This week, we take a look at a true racing original over at Georgia Racing History.com .

Hal Needham came from modest beginnings growing up in Arkansas, but a decision to move to California to work as a treetopper opened the opportunity for him to become one of the greatest stuntmen in motion picture history. From that, Needham moved on to become a movie director and later, a dedicated NASCAR Winston Cup car owner. Paired with driver Harry Gant, "Burt & Hal's Skoal Bandit" became one of the most popular teams on the circuit. With Hal's autobiography, "Stuntman!" on the shelves, we take a look at this true NASCAR original this week over at Georgia Racing History.com .

Time is running out! You now have just about a week 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 second annual Athens Speedway Reunion is set for Saturday 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 7 in memory of T.C. Hunt (1926-1995), on April 8 to Junie Donlavey and in memory of Nero Steptoe (1921-1985), on April 10 to Brett Butler and on April 12 in memory of Curtis Turner (1924 - 1970)

Thanks everybody, and have a great weekend!

Brandon Reed
Georgia Racing History.com