed when we qualified deep in the field and some of the guys in the points chase had problems early. Fortunately, you can come from the back at Lanier and still get a good finish. You can’t do that at a lot of other tracks. I don’t know if you can do that at Montgomery. That’s why we want to qualify up front and race for the win if we can.”
Whatever the result, Gresham is just happy to be going to the racetrack and compete again this weekend at Montgomery.
“Last year, we raced about 25 times,” said Gresham, who will also wheel a Joe Gibbs Racing entry in four NASCAR Camping World East Series events this season. “This year, because of all the rain-outs and the fact that we are running a little different schedule, we’ll be lucky to race in 15 to 20 events. It’s definitely a little frustrating to not be racing as much, but the other side of it is our Gresham Motorsports team has had more time to prepare our cars and our results this season reflect that.”
The Gateway 100 at Montgomery Motor Speedway will roll off Saturday with ASA late model practice at 1 p.m. Qualifying is set for 5:15 p.m. with the 100-lap ASA headline event at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Gets Washed Out At Orange County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ROUGEMONT, NC – Max Gresham saw his chances of winning another American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour event get washed out Saturday when rains cancelled the RC Cola/Moon Pie 100 at Orange County Speedway.
Gresham – the leader of the ASA Southeast season championship chase after seven events - had qualified third for the event when heavy thunderstorms hit the 3/8-mile North Carolina track just prior to the green flag.
The event has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 22.
Gresham and his No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports stock car will return to action on Saturday, July 27, at Montgomery (AL) Motor Speedway. The Gateway 100 ASA event will take the green flag at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Takes ASA Southeast Series Points Lead Into Uncharted Territory At Orange County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA – Even though Max Gresham will be making his first-ever appearance at Orange County Speedway this Saturday, he is confident he can win right out of the box at the Rougemont, NC oval.
“There’s no reason we can’t go out and win,” said Gresham of Saturday’s American Speed Association RC Cola/Moon Pie 100 at the 3/8-mile North Carolina track. “Our Gresham Motorsports team has a pretty good record at tracks we’ve never raced at before. We hadn’t ever raced at Dillon (Dillon, SC) and we won the ASA race there earlier this year. We always run good at new racetracks. I know we can do it at Orange County too.”
Last time out, Gresham started 14th and finished a solid fourth in the American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour 100-lap event at Lanier National Speedway. The effort vaulted the 16-year-old driver to the top of the ASA Southeast championship standings. Gresham owns an 822-785 advantage over runner-up Jason Hogan in the ASA points heading into Saturday’s Orange County battle.
“Going into a race as the point’s leader doesn’t really change anything,” said Gresham. “We’re going to approach this race just like every other one we compete in. We’re there to get a top finish and a win if we can. We won’t be conservative. In the last race at Lanier, our nearest point’s competitors had trouble and we went from having to win the race to getting a good finish. The goal then was to get to the finish with all four fenders and wheels on the car. We did that and it gave us the point’s lead.”
While Gresham has never raced at Orange County, the rising Junior student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA will have the benefit of a test session at the track prior to Saturday’s event.
“I’ll have an opportunity to get used to the track before we race there,” said Gresham of his No. 7-11 team’s pre-race effort. “I really like testing because it allows me to find the appropriate line and find speed on the racetrack. I’ll be able to get in some valuable laps. It will also help us set-up wise because it’s been a long time since Gene (Gresham Motorsports crew chief Gene Roberts) has been there too. We’ll be able to get some good, current notes to work with when we come back.”
Gresham, the only driver with two ASA Southeast Asphalt Series wins this season, will take the green flag at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC July 11 when practice begins at 2 p.m. Qualifying is set for 5:30 p.m. with the 100-lap ASA headline event at 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Scrambles To Fourth-Place Finish In ASA Southeast Tour Clash At Lanier
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BRASELTON, GA (June 28, 2009) – There was no question about how Max Gresham felt after finishing fourth in the American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour RC Cola/Moon Pie 100 at Lanier National Speedway Saturday.
“Not bad, not bad at all,” said Gresham as he climbed from his No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports racer. “The car was amazing all night long. We started in the back and it was tough. It makes running up front seem pretty boring. Back there, you’ve really got to be patient and take care of your car. You can just spin guys out to get past them. You have to work them hard and pass when you have an opening. I was able to do that and honestly, I had a lot of fun back there.”
Gresham was all about having fun on the tight 3/8-mile Lanier paved oval turning in the fastest time in the first practice Friday – a 14.085-second clocking. The 16-year-old Griffin, GA driver then stayed near the top of the practice sheets before a 14.052 time in qualifying – just over a tenth of a second off the pole - placed him 14th in the 30-car starting field.
Undaunted, Gresham quickly steered his way into the top-10 by Lap 20 and was just outside the top-five by the half-way point of the 100-lap race. Later, Gresham narrowly missed disaster when he avoided the spinning car of Austin Hill on Lap 80.
“That was pretty close,” said Gresham. “We were racing hard, but I know I didn’t get into him. It was late in the race. I was waiting for a place to dive underneath him, but then he spun in front of us coming off. I just missed him. Like I said, it was close.”
Now sixth on the restart with 20 laps to go, Gresham made a couple of quick moves to grab the fourth spot. Over the final 10 circuits, Gresham dogged the No. 19 of Casey Roderick for third eventually settling for fourth at the checkered flag behind Paul Kelly, Russell Fleeman and Roderick.
“I think I might have had something for Casey at the end,” said Gresham, who entered the Lanier event second in the division point standings, just 14 markers back of leader Jason Hogan. “I got under him a couple of times and he cut me off. He was doing what he needed to do at the end of the race. I was happy to finish fourth. It was a smart race for us tonight. There were some people around us in the points that had problems tonight. I’m sure we made up a lot of points on Jason and some other guys that had trouble.”
Gresham, who has two ASA Southeast Asphalt Series wins this season, will next take the green flag in ASA competition at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC on July 11.
“Our confidence level has been high all year, but to come from the back and get a top-five finish at Lanier was pretty big,” said Gresham. “We just have a belief that we can do whatever we need to do. Gene Roberts and the guys on this Gresham Motorsports crew are incredible. I can’t wait to get to the next race at Orange County.”
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Ready To Get Back To ASA Southest Tour Action At Lanier
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (June 22, 2009) – Rainouts and rescheduled events have done what the competition hasn’t been able to do this season – slow down the rapid progress of Max Gresham. The 16-year-old Griffin, GA driver has gained notice winning a pair of American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour races and finished fifth in his NASCAR Camping World East debut for the Joe Gibbs Racing Driver Development Program.
Unfortunately, Gresham’s quick rise has momentarily stalled thanks to elements beyond his control.
“It’s been pretty painful not racing,” said Gresham, who has raced just twice since winning the ASA event at Dillon, SC April 25. “I’ve been going to the racetrack every Wednesday and Thursday with my brother Charlie and his Legends car. It’s tough to watch him race because I really want to be back in a car and on the track. I’m ready to get back behind the wheel.”
Gresham has managed to put the down time to good use doing his ‘summer school studies’ at the Gresham Motorsports shops.
“I’ve been at our shop working almost every day,” said Gresham of his summer ‘vacation.’ “I’ve been working on our Late Models, Legends and Bandolero cars. I enjoy it and it’s a great learning experience. I started doing it about five years ago. I wanted to know what the team was talking about when we were at the track. I needed to be able to communicate with them. Working at the shop also teaches you what to expect at the track, how long changes take, the level of work that goes into making you and your team successful. It’s a very valuable experience for me to have.”
Gresham will get a chance to apply that experience this weekend when he wheels his Gresham Motorsports ASA Late Model at Lanier National Speedway. Saturday’s RC Cola/Moon Pie 100 will give the young driver another shot at the tight Georgia oval, a place where he’s had limited success in 2009.
“We’ve had trouble finishing races at Lanier this year,” said Gresham. “I think we’ve run three races in various divisions there this season and finished one. We had one race where we were leading and got taken out and another race where I got disqualified for rough driving. I feel like this is a redemption race for me. I want to race hard, be there at the end, and get the best finish I can. It would be great to win. We’ve already proven we can do that this season.”
Gresham and the rest of the ASA Southeast Tour regulars will be in action at Lanier National Speedway Saturday, June 27. The sixth event of the 2009 ASA Southeast campaign will be part of a double header with the USAR Pro Cup Series.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
ASA Southeast Schedule Changes Alter Calendar For Gresham, Gresham Motorsports
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - (June 12, 2009) - The American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour announced a pair of schedule changes today that will alter the upcoming racing schedule for Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports.
The July 25 ASA event at Monroe Motor Speedway in Monroe, LA has been cancelled and next weekend’s ASA race – the June 20 Gateway 100 at Montgomery (AL) Motor Speedway - has been moved to the July 25 date.
Next up for Gresham and his Gresham Motorsports mates will be the ASA Southeast Tour RC Cola Moon Pie 100 at Lanier National Speedway in Lanier, GA, Saturday, June 27.
The event will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Mid-Race Crash Derails Gresham In Cordele ASA Battle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cordele, GA (June 7, 2009) – Max Gresham appeared to be in position to win his third American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour race of the season Saturday, but a mid-race crash saddled the impressive young driver with a 23rd-place finish in the Watermelon 100 at Watermelon Capital Speedway.
“We had a miscommunication,” said Gresham, who was leading the event in his No. 7-11 ASA stock car at the time of the mishap. “Two people got to talking on the radio. Paul Kelley was outside of us, but I really didn’t know he was out there. My spotter was trying to tell me, but because we had two people talking at once, I didn’t hear him. I wound up coming up on Paul and got spun out. The car swapped ends and I wound up hitting driver’s side hard in Turn 1. I’m okay – I did bruise my knee and foot. It was just disappointing because we could have won the race.”
The 16-year-old Griffin, GA driver proved early he’d be among the favorites to win on the 3/8-mile, D-shaped Cordele oval just missing the pole position with a 16.097-second clocking in qualifying.
“We had a new car this week and it was fast,” said Gresham. “We qualified second behind T.J. Reaid missing the pole by just six thousands of a second. The car was good and we were happy with it. We thought we had a great shot to win the race.”
Gresham, who had won the most recent ASA Southeast Tour event at Dillon (SC) Motor Speedway on April 25, put himself in even better position to come home with another victory when he pulled the No. 1 pill in the qualifying redraw. Now starting from the inside of the first row, Gresham made the most of the prime starting spot.
“The draw worked out to our favor again and we started from the pole,” said Gresham. “We didn’t lead the first lap, there were a bunch of cautions in the first 10 laps or so and it was hard to get going. Finally, we got a chance to run a little bit and I got out front. I was just saving my tires riding around when we had our problem. I think we had the car to beat.”
The plan seemed to be working to perfection until the dust up with Kelley near the 40-lap mark of the 100-circuit test derailed Gresham’s plans of winning.
“Sure, I’m disappointed,” said Gresham. “We were doing what we needed to be doing. All we can do is make sure we don’t have that problem again and go on to the next race at Montgomery (AL) this week. We’ll go there, do our best and try to win just like we do every week.”
Gresham and the rest of the ASA Southeast Tour regulars will return to action at Montgomery Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 20. The sixth event of the 2009 ASA Southeast campaign will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com
Gresham Tries To Keep Momentum Rolling In ASA Southeast Tour Cordele Clash
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (June 2, 2009) – After a solid debut behind the wheel of the Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Camping World East Series entry last weekend, Max Gresham returns to American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour action this weekend at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA.
“I’m looking forward to going back to the ASA stuff,” said Gresham. “We’ve had a lot of success there this season and we’ll be looking to keep that up. That’s one of the tracks that we consider home for us and we’ve done some testing at Cordele, so we’re hoping we can come away with our third win of the season there.”
Gresham, who won the most recent ASA Southeast Tour event at Dillon (SC) Motor Speedway on April 25, made his NASCAR debut on May 30 at South Boston (VA) Speedway piloting the No. 18 Gresham & Associates/Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry to a fifth-place finish in the South Boston 150.
“My goal was to finish in the Top-10, maybe the Top-5 if I could,” said Gresham, who will compete in three more NASCAR events this season as part of the JGR Driver Development Program. “Honestly, all I really wanted to do was bring the car back intact. We accomplished all of that. Man, I couldn’t be happier.”
This weekend, Gresham – who is second in ASA Southeast Points with two wins in four events so far this season – will try to master the tough 3/8-mile, D-shaped Cordele oval. He’s hoping to get a boost by supporting a long-time friend and Watermelon Speedway favorite.
“We’re going to be supporting our good friend Beau Slocum with a big hood decal on our 7-11 car at Cordele this week,” said Gresham of the 2007 ASA Southern Division championship runner up who is battling back from an illness. “Beau ran our Gresham Motorsports cars and he’s family to us. He always ran great at Cordele and won a lot of races there. He has a lot of fans there. We’re going to be racing for Beau this weekend. He’s doing better and we want to win for him. That would be a great thing for both us and him.”
The Watermelon 100 at Watermelon Capital Speedway will open with ASA Southeast Tour practice from 1-3 p.m. Qualifying is set for 4:45 p.m. with the race to take the green flag at 7:40 p.m.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Rolls To Fifth-Place Finish In NASCAR Camping World East Series Debut
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
South Boston, VA (May 30, 2009) – Max Gresham made his first career NASCAR start a memorable one rolling to a fifth-place finish in the South Boston 150 NASCAR Camping World East Series event at South Boston Speedway Saturday.
“To come here and finish fifth in my first NASCAR race against all these good drivers and cars is great,” said Gresham (right). “It really shows what kind of group this Joe Gibbs Racing Team is. It’s really a bonus for me to be able to have them behind me. I can’t believe how fortunate I am.”
Gresham’s debut in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry got off to a good start as the 16-year-old Griffin, GA driver rolled to second on the speed charts with a 16.125-second lap in the first practice session of the day. He then followed it up with a 16.312-second effort, good enough to grid his Gresham and Associates-sponsored Camry sixth for the 150-lap main event.
“The car was good right off the trailer,” said Gresham. “We posted our best practice time the second lap we were on the track. It was a little hotter when we qualified, so we weren’t quite as fast, but I was still happy with the lap and to start at the front of the field.”
Gresham played a waiting game in the first half of the 150-lap race, preferring to be patient and stay out of trouble. Despite the strategy, Gresham still found himself in a number of dicey situations on the tight 4/10-mile South Boston paved oval.
“We had a couple of close calls,” said Gresham. “This is a pretty small place and there were some guys that wanted to dive underneath you to try to get a position. My car got a little dinged up from the contact, but it was no big deal, It was just good, old-fashioned short-track racing. I had a blast.”
Gresham’s strategy worked to perfection as he never ran worse than seventh and was as high as fourth during the event. Over the final 40 laps, the rising 11th-grade student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA staged a spirited battle with Alex Kennedy before pulling away to score a fifth-place finish in his first-ever NASCAR event.
“My goal was to finish in the Top-10, maybe the Top-5 if I could,” said Gresham, who will compete in three more NASCAR events this season as part of the JGR Driver Development Program. “Honestly, all I really wanted to do was bring the car back intact. We accomplished all of that. Man, I couldn’t be happier.”
Gresham will now return to the American Speed Association ranks for an ASA Southeast Tour event at Watermelon Capital Speedway at Cordele, GA on Saturday, June 6. A winner of two of the first four ASA Southeast Tour events this season, Gresham is currently second in the division’s season championship point standings.
“We’ve had a great start to the season,” said Gresham. “Our Gresham Motorsports ASA program is doing well and we had an awesome beginning to our association with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Camping World East Series. I can’t wait to get back in the car and race again.”
Gresham and his No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports ASA team will take the green flag in Watermelon 100 at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Max Gresham To Make NASCAR Debut At South Boston Speedway Saturday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (May 27, 2009) – After a red-hot start to the season winning two of four American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour stock car events, Max Gresham will makes his NASCAR debut in the Camping World 150 at South Boston (VA) Motor Speedway this Saturday.
Gresham will wheel the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry in the May 30 NASCAR Camping World East stock car event on the tight 4/10-mile South Boston paved oval. The 16-year-old Gresham knows he’ll have a proven car and team behind him when he takes the green flag.
“I’m really thrilled to have an opportunity to be in a Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) NASCAR Camping World car,” said Gresham. “They win in every NASCAR division they race in. Matt DiBenedetto earned his first career NASCAR Camping World Series East victory at Tri-County Speedway a couple of weeks ago with the same JGR car and guys I’m working with. You can’t ask for a better opportunity than that.”
Gresham has made the most of his opportunities so far this season capturing ASA Southeast Tour events at Dillon (SC) Motor Speedway and Mobile (AL) International Speedway. He is second in the division’s championship chase, just eight markers out of the top spot.
This weekend, Gresham is focused on mastering the historic ‘SoBo’ track.
“I think you are going to have your car set up to be loose in and off the corners if you are going to be fast,” said Gresham, who will be making his first-ever South Boston appearance as well. “We tested a late model there and it is not hard to find the line and the fastest way around. It’s a fun little track, not my favorite yet, but it could be if we can have a good run with the JGR Toyota Camry Saturday night.”
Gresham, who also tested the No. 18 Gresham & Associates JGR Toyota at Hickory Motor Speedway recently, has high hopes for a solid finish at South Boston Saturday.
“One of the things we really improved on at Hickory was our team communication skills,” said Gresham. “I was able to give better information from the cockpit. I’m finding the Camping World car is pretty easy to drive once I got it figured out. They take more finesse than a late model. You have to do more than just run the car hard.”
Gresham, a sophomore student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA will take the green flag in the Camping World 150 at South Boston (VA) Speedway on Saturday, May 30 with practice beginning at Noon with qualifying to follow at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Time. The 150-lap NASCAR Camping World East Series event will take the green flag at 7 p.m.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship of or partnering with Max Gresham, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham, ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour Get Soaked At Hickory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (May 18, 2009) – Max Gresham’s bid for a third American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour victory this season got drenched Sunday as continous rains washed out the RC Cola / Moon Pie 100 at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway.
“Yeah, we got wet,” said Gresham Sunday. “We practiced and qualified Saturday and then it rained all morning today. They called it by noon.”
Gresham also indicated the rainout might actually turn out to be an advantage when the series returns for the make-up event (date to be determined).
“We’ll have more experience when we come back here later in the season,” said Gresham of the .363-mile paved famed Hickory oval. “We qualified eighth on Saturday and we’ll start seventh because of the draw. I’m going to need all the experience I can get to be able to get to the front and win from back there.”
The Woodward Academy (College Park, GA) sophomore student will next make his NASCAR debut in a Camping World East Series stock car event at South Boston (VA) Speedway on Saturday, May 30. The event will also mark the first time Gresham will wheel a Joe Gibbs Racing entry.
“I’m extremely excited to make my NASCAR debut and drive for Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Gresham. “I’m going to be doing some testing in the next two weeks leading up to the South Boston race. It’s going to be a great experience and opportunity for me. I can’t wait to do it.”
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Mas Gresham Early Surprise Of 2009 ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour Season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (May 11, 2009) – Nobody – including Max Gresham – thought he would have two wins in four American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour races as the series steams into venerable Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway this weekend.
“We had high expectations coming into the year, but I never thought we’d have two wins by now,” said Gresham (right)after capturing the most recent ASA Southeast Tour event at Dillon (SC) Motor Speedway on April 25. “Heck, I wasn’t sure we’d have one. Then we won the first race right out of the box at Mobile and I had the feeling this could be an extraordinary season. Of the four races we’ve been to, we’ve been in a position to win three of them and have won two. We have a great team. I have to thank them so much. They give me awesome cars, it’s just up to me to drive them and keep them clean. If we do that, we have a shot to win every time we race.”
Gresham, who turned 16 on April 30, will again have that opportunity when the ASA Southeast late models invade Hickory this weekend. The tight .363-mile paved oval has long been considered one of racing’s toughest. For Gresham, it will be his second appearance at the track.
“I ran an ASA Southeast race at Hickory two years ago and finished seventh,” said Gresham. “It was only my third race in a late model and I just hung around in the pack for the first 100 laps. The plan was we were going to go for it in the last 25 laps. We had a really good car and I got up to seventh, but they had two engines blow up and a rear end go out in the final five laps. It was so slick that nobody could pass at the end.”
The Griffin, GA driver – a student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA – feels like he’s gone to school on the famous Hickory track that produced NASCAR greats Bobby Isaac, Ned and Dale Jarrett, Ralph Earnhardt, Junior Johnson, Tommy Houston and Jack Ingram.
“Hickory is old, worn out and lots of fun,” said Gresham. “It doesn’t have a lot of grip which makes it a lot of fun. It’s one of my four or five favorite tracks that I have raced at so far. There’s a lot of history there. It’s a tough little place to get around, but once you do start getting around it fast, it’s a blast.
“My confidence is high and everyone on our race team is confident coming into this week,” Gresham continued. “It’s unbelievable what we have been able to accomplish just four races into the season, but we also know there’s a who season in front of us. We just have to keep working hard and racing smart. If we do that, I think we can be racing for another win in the final laps at Hickory this weekend.”
Gresham and his No. 7-11 Gresham Motorsports late model will next return to ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour action on Sunday, May 17 at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway. The green flag is scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern Time.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com
Gresham Rolls To Win In Dillon ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour Thriller
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dillon, SC (April 26, 2009) – Max Gresham gave himself an early birthday present Saturday rolling to a win in the American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour Carolina 100 at Dillon Motor Speedway.
The victory was the second in four ASA Southeast Tour events this season for Gresham, who will turn 16 on Thursday, April 30.
“The car was fast right off the truck,” said Gresham in Victory Lane. “We spent a lot of time with race set-up and trying to find the right line in Friday night’s practice. On Saturday, we worked hard on getting the car right and running the right line for qualifying. I knew by the second run that we had the car that we wanted.”
The Griffin, GA driver got his birthday celebration off with a bang early posting his first-ever Late Model top qualifying effort winning the pole on the 4/10-mile Dillon oval with a lap of 15.596 seconds.
Then, Gresham earned the right to start on the pole for the 100-lap main event when he pulled the No. 1 pill in the post-qualifying field inversion draw.
“I put my hand in the bag thinking I was going to pull a bad pill and we’d have to start in the back somewhere,” said Gresham. “I’m usually not too lucky when I pull the pill. I’ll usually pull a six or a seven. But I was messing around with my guys and I said ‘watch me pull the number one.’ When I did, it kind of surprised me. It was an amazing night for me in every way.”
Gresham quickly took advantage of the prime starting spot roaring away from the field at the drop of the green flag. Leading by as many as eight car lengths, Gresham paced the first half of the event and was in front when the first caution flag flew on Lap 57.
“I was kind of amazed we didn’t have a caution before that,” said Gresham. “I was happy to see it because I needed to cool my tires down. The car wasn’t handling as well as the race was going on. It was getting tighter and tighter.”
Now with Jason Hogan to his outside on a pair of double-file restarts, Gresham quickly realized he was at a disadvantage to the veteran racer.
“On the first restart, Jason almost got by me but I just drove it down into the corner deeper than he did,” said Gresham. “The second time after another caution a couple of laps later, he did get me. The driver on the outside had an advantage at the start because he could accelerate straight off the turn. On the bottom, I was still in a left hand turn in the start box trying to get back on the gas. He could pull me up there every time.”
Suddenly in second place and trailing with just over 35 laps remaining, Gresham wasted little time getting back to the front.
“I just kept my cool and played it smart,” said Gresham. “I was trying my hardest to get by Jason and stay off of him. Gene Roberts (Gresham Motorsports team manager) came on the radio and told me just to watch Jason and see where he makes a mistake. When he did, he told me to take advantage of it. After a couple of laps, I could see Jason was pushing up in the middle of the corner, so the next lap I just let off early going into Turns 1-2 and when he pushed up, I came back to the gas full throttle and got to the inside coming up off the corner. We raced side by side for a couple of laps before I was able to clear him.”
The final 20 laps had the crowd on its feet as Hogan would dive to the inside entering the corner time and again only to have Gresham pull away as they exited the turns. On several occasions, the two cars touched, but raced on cleanly without crashing.
“It was close and tight the whole way,” stated Gresham. “I tried back the car up, get out of the gas early, going into the corner all night so I could get the car turned and come up hard off the corner. That’s the way this race was won here last year. It was like that this year. I knew Jason could get to me, but I was able to drive up off the corner and beat him down the straights. It was working for us even though Jason got close enough a bunch of times to give us a nudge. I really have to give him credit, he raced me clean. He never went over the top. There was nothing crazy. We were both racing for the win.”
The Dillon victory was even sweeter for the soon to be 16-year-old driver than the ‘Happy Birthday Max' giant cookie’ on the Gresham Motorsports hauler.
“We had high expectations coming into the year, but I never thought we’d have two wins by now,” said Gresham. “Heck, I wasn’t sure we’d have one. Then we won the first race right out of the box and Mobile and I had the feeling this could be an extraordinary season. Of the four races we’ve been to, we’ve been in a position to win three of them and have won two. We have a great team, I have to thank them so much. They give me awesome cars, it’s just up to me to drive them and keep them clean. If we do that, we have a shot to win every time we race.”
Gresham will next return to ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour action on Sunday, May 17 at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway. The green flag is scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern Time.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Gresham Enjoys Off Weekend Before Return To ASA Southeast Late Model Tour At Dillon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (April 20, 2009) – Max Gresham used his off weekend from the race track to do something millions of high school teenagers are doing this time of year.
“I went to Prom with my girlfriend,” said Gresham, a student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA. “It was fun. We just hung out, I got to meet some more of her friends. It was a good time. Later in the weekend, I went to one of her horse shows. It was just a nice relaxed weekend away from the racetrack. Something different for a change.”
This weekend, the 15-year-old Griffin, GA driver and his Gresham Motorsports team will return to a school of a different sort - the American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour - at Dillon (SC) Motor Speedway.
“It’s a real tight place and it’s going to be hard to pass,” said Gresham of the 4/10-mile Palmetto State oval. “You’re going to have to have a car that turns well and gets down the straightaway too. You’re going to have to get your car on the bottom and keep it on the bottom in Turns 1-2. You want to get as much of a run as you can through the D-shaped backstretch and you have to get slowed down hard for Turns 3-4. They’re almost like hairpin turns and they are hard to get through. They are very tight. You have to be able to get through there good so you can get back to the gas hard and down the straight away. It’s a tough racetrack.”
Saturday’s ASA event will mark Gresham’s No. 7-11 Late Model Stock Car (pictured above) first race appearance at Dillon track. He did get to test at the tight asphalt oval recently and was pleased with the results.
“The test went really well,” said Gresham. “It didn’t take long for me to learn the racetrack and we were really happy with our lap times by the end of the day. We left there really happy with the day’s results.”
According to Gresham, a driver and team will have to employ several strategies successfully to win Saturday’s ASA Southeast Tour at Dillon Motor Speedway.
“It’s going to take a real good qualifying run to get us up front to begin with,” said Gresham. “That way, you don’t have to fight your way from the back. Then it’s going to be who can run the hardest without wearing their stuff out or getting taken out. Tire wear will be important at the end of the race – kind of like at Cordele (GA) Speedway. The tire wear isn’t real aggressive, but you can’t always run at hard as you want or you will be out of tires at the end of the race. Ultimately, you are going to have to stay out of trouble. It’s going to be a tough race. ”
Saturday’s ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour RC Cola Moon Pie 150 at Dillon Motor Speedway will also feature racing action in the Super Truck, Charger and Street Stock divisions. The green flag is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Late Race Incident Costs Max Gresham Top Finish In Lanier ASA Southeast Tour Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Braselton, GA (April 12, 2009) – Max Gresham will take many stands and learn many lessons during the 2009 American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour season. On Saturday at Lanier National Speedway, the 15-year-old driver experienced some of both.
“I feel badly about what happened,” said Gresham after being disqualified for rough driving in the Matt Hawkins Memorial 100. “We had a car that probably could have won the race, but I thought it was more important for me to stand up for myself. Based on the kind of car I had, it probably wasn’t the right thing to do. My car is torn up some and that’s extra work for my crew. I guess TJ’s (TJ Reaid) car is torn up pretty badly too. I definitely didn’t want that to happen – to either of us. Honestly, I don’t think I would do something like that again, but this week, I needed to stand up for myself. It was just time.”
Gresham became the youngest winner in ASA Southeast Tour history by winning the season-opening Ride-On Tire Protection System 100 at Mobile International Speedway three weeks ago. At Lanier, Gresham appeared to again have the right stuff to get to Victory Lane only to have the effort short-circuited in the late stages of the race.
“We started ninth out of 34 cars after qualifying just one-tenth of a second off of the pole,” said Gresham. “We were happy with that. We knew the car was good.”
Gresham fell back at the drop of the green flag on the high-speed, 3/8-mile paved Lanier oval, but then quickly made his way to the front of the field breaking into the Top-5 in the running order just past the half-way part of the race.
“We started on the inside line and that row really fell back as the start of the race,” said Gresham. “It took a little while to recover from that, but we were eventually able to race up to the fourth position. We had a really stout car and it hooked up very good. It was especially good on longer, green flag runs.”
Gresham and his No. 7-11 ASA Late Model Stock Car were in a position to race for the win with just under 25 laps to go when a bumping incident with Reaid ended any hopes of victory.
“When I got by TJ, we kind of body slammed,” said Gresham. “I didn’t mean to do it. We were both racing hard and it was under green flag conditions. It wasn’t intentional at all. Then, under yellow, TJ came up and ran into me real hard down in Turns 1-2. I retaliated and spun him out on the backstretch and because of that, I was black flagged for rough driving.”
Reaid, and a third driver in the backstretch incident, Parker Harmons, were also disqualified from the event by ASA race control.
While disappointed with the outcome at Lanier, Gresham was already distancing himself from the Lanier race and looking forward to the next event on the 2009 ASA Southeast Tour at Dillon (SC) Motor Speedway on Saturday, April 25.
“I know I have put this behind me and I hope TJ and his team can too,” said Gresham. “At this point, our Gresham Motorsports team is pointing toward the next race at Dillon. That’s all we are focusing on. I want to win there. I know we’ll have a great car, just like we did at the Lanier race.”
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com
Gresham Looking To Continue To Run Up Front In Lanier ASA Southeast Tour Clash This Weekend
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (April 7, 2009) – Max Gresham couldn’t have asked for a better opening to the 2009 American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour winning the Ride-On Tire Protection System 100 at Mobile International Speedway and coming home 10th in the Estrol Oil 100 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL two weeks ago.
This weekend, the Griffin, GA driver will be looking to back up those two stellar performances with another solid ASA effort at a place where he has won in the past - Lanier National Speedway.
“I have a lot of confidence heading into this weekend’s ASA race at Lanier,” said Gresham of the suburban Atlanta track. “I have a lot of laps at Lanier. I’ve won quite a few races there including two Georgia State Championships - one in a Legends car and one in a Late Model. It’s been a good track for me with a lot of Top-5 and Top-10 finishes. I’m hoping we can go to Lanier and have another great finish this weekend.”
The 15-year-old Gresham became the youngest driver ever to win an ASA Southeast Tour main event with the Mobile victory. Despite his young age, his extensive experience at Lanier in multiple divisions has given him the knowledge as to what it takes to get around the high-speed, 3/8-mile paved oval.
“You really have to arc out the corners at Lanier, you have to race the track like it is one big circle,” said Gresham. “You have to widen out the corners and come off of them really hard. As far as set up is concerned, you have to be a little bit freer than you would normally be at most tracks. If you are going to be good there, you really have to have your car turning well.”
Gresham and his family-owned Gresham Motorsports No. 7-11 ASA Late Model Stock Car are currently second in the ASA Southeast Tour championship standings, just 35 points out of the top spot.
“Our goal is to win every race we go to, but I’m also realistic,” Gresham stated. “The biggest thing we’re looking to accomplish at Lanier this weekend is to get a Top-5 finish. Winning would be great, but finishing in the Top-5 is what we need to do to continue to contend for the 2009 ASA Southeast Tour championship.”
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Max Gresham's ASA Season-Opening Victory No Surprise To Roberts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (April 2, 2009) – While Max Gresham may have surprised the racing world with a win in the season-opening American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Tour event at Mobile, AL, the victory wasn’t that unexpected for the driver’s veteran team manager and crew chief, Gene Roberts.
“The results we had last weekend are just an extension of the program we put together last year,” said Roberts (above right), who oversees the Gresham Motorsports operation. “Max is a very talented young driver and over the winter months, we were able to refocus and work on our race cars. Our goal was to be right from the start of the season, especially in a series like ASA where we knew we were going to try to win a championship this year. When we hit the track at Mobile last weekend, we were fully loaded and ready to compete. That proved out with a win there and then a Top-10 finish the following day at Pensacola.”
Roberts, who made a name for himself working in NASCAR for several seasons – most notably with Bill Elliott – has in recent years dedicated himself to developing young drivers. In Gresham, a 15-year-old who has roared on to the late model scene after successful stints in Bandolero and Legends cars, Roberts thinks the Griffin, GA driver has the ‘right stuff’ to follow in the footsteps of several other top young talents.
“I’ve been working with Max since he was 12 and he’s progressed quite a lot,” Roberts stated. “I had success in the past working with young drivers like Joey Clanton and Reed Sorenson and the Gresham Motorsports program has had successful associations with drivers like Joey Logano and David Ragan as they made their way up the racing ladder. We’re hoping Max can achieve that same kind of success.”
Success was the name of the game for Gresham at Mobile as sprinted from the 16th starting position to win the ASA Southeast Ride-On Tire Protection System 100 Saturday. One day later, Gresham’s black and red No. 7-11 stocker again started deep in the field, roared through the pack to lead, and eventually finished 10th in the Estrol Oil 100 ASA Southeast Tour event at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL.
The solid weekend doubleheader performance left Gresham in second place in the ASA championship standings, just 35 points out of the top spot as the team prepares to head for its next ASA contest at Lanier (GA) National Speedway, Saturday, April 11.
“We expect to go to every event this season with the potential to contend for the win,” said Roberts. “As a team, we’re capable of winning races, but with a young driver like Max, you have to build his confidence and allow him to use the skills he has to win those races. There’s no doubt we have the cars to win races. I think this is going to be a breakout year for Max. He’s a very talented young man and I think he’s right on target to be one of the drivers in the ASA series that the competition is going to have to contend with at every race. Our goal is a championship, that’s what we are racing for this year. Winning at Mobile and getting a good finish at Pensacola was a great start to that goal.”
Max Gresham will return to American Speed Association Southeast Tour action in the Lanier 100 at Lanier National Speedway on Saturday, April 11. The event on the 3/8-mile Atlanta area paved oval will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The event will be broadcast live on the web at www.racetalkradio.com.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Max Gresham Wins ASA Southeast Opener At Mobile, Finishes 10th At Pensacola
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOBILE, AL (March 29, 2009) – Max Gresham opened the 2009 American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour season just the way he wanted to – with a trip to Victory Lane - when he captured the Ride-On Tire Protection System 100 event at Mobile International Speedway Saturday.
The 15-year-old Griffin, GA driver then backed up the win with a 10th-place effort in Sunday’s rescheduled ASA Estrol Oil 100 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL making it a big weekend for the Gresham Motorsports team.
“We couldn’t be happier about how the season started,” stated Gresham, who became the youngest driver ever to win an ASA Southeast Tour main event with the Mobile victory. “To win at Mobile right away was phenomenal. I was so happy for my race team. They have put so much time into getting this right. It was awesome to win. We kept saying all week long that we were going to win. We knew we could do it. It was great that we could go out and prove it.”
Gresham gridded his No. 7-11 Late Model Stock Car 16th in the 28-car starting field Saturday and quickly headed to the front at the drop of the green flag. Along the way, several cautions provided some anxious moments for the young driver.
“I had a couple of close calls,” said Gresham. “I had to miss a couple of wrecks early. The name of the game was staying out of trouble and using the cautions, slower cars lapped traffic to our advantage. Doing that, we were able to pass two and sometimes three cars at a time, so we wound up getting to the front pretty quickly.”
Eventually, Gresham worked his way up to the runner-up spot and was in position for the win when the race was slowed by a pair of attempts at a green, white, checkered flag finish. On the second and final restart, Gresham decided it was now or never.
“We had gained quite a bit of ground on the leader to get in a position to win,” said Gresham. “On the second restart, it was time to go for broke. I drove hard into Turn 1 and the car stuck. We had a little contact, but we held on and raced for it down into Turn 3. Somehow, I was able to grab the lead and come home first.”
Jeff Choquette, John Bolen, Joel Anderson and Taylor Satterfield completed the Top-5 finishers while Jerrod Foley, Johanna Long, Ryan Crane, Terry Horak and Tyler Millwood rounded out the Top-10.
“The guys got the car just right for the race,” said Gresham. “I can’t thank them enough. It means so much to win at this level. It was a pretty amazing experience and can only help our race team the rest of this season.”
Gresham rode a wave of confidence into Sunday’s ASA race at Pensacola. Rained out Friday night, the rescheduled show proved to be a tougher task for the teenage driver.
“Sunday’s race at Pensacola was a lot more difficult than Saturday’s event at Mobile,” Gresham stated. “Because the race was in the heat of the day, the track was much harder to race. We were sliding around a lot, but I still learned quite a bit and that’s what we’re trying to do at each event.”
Gresham nearly replicated Saturday’s win qualifying 13th in the 30-car field and then driving straight to the front taking the lead by Lap 55.
“The car was absolutely wonderful during the early part of the race,” said Gresham. “The last two times we have raced at Pensacola, we had a loose car at the start of the race. Today, it was perfect from the start and I was able to drive it to the front. It was great to drive right to the lead, especially after winning the night before at Mobile.”
Gresham held the top spot for 10 circuits Sunday before losing the lead on a restart.
“I had burned the tires off the car by about Lap 75,” stated Gresham. “From there, I was just holding on trying to get the best finish I could. We still got the good finish – a top-10 – that we were looking for, but it could have been a lot more.”
Paul Kelley wound up winning the 100-lap Pensacola ASA clash with Bolen second. T.J. Reaid, Crane, Jason Hogan, Brandon Carlson, Patrick Long, Foley, Josh Hamner and Gresham completed the Top-10 finishers Sunday at Pensacola.
“We couldn’t have had a better start to the 2009 ASA season,” said Gresham. “We proved we could win and we posted a solid Top-10 finish in the race we didn’t win. That’s our goal all year – to run well consistently and compete for wins. We did that this weekend and hope to do that the rest of the season.”
Gresham, who will wheel a Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Camping World East entry in four races this year in addition to competing on the full ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, will return to action Saturday, April 11 at Lanier, GA.
The 100-lap ASA clash on the 3/8-mile Lanier Speedway oval will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Max Gresham Wins ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour Season Opener At Mobile
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOBILE, AL (March 28, 2009) – Max Gresham became the youngest winner in the history of the American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour when he captured the Ride-On Tire Protection System 100 event at Mobile International Speedway Saturday.
The 15-year-old Griffin, GA driver passed John Bolen on the final lap of the event, which climaxed with a green-white-checkered flag finish.
A full story about this event, as well as a recap of Sunday’s rescheduled ASA Estrol Oil 100 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL will be posted on GreshamMotorsports.com later today.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com
ASA Southeast Late Model Opener At Pensacola Rescheduled For Sunday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (March 27, 2009) – Max Gresham and his Gresham Motorsports team will have to wait an extra day to open the 2009 American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour after strong storms in the Florida Panhandle today forced the rescheduling of the Estrol Oil 100 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola.
The event, part of an ASA weekend doubleheader at Mobil (AL) Speedway, has been rescheduled for this Sunday afternoon at 3:30pm.
Meanwhile, the Ride-On Tire Protection System 100 event at Mobile International Speedway set for Saturday night is set to go off as scheduled. Green flag is at 7:30 p.m.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com
Gresham To Open ASA Southeast Late Model Season With Weekend Doubleheader At Pensacola, Mobile
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRIFFIN, GA (March 23, 2009) – Max Gresham will begin his quest for the American Speed Association Southeast Asphalt Tour championship with a racing doubleheader this weekend.
“We’re going to open the ASA season this Friday at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola (FL) and then race again Saturday at Mobile (AL) International Speedway,” stated Gresham who will wheel his familiar family-owned No. 7-11 Late Model Stock Car in the weekend racing twinbill. “Normally, we don’t run races on back-to-back days, so it’s kind of different for me. That’s 100 laps or racing each night plus practice and qualifying laps two days in a row. I’m sure I won’t get tired. I’ve done it a couple of times before, so it’s no big deal. You’re too excited to be racing to get tired.”
Gresham has plenty to be excited about this season as he will take on the entire 17-race ASA Southeast Tour slate as well as compete in four NASCAR Camping World East Stock Car Series events this year. It’s a schedule that will be a challenge for the up and coming 15-year-old Griffin, GA driver.
“I’m really looking forward to this season,” said Gresham. “I have an opportunity to establish myself. You want to show people how good you are. You want to show them how far you have come. This is going to be a good season for us. I’m going to be running different kinds of cars in multiple divisions. Wherever we go, we want people know we’re there to race. I want to run as good as we can and be established by the end of the season. If we can do that, I think we’ll have a great year.”
Gresham hopes to get the 2009 ASA campaign off to a flying start Friday at the famed Five Flags Speedway oval. The last time the impressive young driver competed at the high-banked, half-mile track, Gresham qualified eighth and finished seventh in the Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model division event.
“When we were at Pensacola last year, I learned the key was to take care of your tires and keep the car under you as long as possible,” Gresham stated. “You try to keep off the brakes and keep the car rolling in the turns. You have to charge, but you have to be as easy as you can on your equipment and still be fast.”
According to Gresham, Saturday’s race at Mobile will be equally as challenging despite a significant difference between the Mobile and Pensacola tracks.
“Mobile has longer straights than Pensacola and because of that, it’s a speed track,” said Gresham, who has one previous start at the Alabama raceway qualifying in the Top-10 before falling out of the race with a mechanical problem just short of Lap 100. “It has a lot of grip. It’s all about speed on the straights there and not so much about the corners. Mobile is more about going fast in a straight line. Pensacola is all about momentum and has no grip while Mobile has a ton of grip and you go very fast.”
In the end, Gresham hopes his previous experience, along with a commitment to excellence this season, will provide the keys to victory this weekend.
“We’re looking to go down there and win these races,” said Gresham. “If we can’t do that, we at least want to finish in the top five. We want to start off the 2009 ASA season with great finishes and get a solid start to a championship run. We accomplished what we wanted to last season. We learned some new things that we know will make faster, especially in qualifying this year. It’s all a learning experience for us right now and as long as we can qualify and run near the front, we’ll have a good weekend at Pensacola and Mobile.”
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Max Gresham Gets Close Up Look At NASCAR Truck Series In Atlanta.... Young Late Model Driver Sets Sights On Future
GRIFFIN, GA (March 11, 2009) - Max Gresham got a taste of the big time visiting the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series garage area prior to the running of the American Commercial Lines 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Gresham, 15, is an up and coming Atlanta area racer who will wheel a Gresham Motorsports American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour Late Model Stock Car in 17 events at tracks throughout the southern United States as well as compete in four NASCAR Camping World East Series events at the controls of a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
On Saturday, Gresham (at left with Rick Crawford) got a close up look at where he hopes to be someday - a part of a one of NASCAR's 'Big Three' touring series.
"It was different being in the garage area this time," said Gresham, who has attended a host of NASCAR races at AMS, his former home track where he has previously won Bandolero and Legends Car titles. "Normally, I'll just walk around and not talk to anyone because I don't know anyone. Today, getting introduced to so many people was pretty incredible. I was in the loop, not standing in the background. It was exciting, professional, and I liked it a lot. I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time meeting people and getting to know the NASCAR community."
Gresham, who will swing into action Friday and Saturday, March 27-28 with an ASA Southeast Tour doubleheader at Five Flags Speedway (Pensacola, FL) and Mobile (AL) Speedway, seemed to quickly fit in with
several of the Truck Series regulars.
"It was great getting to meet some of the guys in the series like Rick Crawford, Brian Scott and Terry Cook," said Gresham. "What kind of surprised me was that they already knew who I was before I met them. I guess the news about our NASCAR Camping World East Series effort with Joe Gibbs Racing has gotten around. That was pretty cool. It made me feel like I already belonged here."
Gresham was particularly impressed with Scott, who stopped by on his way to making his qualifying run.
"Brian and I talked for a long time," said Gresham. "He was really
helpful. He's not that much older than I am and he raced through the ranks when he was a teenager, so we have some things in common. I was sitting there thinking how cool it would be to have my suit on and be carrying my helmet down pit road to get ready to qualify. It's going to take a little while - a couple or more years - but my one of my goals is to be there racing against guys like Brian, Rick and Terry someday. That
would be so neat if that happened. I know it's going to happen."
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com
Max Gresham Ready For Full 2009 Season Young Driver To Fill Joe Gibbs Racing Camping World Seat, Wheel Family-Owned Late Model This Season
GRIFFIN, GA (February 27, 2009) - Max Gresham has a full calendar in 2009 including turning 16 years old on April 30. At that age, most people are looking forward to getting their driver’s license and sliding behind the wheel of an automobile.
And while Gresham is eager to celebrate his birthday and cruise around his native Griffin, GA with a carload of friends along for the ride, he’s even more enthused about taking the wheel of a NASCAR Camping World East Series stock car fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing later this season.
"I’m really thrilled to have an opportunity to be in a Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) NASCAR Camping World car this season,” said Gresham. "It’s a new, heavier car with a more powerful engine for me, so it might take a little while to get used to it. I’m going to find out what it takes right away to get the car to handle on the track. That’s when it will be time to show off my skills."
Gresham – who will make his NASCAR Camping World debut at South Boston (VA) Speedway on May 30 - has been driving various high-powered racing vehicles since he was age 8. Multiple successes in each division have brought him to 2009 racing season and into the spotlight as one of the most promising young drivers to come along in several years.
"We’re excited to work with Max and his family," said J.D. Gibbs, President of JGR. "He is a talented young driver and we look forward to having him be a part of our Camping World East program."
"It’s important for me to have a good year this year," said Gresham. "I have an opportunity to establish myself. You want to show people how good you are. You want to show them how far you have come. This is going to be a good season for us. I’m going to be running different kinds of cars in multiple divisions. Wherever we go, we want people know we’re there to race. I want to adapt to the cars and run as good as we can and be established by the end of the season. If we can do that, I think we'll have a great year."
In addition to JGR’s Camping World initiative, Gresham will again return for a full season of Late Model Stock Car action in his family-owned Gresham Motorsports entry. This year, that schedule includes a run at the American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour championship. That schedule will include 17 events at tracks throughout the southern United States including stops at Hickory and Concord, NC; Anderson and Dillon, SC; and Cordele and Braselton, GA.
"We’re going to run for the ASA Southeast Series championship this season," stated Gresham, a sophomore high school student. "I’m going to be all about keeping the car in one piece so we have a shot at that. That’s the only way you are going to finish well and have a shot at the championship."
Gresham will round out his 2009 season slate with a number of Pro and Super Late Model events including the World Crown 300 in November at the all-new Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, GA and December’s Snowball Derby in Pensacola, FL.
"We used to run five races a week in the Legends and Bandolero cars, so racing once or twice a week this season doesn’t seem like much until you start running for the point’s championship like we are," said Gresham. "If you have to fixed wrecked cars, those weeks can get pretty short. We want to be on the track and racing as much as possible this year, so the whole goal will be to run up front, stay out of the wrecks, and have a great season."
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.
Charlie's Legends Debut
He finally made his decision, and he made the hard work count!! Charlie Gresham ran his first Legends Semi Pro race at Lanier National Speedway on Saturday, February 7, 2009. After three practice sessions, most of them in horribly cold weather, Charlie finally got to see how he stacked up with the other Legends drivers. After starting the race in 8th, dodging a couple of wrecks, and moving into 7th position, Charlie set off to run down the pack. After 8 or so laps he caught the pack, but found himself in a race for 7th as a few minor errors allowed him to be caught from behind as well. 4 or 5 laps of hard racing ensued, before Charlie lost the handle coming out of turn two on lap 17. He would not be discouraged today. Charlie re-fired the car, and joined the field without bringing out the yellow. Only slightly disappointed with a 12th place finish, Charlie was beaming with excitement as he climbed from the 7-11 Legends car.
"That's a lot more fun than Bandoleros" said the 12 year old GMS driver. "Man, if I could have just held onto it there!".
This week will bring more practice, and next week the Winter Flurries racers will be at Atlanta Motor Speedway where Charlie will make his first "flat track" start in his 7-11 Legends car.
Ice Cold Shriner Bowl
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (January 12, 2009) - Ice Cold Shriner Bowl gives GMS Team the “Cold Shoulder”
Racing in January has its issues. The weather….37 degrees. The track….still weeping from the overnight storms. The team……not quite cozy.
Plagued by fuel and motor problems all weekend, Charlie’s 7-11 Bandolero failed to complete either race this weekend (Saturday winter series with INEX, and Sunday Ice Cold Shriner Bowl). Despite the crew’s hard work, and Charlie’s determination, something just wasn’t right. Two weeks until the Road Course at AMS should give the team and the driver time to focus on better outcomes.
The Late Model team faired better with a 6th place qualifying effort on Saturday. Max’s 14.15 bettered his old qualifying effort at Lanier National Speedway by a good margin. While the inversion dice gave the team brief hope by hovering on the 6 for a good long while, it eventually rolled over to a 5 that provided no assistance. However, quick maneuvering on the initial start allowed Max to advance his position to 3rd where he would run until a skirmish with the 20 car of Brian Campbell resulted in a severe tire rub on the 7-11 machine. On lap 47, the car was black-flagged for safety concerns surrounding the tire rub, and Max had to start a charge from the back. Passing cars, and making good use of the tracks “choose” rule, Max advanced his position to 8th, when chaos broke out on the lap 71 re-start due to problems with one of the top runners. The mad dash to avoid a car that did not come up to speed resulted in a cut right front tire, which brought Max to the garage a few laps later.
Though disappointed, the team left grateful for the opportunity to race, and help the local Shriners with a charitable event.
Next up for the Late Model….Speed Fest at Lanier National Speedway.
A New Year
As 2009 begins, it is fun to look back on what 2008 brought us. Our accomplishments included Late Model feature wins, Charlie’s first trophy, new crewmembers, and new friends too numerous to count. We at Gresham Motorsports feel privileged to have competed with the best racers in the Southeast (in both Late Models and Bandoleros), and are proud of the legacy of success that we have established.
As we look over the horizon into 2009, we are confident that we can continue to move the program and drivers forward into new venues. Even as Charlie concludes Winter Series racing in the Bandolero, we are making plans to begin the transition to a Legends car. Look for the familiar 7-11 Coupe to run in the Summer Shootouts.
Our Late Model program will take a slightly different look for 2009. While we anticipate running races with one of the Pro Late Model series (there are so many to choose from!), the team is excited about finding new competition in the Super Late Model divisions.
As has been the case for some time now, we expect to run in excess of 50 events next year between the two primary drivers (Jim is threatening to push us well over 50 in the Roadster). This much racing can be very taxing on the crew, but it also gives the great opportunities to discover new skills, and hone some frequently used ones.
We hope that you will join us on our journey in 2009. It is sure to be full of drama, and packed with action. And, if you have a minute, check out our latest venture: Gresham Motorsports Park (www.greshammotorsportspark.com).
Happy New Year!!
2008 Snowball Derby
Saturday, December 6th marked the end of the Late Model season for the Gresham Motorsports team. It also marked the team’s first appearance in Pensacola for the Snow Ball Derby.
The 7-11 Pro Late Model of Max Gresham set a tone for the weekend by consistently ranking in the top ten for all of the practice sessions leading up to qualifying. Proving that the team meant business, Max went out 29th to qualify, and posted the second fastest qualifying time at that point. With several veterans like Augie Grill, Keeton Hanks, and others still to qualify, Max knew only time would tell how good the effort was. After 63 cars had made their time trial runs, Max had qualified 8th and would be starting outside of row four.
Nearly as fast as the green flag dropped, the carnage started. The 100 lap event took nearly 2 1/2 hours to complete, and had several red flags for serious wrecks. Max managed to find the slightest of holes to drive through and around the wrecks. Running 5th at lap 49, the team elected to pit for right side tires. Rejoining the field in 20th, Max continued to avoid spinning racers, and advanced through the field back to the 5th spot. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much left for the lap 93 restart, and Max was forced to yield positions to two faster cars.
Commenting on his 7th place finish, "I am not real sure how we got through some of that stuff, it seemed like cars were out of control everywhere. Luckily, we avoided them, and I was able to give the team a good finish. Those guys have really worked hard these last couple of weeks."
The team has one more race for 2008 year as Charlie Gresham takes his Bandolero to the Road Course at Atlanta Motor Speedway against a very competitive Young Guns class.
Snowball Derby, Pensacala, Florida
Saturday, December 6th marked the end of the Late Model season for the Gresham Motorsports team. It also marked the team’s first appearance in Pensacola for the Snow Ball Derby.
The 7-11 Pro Late Model of Max Gresham set a tone for the weekend by consistently ranking in the top ten for all of the practice sessions leading up to qualifying. Proving that the team meant business, Max went out 29th to qualify, and posted the second fastest qualifying time at that point. With several veterans like Augie Grill, Keeton Hanks, and others still to qualify, Max knew only time would tell how good the effort was. After 63 cars had made their time trial runs, Max had qualified 8th and would be starting outside of row four.
Nearly as fast as the green flag dropped, the carnage started. The 100 lap event took nearly 2 1/2 hours to complete, and had several red flags for serious wrecks. Max managed to find the slightest of holes to drive through and around the wrecks. Running 5th at lap 49, the team elected to pit for right side tires. Rejoining the field in 20th, Max continued to avoid spinning racers, and advanced through the field back to the 5th spot. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much left for the lap 93 restart, and Max was forced to yield positions to two faster cars.
Commenting on his 7th place finish, "I am not real sure how we got through some of that stuff, it seemed like cars were out of control everywhere. Luckily, we avoided them, and I was able to give the team a good finish. Those guys have really worked hard these last couple of weeks."
The team has one more race for 2008 year as Charlie Gresham takes his Bandolero to the Road Course at Atlanta Motor Speedway against a very competitive Young Guns class.
World Crown
With Nashville in the 7-11’s rearview mirror, Max and the Gresham Motorsports team focused on what lay ahead of them and were excited to travel back into familiar territory this weekend for the prestigious World Crown 200 at the Peachstate Speedway.
On Saturday morning, Max attended the Georgia Asphalt Series “Breakfast of Champions” banquet where he was awarded his 5th place points finishing honors along with the Sportsman of the Year award. Later, he qualified the 7-11 in the 22nd position in an ultra-competitive field of 40 cars. Although it would not be easy, Max knew that he and the Gresham Motorsports crew could conquer the odds and hopefully wear the crown at the end of the weekend.
From there he set his eyes on the 200 laps that lay before him. After a brief autograph session with the fans, Max strapped into his 7-11 and rolled off 22nd. In the first 100 laps Max held steady in the top ten, getting as high as 5th, before making a mandatory pit stop at lap 100 with the rest of the field and the 7-11 returned to the racetrack in the 8th position. Max spent the second segment of the split 200 lap event rising through the field before pitting for a late race tire stop, a strategy that has won this event in previous years.
However, Max was only able to race his way back up to the 9th position before the checkers flew. “It was a lot of fun out there. We decided to go with a late tire stop since that’s how Paul [Kelley] won here last year but we just didn’t have enough time.”
Max and Gresham Motorsports will be back in action at the Allen Turner “Snowflake 100” in Pensacola Florida at 5 Flags Speedway on December 6.
World Crown
With Nashville in the 7-11’s rearview mirror, Max and the Gresham Motorsports team focused on what lay ahead of them and were excited to travel back into familiar territory this weekend for the prestigious World Crown 200 at the Peachstate Speedway.
On Saturday morning, Max attended the Georgia Asphalt Series “Breakfast of Champions” banquet where he was awarded his 5th place points finishing honors along with the Sportsman of the Year award. Later, he qualified the 7-11 in the 22nd position in an ultra-competitive field of 40 cars. Although it would not be easy, Max knew that he and the Gresham Motorsports crew could conquer the odds and hopefully wear the crown at the end of the weekend.
From there he set his eyes on the 200 laps that lay before him. After a brief autograph session with the fans, Max strapped into his 7-11 and rolled off 22nd. In the first 100 laps Max held steady in the top ten, getting as high as 5th, before making a mandatory pit stop at lap 100 with the rest of the field and the 7-11 returned to the racetrack in the 8th position. Max spent the second segment of the split 200 lap event rising through the field before pitting for a late race tire stop, a strategy that has won this event in previous years.
However, Max was only able to race his way back up to the 9th position before the checkers flew. “It was a lot of fun out there. We decided to go with a late tire stop since that’s how Paul [Kelley] won here last year but we just didn’t have enough time.”
Max and Gresham Motorsports will be back in action at the CRA Super Series Southern Slam 250 at the South Georgia Motorsports Park on November 22-23.
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (October 13, 2008) - This weekend Max and the Gresham Motorsports team traveled of out their comfort zone to two new venues along the Gulf Coast to compete with a new variety of racers.
On Friday at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola Florida, Max qualified his 7-11 machine 18th out of 30 cars. As the green flag flew and the feature race began, Max felt the unsettling signs of engine troubles. After much discussion, crew chief Gene Roberts felt fairly sure there were electrical issues. Following a red flag on lap 37 Max was unable to re-fire the car, only further supporting the theory of electrical issues. After falling to the rear, the decision was made on lap 54 to park the car, call it a night, and hope for better the next night in Mobile.
“I was tough for us at Pensacola and I truly never figured it out, but I tried my hardest to get the track and tell the crew what I needed. They worked all night to get the car where I wanted it but again couldn’t stop the inevitable with the electrical problem. I have to thank those guys for sticking in there even when I was unable to tell them what the car needed. Special thanks to Josh Hamner and Logan Boyette for trying to help me learn the track, in the short period of time I had,” Gresham said encouragingly despite the poor finish.
The following night the team traveled 60 miles along the Gulf Coast to Mobile Alabama for the Lee Fields Memorial 100. In practice Max kept his vehicle in the top 3 and qualified it in 7th despite dipping over the outside edge of the racetrack, which not unlike Cordele and South Alabama which Max is more familiar with, has no wall around the turns and backstretch.
When the race began Max piloted his rocket ship to the 5th position before colliding with the 11 car of Logan Boyette who missed a shift on the restart. Due to this collision Max was forced to pit to repair body damage, and lost a lap. However, he did not allow it to dampen his spirits. He continued to work his way through the 17 car field, challenging the leaders for his lap back several times, before the looming engine issues returned on lap 76 and Max was forced to forfeit for the 2nd night in a row on lap 80 due to his mis-firing engine.
Max and Gresham Motorsports are taking a few weeks off, and will be back in action on November 1st, in Nashville, Tennessee for the Adam Petty All American 400.
By: Ally Fulson
Hedman Husler Hedders - 100
JEFFERSON, GA (October 4, 2008) - It appeared momentum was on the side of the Gresham Motorsports team as they headed into the Hedman Husler Hedders 100 GAS event at the Peachstate Speedway this weekend. Max qualified and rolled off in the fourth position with his eyes on victory lane for a third week in a row.
After battling three wide for the lead on lap one Max settled into the fourth position to find his niche and ride for a bit. On lap 15 he took over the third position from last week’s challenger Shane Sawyer and set his sights on second. By lap 32 Max caught and passed his rookie of the year competitor TJ Reaid for second. With only a straightaway standing between the 7-11 and race leader Kyle Fowler, Max knew what he had to do to get the job done. He buckled down and moved away from the third place car by half a straightaway as he chased Fowler.
Unfortunately, rubber became an issue and although the 7-11’s driver was doing his part, the tires fell short when on lap 55 a piece of debris pierced the right front tire. With 33 laps to go points leader Russell Fleeman challenged Max on the inside but wasn’t able to complete the pass. Max continued to run his high line until lap 74 when Fleeman and eventual winner Dennis Wilder were able to squeeze by him.
“The car at the start of the race was amazing. Gene and the crew put a rocket ship under me and I was working my way up. But when lap 55 rolled around, the car went awful. When the race was over we checked the tires and had a huge cut in the right front which made the car unbelievably tight. The crew did all they could but it was a freak thing. But the crew is getting the car ready for next weekend and we’re going to be all good,” Gresham noted with his focus immediately turned to the next race.
Max held on to bring home a 7th place finish for the Gresham Motorsports team and will be back in action for a weekend of racing starting Friday night October 10th at Five Flags Speedway in the Allen Turner Hyundai Challenge 100 followed by Mobile International Speedway’s Pro Late Model 100 on Saturday night.
By: Ally Fulson
Taking the Checkered
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (September 29, 2008) – Dust off the mantle; we have another trophy to put up there! On Saturday the Gresham Motorsports team went to Lanier National Speedway to race in the Georgia State Championship.
Max Gresham qualified the 7-11 Late Model in 3rd but with the inversion he started the race in 5th. With a clean event, only one caution during the entire 100 laps, Gresham was able to work his way through the field quickly.
After 50 laps he was still running fast, still running a 40. As the drivers started to head to the line Gresham challenged Shane Sawyer for the win, but finished second. Gresham headed to Tech where Sawyer was ruled as Dis-Qualified due to rule infringements placing Gresham firmly in first.
This weekend the team heads to Peach State Speedway for the final Georgia Asphalt Series race where Gresham sits in the Top Five (5th) in points and 2nd in the Five Star Bodies Rookie standings.
The Bear wins the Bear Country 100
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (September 22, 2008) - As the Georgia Asphalt Series starts to come to an end, Gresham Motorsports' Late Model team was looking for a win.
Racing at New Senoia Raceway is nothing new for Max Gresham and his Ford Fusion. At the drop of the green flag Gresham was sitting on the pole, a position he didn't relinquish the entire event.
With veteran legend Russell Fleeman hot on his heels this young driver had his work cut out for him.
"I knew Russell would race me clean and I just kept my line and it worked out for me," said Gresham, "I think we got together one time, but it was one of those racing deals."
Gresham actually held off Fleeman six different challenges. He just could not make it work underneth Max.
"He did real good," recalls Crew Chief, Gene Roberts, "He was real professional and looked like a driver that had been doing it for years."
This weekend you will find the GMS team at Lanier National racing in the 100 lap Georgia State Championship.
4:30 HEAT RACES - Legends - Bandos
5:30 ALL CARS ON TRACK FOR AUTOGRAPH SESSION
6:45 OPENING CEREMONIES
7:00 FEATURE RACES
- STREET STOCK 15 LAPS
- BANDOLEROS 20 LAPS
- SEMI PRO 25 LAPS
- PRO MASTERS 25 LAPS
- SPORTSMAN 35 LAPS
- OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED 35 LAPS
- TRUCKS 35 LAPS
- SUPER SIX LATE MODEL 100 LAPS
- SPECTATOR RACING
James Garrison Memorial Race
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (September 16, 2008) - As the Gresham Motorsports team pulled into Lanier National Speedway this past weekend they were greeted by 37 competitors for the First Annual James Garrison Memorial. Past Lanier Winners and Champions, GAS Champions, and every major competitor in the state showed up to honor this long time racing legend. At the end of qualifying the field was separated by a mere .20 seconds, seven cars went home, and the 7-11 started 16th in the 30 car field.
At the drop of the green flag, driver Max Gresham joined fellow former Legends car stand out Kyle Fowler on an outside run past 6 cars in the first 6 laps. A caution on lap seven caused a re-group of the field with the 7-11 starting 10th. Over the next 90 laps, the race was slowed by 12 additional cautions. Each time, Max attempted to advance, and was challenged for position. Racing as high as 7th at one point in the middle of the race, the second half saw the Ford Fusion jockey for positions back to as far as 10th, with a late charge back to 7th for a finishing effort.
"That was one of the toughest races that I have ever run," said the exhausted Gresham, "It's a combination of things, the aggressiveness of the competition, all the cautions, and the level of focus required to make a good line around this place. When you look around at all of the competition, I am really happy with the result, and look forward to applying some of what I learned tonight the next time we come here (September 27)."
Charlie Gresham ran third for most of his second appearance at Lanier National this summer. The 7-11 Bandolero, and two other competitors excited the crowd swapping positions and running door to door until a mechanical problem caused the motor to lose power. Charlie fell to a 8th place finish.
"I thought we had a good running going, and then just....nothing coming out of turn 2. I don't know what happened!," said the youngest Gresham racer.
Next week - GAS Series at New Senoia Speedway. Max is currently 5th in points, and looking to improve on his recent finishes there.
Lanier and the American Cancer Society Team up for a Walk For Life
Lanier National Speedway
Wednesday September 3, 2008
Flight Media
Braselton, GA; Lanier National Speedway and the American Cancer Society are teaming up for a Walk For Life event Friday September 12. Lanier has brought the ASA Racing Series back after a 3 year absence for a big weekend event in the ASA James Garrison Memorial 100 on Saturday September 13. The Walk For Life and Saturday nights race is in remembrance of James Garrison who died of cancer in 2007. James was loved by friends and racers and had been involved in racing for over 20 years supplying tires and equipment at Lanier every Saturday night. Lanier wanted to do something to remember their life long friend, so they teamed up with the American Cancer Society to have this Friday night event. It includes a barbeque dinner, with practice for the ASA and NASCAR teams running Saturday night, followed by the Walk For Life. Friday, gate s open at 5pm with practice from 6 to 8 then the Walk For Life. This will be an exciting weekend of racing and raising funds for the American Cancer Society. Proceeds from ticket sales and program sales will go to the American Cancer Society along with whatever funds are raised with the Walk For Life Friday. If there are any businesses out there wanting to by placing an ad in the program contact Lanier at 770-967-6800 or go to www.lanierspeedway.com for more information. Whether you want to remember a loved one or promote cancer awareness, create a team and be a part of this great event Friday September 12 and take that, Walk For Life.
Nationals
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (September 2, 2008) - With three days of racing ahead of him the youngest driver in the Gresham Motorsports stable headed to Indianapolis, Indiana for the Banodlero Nationals.
Pitting himself against the 20 best Bando drivers in the country, Charlie Gresham was geared up and ready to race. Treating the first two days like practice, trying to figure out the track, he finished 15th the first day with a wreck on the last lap while running 8th and 11th on Saturday.
Sunday was Happy Hour, Qualifying and Heat Races, with the 12th fastest Qualifying time Charlie finished third in the second heat race and started the feature 12th, fell to 14th with an outside start.
True to form Gresham dodged 4 wrecks including a Turn Two mess that totaled two cars, and a lap 20 flip by fellow Georgian Mason Massey. The 7-11 Bando headed to the back after spinning to dodge yet another wreck, and passed a handful of cars late in the race to finish 8th.
"This was a great track," said Charlie Gresham, "it was just fun to drive."
Also this past weekend the 7-11 Late Model driven by Max Gresham raced at Peach State Speedway in the Georgia Asphalt Series. After a difficult week of testing, Max found his groove posting practice times in the Top 10 all day.
Qualifying put him in the pack of cars around 18.30 and starting 12th of the 26 competitors. He used the long green flag stretches to move his way through the crowd to the front. At the final caution with 20 to go Gresham was in 5th, he slashed his way past the 3rd and 4th place cars but didn't have enough laps to catch Paul Kelley who finished second.
This week is a 40 lap feature at Lanier Speedway and you can come see your favorite Late Model driver race to the checkered flag.
Moving Up
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (August 4, 2008) – After a well earned vacation the Gresham Motorsports teams came back to the track ready to run.
The 7-11 Late Model driver, Max Gresham, headed to Cordele, Georgia for the Georgia Asphalt Series 100 at the Watermelon Capital Speedway. Hopes were high for this event when the car rolled off the truck and those hopes were not dashed. Gresham qualified 7th and with the draw was inverted to 2nd on the outside poll.
Racing against legends is no stranger to Gresham and he held his own when on Lap 3 he fell in behind Ronnie Sanders to run in 3rd. Ran third until Lap 68 including holding off stiff competition on restarts at Lap 7, 10 and 50.
7-11 slipped to fourth when fast qualified TJ Reaid passed him on lap 68, but regained it 12 laps later when Reaid tangled with a slower car. Again Gresham held off Georgia’s best short track racers during restarts at Lap 70 (Russell Fleeman) and Lap 90 (Ryan Sieg). Finally passing Sanders on Lap 92 when Sanders bobbled off of turn 2 and Max slipped under him for a 2nd place finish.
Gresham is currently standing in 6th in points for the Georgia Asphalt Series and ranked 2nd in the Five Star Bodies Rookie standings.
Come out this Thursday to Atlanta Motor Speedway when the youngest GMS driver Charlie Gresham runs in a double features during Thursday Thunder. Last week he finished his heat race in second before the rains washed out the remaining events.
Running in Opp
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (July 14, 2008) - Hopes were high as the Gresham Motorsports team made its way back South to the South Alabama Speedway for the Mojave 100. Driver Max Gresham had a strong showing at his last stint in South Alabama with a 6th place finish.
Upon the unloading of the Chevy Late Model the crew looked forward to great lap times but found that the car wouldn't get out of its own way. Prior weeks testing proved the car was fast but was 1/2 a second slower during practice, causing the team to look to the Ford for the race.
Max qualified 5th but was inverted to the outside pole. During the event he raced at the front of the pack until he tagged with another car and was moved to the back. Working his way through traffic he found another skirmish and tagged again with another move to the back.
Fighting to gain position again, Gresham finished the race in 9th.
"The car was Jack the Bear for us," says Crew Chief Gene Roberts, "we just got caught up and couldn't make it back."
The Late Model team won't be racing for the remainder of July but you can catch the youngest Gresham driver, Charlie Gresham, on Thursday nights at Atlanta Motor Speedway when he races his Bandolero Bandit car in Thursday Thunder.
Looking to the Next
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (July 7, 2008) - As the Fourth of July holiday approached the Gresham Motorsports team looked forward to some good racing and beautiful fireworks. Unfortunately the racing didn't prove to be as good as expected.
The 7-11 Late Model team traveled north to Peach State Speedway in Jefferson, Georgia for the Toyota Tundra Independence 125 being held on the 3rd. Upon arrival the team found that mechanically there could be some issues.
After Qualifying into the 27th spot the team realized this would be a race that Max would have to really work hard with the car to get a good finish in. Though the finish wasn't as great as his past few races, Max Gresham did finish 11th with the car intact and a bump up to 8th in the points standings for the Georgia Asphalt Series.
On Thursday, Bandolero driver, Charlie Gresham got behind the wheel at Atlanta Motor Speedways Thursday Thunder. After a great finish last week he hoped to continue this momentum and did just that, with a qualifying of 6th and a finish in 4th the young Gresham driver is pleased with the results.
This week the Late Model team will head back to Opp, Alabama to race in the Pro Late Model 100 at South Alabama Speedway. Max's last race there gave him a finish in 6th, spirits are high in hopes of a better finish this go 'round.
Break His Other Arm!
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (June 27, 2008) – After two months of being out of the headlines, the Gresham Motorsports youngest driver comes back with a roar.
The 7-11 Bandolero driver, Charlie Gresham, has spent the last 10 weeks in a cast, watching as others got behind the wheel and raced. On Monday that all changed; with cast off Gresham was ready to race and it showed last night at Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thursday Thunder.
In his first race he started 8th and maneuvered his through the crowd for a 3rd place finish followed by the Promoter’s Choice race.
Atlanta Motor Speedway introduced the Promoter's Choice races for the 2008 Thursday Thunder season. The Promoter's Choice race showcases competitors who have yet to win a heat or feature race during the Thursday Thunder season in an eight-lap feature event. For this event Charlie Gresham held the pole but after a spin out he finished the night with a 3rd.
“First race back and it felt really good,” says Charlie, “The car was great and it just felt so great to race again.”
Up next for Gresham Motorsports is Max Gresham racing the 7-11 Late Model at Peach State Speedway in the Toyota Tundra Independence 125 of the Georgia Asphalt Series on July 3rd with Fireworks following.
Getting Close
STOCKBRIDGE, Georgia (June 14, 2008) - Great racing was the theme for Saturdays Georgia Asphalt Series event at New Senoia Raceway. The 7-11 car was in the thick of that great racing and came out with a strong finish.
Starting on the outside pole Max Gresham was then inverted to 3rd on the draw. Racing up into 2nd he challenged legend Roger Fleeman for the top spot.
With lots of side by side racing and long green flag runs Gresham ran a solid race through to the end where he found himself caught up in lapped traffic causing him to be pushed back to a 4th place finish
"He did everything he was supposed to do," says Gene Roberts, "it won’t be long before he takes his first checkered."
The Gresham Motorsports team travels to sunny Florida this weekend for the Florida 100 at New Smyrna Speedway on June 21st.
Gresham Motorsports (www.greshammotorsports.com) field's drivers in various series around Georgia and the Southeast including Thursday Thunder Legends, ASA Late Model Series, Georgia Asphalt Series and ASA Southeastern Tour. Drivers include Max Gresham, Charlie Gresham and Jim Gresham. Gresham Motorsports has a stable of Legends cars, Bandoleros and Roadsters as well as 2 Late Model Series cars.
Gresham Driver on The Bear
STOCKBRIDGE, Georgia (June 12, 2008) - Tune in tonight as Max Gresham, Driver of the 7-11 Gresham Motorsports Late Model, talks to Southern Race Week on 92.5 The Bear. He will be talking with host William Barber LIVE from Atlanta Motor Speedway Thursday Thunder.
Gresham will be on at 7:00 at 92.5 FM on your radio dial and www.925fmthebear.com for those outside of the listening area.
Gresham Motorsports will be racing this weekend at New Senoia (GA) Raceway in Senoia, Georgia in the Georgia Asphalt Series, www.newsenoiaraceway.com or www.georgiaasphaltseries.com .
Saturday, June 14th:
3:00 PM Gates Open
4:30-5:30 PM Local Practice
5:30 PM GAS Series Qualifying
7:00 PM Feature Racing
Gresham Motorsports (www.greshammotorsports.com) field's drivers in various series around Georgia and the Southeast including Thursday Thunder Legends, ASA Late Model Series, Georgia Asphalt Series and ASA Southeastern Tour. Drivers include Max Gresham, Charlie Gresham and Jim Gresham. Gresham Motorsports has a stable of Legends cars, Bandoleros and Roadsters as well as 2 Late Model Series cars.
7-11 Late Model Team Racing in Cordele
STOCKBRIDGE, Georgia (June 5, 2008) - Come down to Cordele Georgia to watch the 7-11 driver Max Gresham race at Watermelon Capital Speedway in the Georgia Asphalt Series.
This will be Gresham's 7th race behind the wheel of the Late Model Stock Car and hopes are high that he will be bringing home the checkered flag! Watermelon Capital is where Max won his first Late Model event on May 5, 2007 when he took the line in the GM Performance Parts Shootout of the ASA Late Model Series.
Race Schedule for June 7, 2008
4:00 PM Grand Stands Open
4:45 PM Qualifying for G.A.S. cars
6:30 PM Local Heats
Feature race schedule will be as follows:
Bandos
Claimer Cars
Legends Cars
Pure Stock Cars
Super Street Cars
G.A.S. autograph session (time permitting)
G.A.S. Late Models
Be sure to go to www.georgiaasphaltseries.com or www.watermeloncapitalspeedway.com for more information.
Strongest Finish
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (June 2, 2008) - Racing for his first Moon Pie hat and cold RC Cola, Max Gresham put on a great race Saturday night at New Senoia (GA) Raceway in the Southern Atlanta 100 with the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour.
After qualifying 3rd, Gresham drew the 3rd starting position and blended in 3rd on lap two. For all but two laps during the night he ran in the Top 5.
The night was not without cautions or wrecks, all of which Max managed to avoid. The first was between Bubba Pollard and Preston Peltier coming off of turn Four, he maneuvered through the two spinning cars. Later on Lap 70 he was behind an upside down crash caused by Russell Fleeman, again, worked his way through without putting a scratch on the 7-11 Ford Fusion.
As the race began to wind down with 15 laps left the racing got to be 2 wide racing three deep until a mishap between 2nd and 3rd brought out a caution. With 5 to go, Gresham hustled the car around the outside of 2006 ASA Late Model South Champion Chris Fontaine, and battled four laps with the #15 of David Elliott.
The 7-11 driver held off Elliott on the outside for three laps before a last lap "Slide Job" put the #15 in front of Max for third; inishing Gresham's night with his strongest finish to date with 4th.
"We struggled the last few days with practice and the car," said Max, "and I want to just thank the crew and everyone for their patience with me and helping with this finish."
Max will be behind the Chevrolet Late Model wheel for the Georgia Asphalt Series event at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Georgia this Saturday.
Racing New Senoia
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (May 29, 2008) - This weekend (May 31) the 7-11 Ford Fusion Late Model Stock Car will take the track at New Senoia Raceway for the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour Atlanta Southern 100.
Driver, Max Gresham, began to get his head into racing this weekend while talking with 92.5 The Bear on Southern Raceweek last night. Talking with host William Barber it was revealed that Max "The Bear" Gresham is racing to win, but us 7-11 fans already knew that.
Race Schedule for Atlanta Southern 100
5:00 PM Grand Stands Open
6:00 PM Pole qualifying for Atlanta Southern 100
Heat Races for Local Divisions
ASA Last Chance Race (if Needed)
Feature Events for local divisions
ASA Driver Intro
ASA Atlanta Southern 100 (about 9:00 PM)
Be sure to go to www.newsenoiaraceway.com or www.asasoutheast.com more information.
The Bear
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (May 19, 2008) - As the Gresham Motorsports team traveled West to Opp, Alabama the 7-11 driver found himself in uncharted waters. Having never tested on the South Alabama Speedway track the team was in for surprises and excitement.
When the car was unloaded the Chevy Monte Carlo was running in the top ten in speed, and after a couple of hours of practice, made its way up to 5th on the speed charts.
Qualifying was tough. Driver, Max Gresham, drew the first qualifying spot and was the victim of air and track temperatures that dropped and cooled quickly after his run. He found himself in the 11 place position out of 21 cars.
From the drop for the green flag Max raced hard picking off three cars by lap 50. At lap 71 he found his way to 7th. This is the time that the team found him to be a bear. Inside the top 5, Gresham was putting pressure on short track legend Ronnie Sanders when the leaders spun out advancing Max to third.
With 3 laps to go, faster cars from the rear joined the party, and four cars raced for three laps with positions changing twice each lap. Max held off hard charging competition while on the outside, sideways, and the pedal to the floor. At the end, he had salvaged a well earned 6th place finish.
"He was a bear," says an elated Crew Chief, Gene Roberts, "We could not be happier and I think it is his best race ever. He handled the car and the pressure well, just a bear on the track."
Catch Max in his next race on May 31st at New Senoia (GA) Raceway when he competes in the Atlanta Southern 100 of the ASA Southeast Tour Series. Schedule to be posted soon.
Best Yet
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (May 10, 2008) - With the clouds rolling in on the horizon, the Gresham Motorsports team battened down to take on the Watermelon Bowl 100 in Cordele, Georgia.
The 7-11 Late Model Stock car driver, Max Gresham, arrived late to the track because of his sister Haley's graduation. This caused him to only get three laps of practice in before Qualifying. Not an issue because he had the fourth fastest times on the speed chart. As the Qualifying started, Gresham found that his final place of 13th was well below his practices times.
As the green flag dropped he immediately started ticking cars off and heading to the front of the pack. During the first 50 laps the race was under a long green flag which allowed Max time to take over the 7th place position.
He ran consistent pressuring the #88 car of Justin Larsen through 49 laps and four cautions. That is until right at the end when Gresham took the 7-11 car around the 88 for a thrilling pass in turns one and two giving him a 6th place finish; The best ASA Late Model finish to date for Gresham Motorsports.
"I am so excited and happy," says driver, Max Gresham, "We got a great 6th place finish without a scratch on the car!"
The 7-11 Late Model will be in action again this weekend in Opp, Alabama for the Massasauga Pro Late Model 100 at the South Alabama Speedway.
Extreme Case
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (May 3, 2008) - It is always an extreme case if the 7-11 car doesn't make the race, this past weekends events leading up to the show were just that.
As Max Gresham took the Late Model for a few Qualifying laps there was a slight mishap that caused the back end to hit the wall thus causing damage that forced the team to pack up. As disappointment ensued they were all forced to switch their focus to this upcoming weekend and the ASA Late Model South Tour event at Watermelon Capital (Cordele) Speedway.
The team is testing this week to ensure they are ready for the upcoming races.
"We are making sure that this past weekend's events don't occur again," said Gene Roberts, Crew Chief of the 7-11 team, "Max had a fast car and as long as week keep that level of equipment under him he will do really well."
The schedule of events for the Watermelon Bowl 100 at Watermelon Capital Speedway this Saturday, May 10 are as follows:
4:00 PM Main Grandstand Gates Open
6:00 PM ASALMS ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Qualifying (2 Laps)
6:55 PM Invocation/National Anthem
7:00 PM WCS Divisions Heat Races-Claimers, Legends, Pure Stocks, and Mini Stocks
7:30 PM ASALMS Autograph Session (30 Minutes)
8:00 PM WCS Divisions Features-Claimers, Legends, Pure Stocks, and Mini Stocks
8:45 PM ASALMS Pre-Race Ceremonies/Driver Introductions
9:00 PM ASALMS Watermelon Bowl 100
Come out and support the Gresham Motorsports Late Model team and also contribute to a worthy cause as a portion of the ticket sales will go to the Save Easton Fund. For more information go to www.asalatemodels.com.
Busy Week
STOCKBRIDGE, GA (April 28, 2008) - Over the last week the Gresham Motorsports 7-11 Late Model has been busy with testing and racing.
On April 19, 2008 Max Gresham got behind the wheel for his first ASA Late Model South race at New Senoia (GA) Raceway. Qualifying 13th for the race nerves were tight with the young driver being in the middle of the pack. Gresham proved though that he is capable of handling that pressure.
Making his way through the crowd he challenged the #35 car for 6th, bumped him and got moved to the back. After the move Gresham showed his tenacity by moving back through the crowd and finishing in 19th after a brush with the wall.
On Tuesday the team headed to Hickory, NC to test. What the team found was that they not only had a fast car but a driver willing to run with it. At the last race there the pole time was 14.99 and Max was running a 14.90 with 50 lap tires.
New Senoia was on the agenda for Thursday to make a few changes and see how Gresham handled them.
"We couldn’t be happier with how Max is doing," said Crew Chief, Gene Roberts, "He is getting so much better at knowing what the car is doing and giving us great feedback. He is showing on the track that he is a man willing to take a chance to get the job done."
Saturday (May 3) the entire crew heads to Jefferson, Georgia for the Georgia Asphalt Series event and to Cordele, Georgia (May 10) for the Watermelon Bowl 100 of the ASA Late Model Series.
7-11 Late Model Team Racing in Senoia
STOCKBRIDGE, Georgia (April 15, 2008) - This weekend the 7-11 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Late Model will take the track at New Senoia (GA) Speedway for the ASA Late Model South Series Georgia Showdown 100.
Driver, Max Gresham, will once again be behind the wheel in just his second Late Model race of the season and sixth race overall. Gresham currently is the youngest driver in ASALMS history to win an event. This was awarded after he won the GM Performance Parts Shootout at the Watermelon Capital (GA) Speedway on Saturday May 5, 2007, his first Late Model event.
Schedule for Saturday, April 19, 2008
5:00 PM Main Grandstand Gates Open
5:00 PM ASALMS ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Qualifying (2 Laps)
5:45 PM ASALMS Autograph Session (60 Minutes)
6:55 PM Invocation/National Anthem
7:00 PM New Senoia Divisions Heat Races (8 Laps Each)
7:45 PM ASALMS GM Performance Parts Shootout (25 Laps) (Top 2 Transfer) If Needed
8:15 PM New Senoia Divisions Features
9:00 PM ASALMS Pre-Race Ceremonies/Driver Introductions
9:15 PM ASALMS Georgia Showdown 100
Be sure to go to www.asalatemodelssouth.com to print off the event flyer for a $5.00 off coupon for adult admission. Go to www.newsenoiaraceway.com for track information.
Light After The Rain
JEFFERSON, Georgia (April 6, 2008) - After two rain relays the first race in the Georgia Asphalt Series was finally underway at Peach State Speedway in Jefferson, Georgia and the 7-11 Late Model Stock Car was ready to run.
With weeks of testing and car prep Max Gresham the 14 year old driver of the 7-11 Ford Late Model was a bit nervous coming to the track on Sunday. After thinking that he didn't know the right line and not driving the car to its full ability he wanted to simply get the car across the line in one piece.
As the sun rose on Sunday though all of that changed; like any great driver, when it comes to race day, Max was focused and itching to take the checkered. He found the line that Crew Chief, Gene Roberts, had been trying to teach him the weeks prior. He found the groove to get him into the 8th position for qualifying and waited for the green to drop.
With a fast car and confidence that he is exactly where he is suppose to be Gresham ran the whole race in 3rd. With 5 laps to go in the 100-lap event, he got caught up in lap traffic and was pushed into the wall. Two cars went under him to give him a 5th place finish.
"He did really well, everyone thinks so," Gene Roberts says, "I had people from the series, other drivers and crew members coming up to me saying how great he did. He handled the car and the pressure with great maturity. We're real happy."
As the team heads off for more testing, Gresham prepares for his next event the ASA Late Model South Series race at New Senoia Speedway April 19th. This event will have both Late Model racing and Bandolero racing so you will get to see both 7-11 cars on track.
Founded in 1979, Gresham & Associates (www.gresham-inc.com) is a wholesale insurance broker and MGA that specializes in Property, Casualty, Professional, D&O, Health Care, Transportation and Program Business insurance. They are the only wholesaler in the southeast with access to every major specialty MGA and brokerage market. The company has in excess of $400 million in annual premium volume.
Testing, Testing
STOCKBRIDGE, Georgia (March 7, 2008) - Yesterday at Peach State Speedway in Jefferson Georgia the Gresham Motorsports team put the Chevrolet Monte Carlo Late Model to the test. With the sun going down, a new paint scheme and great set up the car proved to be fast.
As testing progressed the 7-11 car made strong lap times and driver Max Gresham became more acclimated to the track. In this learning season Gresham gains more knowledge with each time he gets behind the wheel and finds comfort with the track he is on. See the Photo Album for shots from the day.
"He is doing good. Our goal is to get his confidence up and increase his comfort with each lap," comments Crew Chief, Gene Roberts, "As the experience comes so will the wins and progress."
This weekend the youngest driver for Gresham Motorsports, Charlie Gresham, will be racing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway after the NASCAR Nationwide Series event the Nicorette 300. He will be competing in the final event of Atlanta Motor Speedways Winter Flurry Legends Series. Check back on Monday for the updates on how he finished out his season.
Founded in 1979, Gresham & Associates (www.gresham-inc.com) is a wholesale insurance broker and MGA that specializes in Property, Casualty, Professional, D&O, Health Care, Transportation and Program Business insurance. They are the only wholesaler in the southeast with access to every major specialty MGA and brokerage market. The company has in excess of $400 million in annual premium volume.
Testing for Summer
GRIFFIN, Georgia (February 19, 2008) - The Gresham Motorsports teams have begun testing for the upcoming seasons at the Watermelon Capital (Cordele, GA) Speedway on Monday continuing through this Saturday.
The 7-11 Bandolero car of the youngest Gresham driver, Charlie Gresham, was running strong when the test was cut short due to a broke motor. This snag puts the crew on a tight timetable as Charlie will be running the Atlanta Motor Speedway road course for the Winter Flurries series this Saturday at noon.
"With his off season testing and the improvements he has made this should be a breakout year for Charlie in the Bandolero," says crew chief Gene Roberts, "It is an exciting time to watch."
Max Gresham will finally get to get behind the wheel of the 7-11 Chevy Monte Carlo Late Model on Saturday the 23rd for testing down at Cordele. At the end of last season the 14 year old showed progress and promise of being a contender for the 2008 Late Model season.
Gresham will be driving the 7-11 Late Model in three separate series this season - Georgia Asphalt Series, ASA Late Model Series and ASA Southeastern Tour Series - that will make for great training to take Max to the next level.
Founded in 1979, Gresham & Associates (www.gresham-inc.com) is a wholesale insurance broker and MGA that specializes in Property, Casualty, Professional, D&O, Health Care, Transportation and Program Business insurance. They are the only wholesaler in the southeast with access to every major specialty MGA and brokerage market. The company has in excess of $400 million in annual premium volume.