This week, we take a look back at a recent event that helped to bring attention to Georgia's racing heritage over at Georgia Racing History.com .

Earlier this month, the folks here at Racers Reunion.com put in a lot of hard work down in Byron, Georgia to put together the inaugural Middle Georgia Raceway Reunion, an event that brought together the history of racing in Georgia and the history of that storied facility. Middle Georgia operated from the mid 60s to the mid 80s, hosting local late model events, NASCAR Grand National and other touring events, ARCA and even the Atlanta Pop Festival. Winners included the likes of Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Bob Burcham, Bruce Brantley and countless others. This week, we take a look back at the reunion through Joe Cawley's camera lens over at Georgia Racing History.com .

And before we go any further, special thanks to Jeff Gilder and all the volunteers here at Racers Reunion.com that made the event happen, and we can't wait for next year!

Okay, as of the date of this email going out, you have just a little over two weeks left to submit your nominations for the 2011 class of inductees into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. If you know somebody that you think should be in the Hall, it's easy to nominate them. Just download a copy of the nomination form here , fill it out, and get it to the Hall of Fame prior to the close of business on April 15 (tax day). If you have any questions about the form or the nomination process, go here for more information. You can also email questions to garacinghof@gmail.com, or call 706-216-RACE (7223). But please don't delay, if you want to see your heroes in the Hall of Fame, here's where you can be their hero - nominate your favorite Georgia racer for the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame!

The Georgia Gang was well represented on the Gulf Coast last week, as Senoia's Bubba Pollard swept events at Mobile and Pensacola driving for Georgia Racing Hall of Famer Ronnie Sanders. Pollard dedicated the win at Five Flags Speedway to fellow Georgia racer Beau Slocumb, who has been sidelined while battling cancer. "This is for Beau," said Pollard. "This is what we came here for this weekend, to race for him. Im going to continue to race for him all year." You can read more about the emotional victory over at Speed51.com . They also have a video interview with Bubba about the wins.

While we're on the subject of feel good news, Georgia's David Ragan made a stop at the Shriner's Hospital For Children in Los Angeles, California on his way out to the NASCAR event at Fontana last week. David chose the Shriner's Hospitals for Children as his charity of choice back in 2008, and continues to work on their behalf, including visiting facilities and taking part in the annual Ice Cold Shriner's Bowl at Lanier National Speedway each year. Thanks to David for all his great work and for representing the state of Georgia so well. We're proud he's a member of the Georgia Gang!

Did you notice that this week, ESPN's Ed Hinton (formerly of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) did his live uplink for Wednesday's NASCAR Now program from the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville? Not only that, but he slipped the name in several times, and mentioned a couple of our upcoming exhibits. He also made clear the passion and history that Georgian's have in racing. And while we're on the subject, Ed's got a nice little piece on Chase Elliott and the history of racing out of Dawsonville, Georgia ready to read over at ESPN.com , so give it a read when you get a chance. Thanks Ed!

Sad news this week from across the border in Alabama, where former Alabama Gang member Ben Arnold passed away recently. Arnold was a former Grand National Stock Car, Driver, and part of the Alabama Gang. He retired from Dana Automotive. He still holds the Track Record at Talladega for qualifying backward at 178 mph. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Tabbie Arnold, special sons, Rooster Killian and Mike Capps and numerous friends. For more information, check here . Our thoughts and prayers go out to Arnold's family.

As we told you last week, former stock car racer and all-around racing legend Fred Lorenzen is battling dementia. "Fearless Freddy", the 1965 Daytona 500 champ, was a force to be reckoned with at any race track he showed up to back in the 60's, piloting the famed #28 Ford for Holman-Moody. Fred won 26 NASCAR Grand National events, including four wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway and a victory at Augusta. Lorenzen also picked up USAC stock car victories at Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway and at what many consider Lakewood's "sister track", Langhorne Speedway, in Pennsylvania, both in 1959. Lorenzen will receive letters of cheer at Fred Lorenzen, Bridgeway Christian Village, Unit E, E. Washington St., Bensenville, Ill., 60106.

The second annual Athens Speedway Reunion is set for April 9 at the South Jackson County Elementary School between Athens and Jefferson on Highway 129. It will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donald Brooks, Freddie Massey and Charles Burkhalter, Jr. are working hard on this year's event, and it looks to be a great one! For more information, call Freddy Massey at (706) 543-4249, Donald Brooks at (706) 658-7006 or Charles Burkhalter, Jr. at (706) 207-0516. We'll see you there!

And, plans are underway for the second annual Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Night at Gresham Motorsports Park (the official race track of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame) on April 23. Hall of Fame members get in free with their special track pass (if you didn't get yours last year, no problem - we still have them in hand for you!), with a big autograph session planned for all our Hall of Famers! Plus, the 2010 Hall of Fame inductees, Ted Edwards, Ernie Elliott, Jack Etheridge, Laverne Kendrick and Jerry Wimbish will be honored in a special pre-race ceremony on the track's front stretch. We'll have more information as we get closer to the event, but you can have a look at photos from last year's event here , and get more information on Gresham Motorsports Park here .

Happy Birthday wishes go out this week on April 1 in memory of Georgia Racing Hall of Famer Billy Carden (1924-2004), on April 3 in memory of Bill France, Jr. (1933-2007), on April 5 in memory of Herb Thomas (1923-2000), and on April 6 in memory of George Elliott (1924-1998).

Thanks everybody, and have a great weekend!

Brandon Reed
Georgia Racing History.com