This week, we take a look at one of the most widely respected and competitive racers in Georgia and the southeast from the "pioneer days" over at Georgia Racing History.com .

Beginning in the early fifties, Bobby Whitmire fell in love with racing. He would compete at legendary tracks such as the Gainesville Speedway, Macon, the Dallas Speedbowl, Banks County Speedway, Canton and Toccoa. He would race against some of the best of the day, including Bud Lunsford, T.C. Hunt, Buck Simmons, Bill Hemby and Chester Barron, and would win his share of races against them.

This week, Mike Bell tells us Whitmire's story, recounting his memories of some of the best days of Georgia stock car racing over at Georgia Racing History.com .

Unfortunately, we have more sad news to share this week.

Legendary Georgia drag racer Huston Platt passed away on Wednesday. Platt, along with his brother, Georgia Racing Hall of Famer Hubert Platt, was a legend on drag strips all over the country, and was one of the most popular drag racers in the southeast. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family. You can read Huston's obituary here . You can also read Rick Minter's story about Huston and his restored funny car, the Dixie Twister, here .

Congratulations go out to Senoia, Georgia's Bubba Pollard, who was named as the Southern Race Week radio program's 2011 Asphalt Driver of the Year. Pollard was named as the 2011 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Driver of the Year back in October. Congrats to Bubba on a well deserved honor!

Also, we have several members of the Georgia Gang representing the Peach State at the 44th annual Snowball Derby weekend down at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida this weekend. Among those competing in either/or the Snowball Derby on Sunday or the Snowflake Pro Late Model feature on Saturday are Bubba Pollard, Chase Elliott, Jimmy Garmon, David Ragan, Michael Lance, T.J. Reaid, Spencer Davis, Fredrick Moore, Shane Sawyer and Rodney Benefield. You can keep pace with the happenings from Pensacola at our sister site, Raceweek Illustrated .

In other news, if you haven't had a chance to read Karen McCarthy's new book, "The Other Irish" , you might want to order a copy today!

McCarthy's book tells the story of the Scots-Irish that traveled to America generations ago, and helped shape and mold the country as it grew itself. That included a chapter on automobile racing, namely stock car racing.

Karen came to Georgia a few years ago to research the Scots-Irish influence on racing (she was laboring under the misapprehension that the sport of Stock Car Racing started in North Carolina or Florida. We told her the truth, that it was born up on the banks of the Etowah River in Dawson County, Georgia!). She spent quite a bit of time here in the Peach State researching the real story of the Scots-Irish/racing connection, and we're glad we could be of help!

The book is terrific, and we can't recommend it enough!

You can learn more about Karen and her great new book, "The Other Irish" , by visiting her website . Go ahead and get a copy or two, it will make a much treasured Christmas gift!!!

Happy Birthday wishes go out this week on Dec. 3 to Bobby Allison, on Dec. 5 in memory of Dub Smith (1921-1978), to Georgia Racing Hall of Fame member Ronnie Sanders and to Jabe Jones, and on Dec. 8 to David Sosebee.

Thanks everybody, and have a great week!

Brandon Reed
Georgia Racing History.com