What’s Up in Local Sports

By: Calvin Hastings

What a day it will be…September 18th is the day set for the dedication of the new John Henry Moss Stadium at Gardner Webb University.   The ribbon cutting will be held for the Hamrick Gate at Moss Stadium at 12:45pm, followed by a dedication ceremony at 1:00pm.   Then, the current Gardner Webb baseball team will take on former Gardner Webb baseball alumni at 1:30pm.   Following the game, at 3:00pm, there will be an alumni reunion, and at 4:00pm a street party will be held outside Spangler Stadium with live music and food.  And finally, at 6:00pm it is football action with Gardner Webb taking on Western Carolina!  This past season the Gardner Webb baseball team had to play all their games away while the stadium was being completed.

The 2004 seventh round Major League Baseball draft pick, B.J. Richmond, formerly of South Point High School, is switching gears and is turning to football.   Richmond was a pick of the L.A. Dodgers and spent three years in professional baseball.  Richmond is now punting at Mars Hill.

Caldwell County American Legion Baseball coach, Gary Hamby, has resigned.  Hamby leaves the program with 403 wins in 14 seasons.   Hamby led Caldwell County Post 29 to state championships in 1990, 1991 and 2000.   Hamby has a streak of 21 consecutive winning seasons as coach since 1990.   The post has announced they are taking applications for the position.  To apply, contact Steve Bumgardner at 828-234-3073 or email your application to ltcsteve1@gmail.com.

Hats off to former Ashbrook star, Jheranie Boyd!  Boyd led the Tarheel comeback in their opening game loss 30-24 to LSU.  The Tarheels trailed 30-10 before mounting a comeback that ended on a late 4th quarter drive.   Boyd caught six passes for 221 yards and a touchdown.   It was a career high for the Tarheel sophomore and was second in North Carolina’s 121 year history.  Boyd’s 97 yard touchdown pass from T.J. Yates was the longest in school history.

Gardner Webb’s Jeffery Williams has been named the Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS National Defensive Player of the Week.  Williams also was named the Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week.   Williams made 18 tackles including nine solo tackles in Gardner Webb’s win last week.  In addition, Gardner Webb freshman running back, Juanne Blount, was named the Big South Conference Freshman of the Week rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown.   The Bulldogs will be on the road to Akron, Ohio this Saturday.

Eighteen year old, Spencer Jones, of Shelby and playing partner Champions Tour professional, Russ Cochran, finished a combined 21 under par to win the Pro/Junior title in the Home Care & Hospice First Tee Open at Pebble Beach last week.

Fourteen year old, Elliott Grayson, of Shelby won the National Junior Golf Tour’s National Championship Tournament last weekend at the Myrtle Beach National West Course.   Grayson shot a 73 in round one and then a five under par 67 in the final round to win the event by one shot.

Hats off to Harry Jackson!  Jackson scored his first ever hole in one last week at Hole # 11 at the Woodbridge Golf Course.   The shot was witnessed by Sonny Jackson, Larry Jackson and Ronnie Ross.

What’s Up in Prep Football

Lewis Carpenter's Articles

By Lewis Carpenter

Another great week of high school football!  Lincolnton had a huge crowd for their game against Maiden, and I understand some other schools around the area had large gates as well.  There are more than a few local teams who will probably be in the playoffs come November: Shelby, Lincolnton, Burns, Crest, Kings Mountain, South Point, and Cherryville to name a few.  There will be many more come playoff time.  This area is blessed with fine coaching staffs that get the most out the talent they have to work with.  They set good examples for their teams and teach life skills as well as football.

Larry Carpenter, counselor and head athletic trainer for Ashbrook High School, has been to Wake Forrest for a bone marrow transplant.  He will have 6 months to year before he knows how it will turn out.  He is the son of Jerry Carpenter, former head football coach at Ashbrook.  Larry is one of the “good guys” respected by peers and students.  He and I worked together at Bessemer City High School.  I ask you to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you.

I was 11-3 this week, bringing my total to 33-8 so far this season.  This is much better than where I started last season.  Some of these teams are so close in talent level, it is hard to always pick the winner.

MY PICKS FOR THIS WEEK IN ALL CAPS:

GASTON COUNTY GAME OF THE WEEK

Highland @ BESSEMER CITY - Neither of these teams have won a game yet.  Bessemer is playing at home and Highland has really struggled.  Someone will get their first win.  Catch this game on the internet at whatsupshopper.com.

CLEVELAND COUNTY GAME OF WEEK

CREST @ Shelby - This one is almost impossible to call.  Shelby is at home and playing very well.  Crest has been very strong this year and is also playing well.  This game should be close with maybe a mistake making the difference.  Game carried on WOHS 1390, Shelby or realcountry1390.com.

LINCOLN COUNTY GAME OF WEEK

East Gaston @ EAST LINCOLN - East Lincoln is not as strong this year, but they should be able to handle this one.  Check your paper to see if this game will be at home.  East Lincoln has been working on their stadium and may have to move it. Broadcast live on whatsupshopper.com.

THE REST OF THE BEST

WEST LINCOLN @ Thomas Jefferson - West has been playing very well this year.  Thomas Jefferson is still a relatively new program with the usual problems.

Hickory @ KINGS MOUNTAIN - Kings Mountain lost to Burns last week, but they are still a good team and will rebound against Hickory.

Burns @ ASHEVILLE - Asheville is usually a mountain power, and they are at home.  Burns is playing very well, and this could be the year they get the “Cougars”.  Should be close!

Ashbrook @ SOUTH CALDWELL - South is undefeated, and the “Green Wave” has yet to crest.

Forestview @ BYRNES SC - South Carolina teams are very tough.  This one could get ugly.

Hunter Huss @ CONCORD - The “Spiders” are not as strong as they have been in years past, but should be more than Huss can handle.

LINCOLNTON @ North Gaston - Several years ago, this was a competitive game.  Not anymore.  This one will get ugly, and Coach Cloninger will take it easy.  North is no match for the “Wolves”.  Catch this game on WLON 1050AM, Lincolnton or hrnb.com.

TC Roberson @ SOUTH POINT - Roberson is 4-A, but they are 1-2 this year.  South Point is hard to beat in Belmont and should take this one.  WCGC 1270AM in Belmont will carry this game.

Chase @ CHERRYVILLE - This one is close, could go either way. I pick the “Ironmen” to win at home.  Catch the action on WCSL 1590, Cherryville or hrnb.com.

North Lincoln @ NORTH IREDELL - Neither of these teams has won yet this year.  North Iredell is at home and should win this one.

Try to get out and see a high school game this week.  If you have questions or comments about this article, contact me at lccarpenter44@charter.net.

“Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise,” I will see again next week in What’s Up Shopper.  - See ya, Lewis.

What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

By Kevin “Hollywood” Hastings

Welcome back to our weekly football pick’em contest and my weekly NFL Super Bowl Countdown.  If you think you have what it takes to win $100 by picking NFL games then scroll down to the bottom of this page and check out this week’s games to pick.  All games are located inside the ads below.  Pick the games and send in your guesses by email, fax or on our website.

Each week during the season we eliminate 1 team from Super Bowl contention.  The season hasn’t started yet and we’ve already given the boot to the Cleveland Browns.  Next week we’ll get back to eliminating teams.  This week we’ll preview Week 1’s matchups.

Last season I predicted 66% of the games correctly, so this year we’re shooting for 75%.  Winners in ALL CAPS:

Vikings @ SAINTS - Week 1 is here folks, and the fun starts on Thursday night with a re-match of the NFC title game when the Vikings visit the New Orleans Saints. Both teams should be pumped for this one, but the Vikings won’t be able to handle the Superdome Voodoo.  The crowd alone should carry New Orleans to a victory while they celebrate last season’s Super Bowl team.

Panthers @ GIANTS - Last season Matt Moore led the Cats to wins in 4 of the last 5 games.  He won’t lead his team to a win Week 1 in the New Meadowlands.

FALCONS @ Steelers - I’m not going to feel too good on Pittsburgh until Roethlisberger is back.  That’s more than four weeks away.  The Falcons should be a pretty formidable team if their defense can keep up.

Browns @ BUCCANEERS - I feel sorry for anyone who has to attend or work at this game.  U-G-L-Y, you ain’t got no alibi, you UGLY!

BRONCOS @ Jaguars - The Broncos always start out like rockets then fizzle, and the Jags are consistently one of the hardest teams to predict.  I think Denver will win, and you will see Tim Tebow involved in a touchdown.

Colts @ TEXANS - The Texans have had all off-season to get ready for this game.  Undrafted rookie RB Arian Foster looks like a steal.

DOLPHINS @ Bills - Buffalo is real cold and it’s really hard to win there if you’re from South Florida.  But, the game is in September, and the weather will be beautiful.  Dolphins squeak by.

Lions @ BEARS - I think both of these teams will be improved this season.  With that said they did combine to win only 9 games between them so they have to improve.

Raiders @ TITANS - I think Vince Young and Chris Johnson will get their sprints in against the Raiders.

Bengals @ PATRIOTS - Don’t be surprised if the Bengals beat the Patriots here.  If I were a gambling man I’d stay away from this game.  If you have to pick it, go for the home team.

Cardinals @ RAMS - I want to say the Cardinals should easily win this game, but without Kurt Warner and the Rams welcoming #1 Overall Draft Pick, Sam Bradford, this has all the ingredients for a Rams victory.

49ERS @ Seahawks - Pete Carrol sure did high tail it out of USC when the NCAA came a knocking at his door.  Well Mr. Carrol, meet Mr. Singletary.  Your team doesn’t want any of Mr. Singletary in Week 1.

PACKERS @ Eagles - I’m pulling for new Eagles QB, Kevin Kolb, to throw 10 touchdowns and 500 yards.  He’s my fantasy QB until Big Ben gets back, but I don’t care if his team wins.  Just throw the bomb!  Packers take home a win.

COWBOYS @ Redskins - I don’t care how bad the starters have looked in the pre-season.  Dallas has got to win the opener in Washingotn to shut all those naysayers up. With all the turmoil with Haynesworth and coaching and quarterback changes the Redskins can’t have it together, can they?  I say not right now, but they will by season’s end.

RAVENS @ Jets - Coach Rex Ryan had better hope his team can back up all that smack he’s been talking this off-season.  Their quarterback is shaky and they’re facing  a potent Ravens offense.  The Ravens could be the AFC representative in the Super Bowl.

CHARGERS @ Kansas City - The Bolts lost LaDanian Tomlinson and they may lose Vincent Jackson but as long as they have Phillip Rivers and Antonio Gates, this team will compete.

There you have it folks, Week 1 predictions and observations.  Remember, all predictions are guaranteed wrong or your money back!  Enjoy this weekend’s games along with the beer and food.   Next week we will start eliminating teams once we’ve got a better handle on the situation.  Until, then buy your girlfriend or wife something nice this week because you will not see her on Sundays again until February.

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Cole Brandon Spencer

What’s Up with Rubbin’s Racing

Articles

By Kevin Hastings

I’m reporting for Clint this week because Mr. Spencer has had a very busy weekend becoming a father for the first time. Congratulations Dad!  Clint and his wife, Alyson, welcomed Cole Brandon Spencer who arrived Saturday, September 4th at 2pm. He weighed 8 lbs. 4 oz. and was 21 inches long. He has a head full of curly black hair. He his healthy and doing well. Clint wondered aloud on Facebook whether Cole Brandon Spencer is a football player’s name or a NASCAR driver’s name.  I told Clint he knew very well that Cole Brandon Spencer is destined to turning left on Sundays.  Congratulations you two!

As for the racing in Atlanta this weekend, Tony Stewart won his first race in 31 tries.  Smoke needed the victory and extra bonus points heading into The Chase.  The victory was Stewart’s 3rd at Atlanta and 38th of his career, vaulting him from 6th to 4th in the standings and clinching a spot in this year’s Chase beginning in two weeks.

Carl Edwards finished second and Jimmie Johnson was happy with his third place finish: “To get a good race here, to be in that moment and to feel the pressure, is something we needed,” Johnson said. “That pressure is fun to have and it was a familiar excitement inside of me, and I was excited to be out there racing with everybody and being a part of it. Hopefully, we can go to Richmond and get in that moment again to be as prepared as we can for the Chase.”

This weekend in Richmond is the last chance for teams to make The Chase for the Sprint Cup.  With 10 drivers having qualified, there are two open spots left in the playoffs.  Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray and Mark Martin are on the outside looking in at Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer at 11th & 12th.  My prediction for this weekend’s season finale in Richmond:  Jimmie Johnson heads to victory lane and will let the rest of the field know that the NASCAR Championship goes through aisle 48 at Lowe’s.  Congratulations Clint, can’t wait to meet Cole!

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Cherryville’s Larry Boyles is headed to the Carolina’s Boxing Hall of Fame, is located at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.   Larry Boyles will join two men whom he defeated in his career.   In 1956 Boyles defeated Hall of Famer, Bearl Davis, for the North Carolina Golden Gloves Championship.  The win gave Larry a chance to fight in Madison Square Garden, New York  where he lost his first match to Luis Ayala by a close decision.   Boyles also defeated Hall of Famer, Mike Bivens.   Larry was known as “The Dixie Kid” from Cherryville and fought for 12 years.  Boyles holds the record for the most fights in Golden Glove history in North Carolina.   Boyles is no 70 years old and still lives in Cherryville.

What’s Up in Local Sports

By Calvin Hastings

The South Point Red Raiders soccer team captured the Gaston Gazette Soccer Cup last week with a 3-2 win over Ashbrook.  It was the eighth Gazette Cup title for the Red Raiders tying them with Forestview in the tournament’s 18 year history.   Ben Propst of South Point was named the defensive MVP of the Tournament, and Casey Frey of the Red Raiders was named  the offensive MVP.  Grant Boloyan of Gaston Day was the winner of the John Braxton Award.

The Gaston Gazette has named their High School Football Players of the Week.   The offensive player of  the week was Brandon Wilson of  Lincolnton.   Wilson passed for 160 yards and three touchdowns and added 94 yards and another touchdown by rushing in Lincolnton’s 43-42 overtime win over the South Point Red Raiders.   Forestview’s Cortezz Nixon was named the Defensive Player of  the Week making eight tackles, blocking a punt, blocking a field goal attempt and blocking an extra point in the Jaguar’s 7-6 win over East Rutherford.

The Shelby Star has named their Cleveland County High School Football Player of the Week.   Crest running back, Neil Chambers, took that honor rushing for 103 yards.  He also caught two touchdown passes and scored on rushing.

Hats off the Crest Charger first year coach, Mark Barnes!  Barnes picked up his first win at Crest with an impressive 42-19 win over the Burns Bulldogs.

Former Crest Charger, Brandon Spikes, is off to a good start as a New England Patriot.  Spikes is third in tackles in the pre-season games for the Patriots with 17 combination tackles including 11 solo tackles.

Hats off to West Lincoln running back Devyn Travis!  Travis rushed for 223 yards and four touchdowns last week leading West Lincoln to a 47-8 win over North Wilkes.

Chris Carrigan of Dallas scored his first career hole in one last week at the Briar Creek Golf Course in High Shoals.  Carrigan aced the number 7,  160 yard par three with an 8-iron.   Chad Bost and Eric Pasour witnessed the shot.

On September 18th at Moss Lake, more than 200 swimmers will take to the water at 8:00 am for the Western North Carolina Open Water Swim Challenge.   The event is one of the few held in North Carolina.  The Sharks Aquatic Club and the City of Kings Mountain are the official hosts of the event.

Hats off to Gardner Webb’s Chelsea Hearne! Hearne was named the Big South Conference Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.   Hearne had six saves in 110 minutes of play in a double overtime win over East Tennessee State last week.

What’s Up in Prep Football

Lewis Carpenter's Articles

By Lewis Carpenter

I was fortunate to see one the best high school football games I have ever seen Friday night.  Lincolnton defeated South Point 43-42 in overtime with a two-point conversion. This game went back and forth all night with neither team able to put it away. It was a “fan’s dream” and “a coaches nightmare.”   Both teams played very well.  There was not a personal foul or unsportsmanlike penalty called on either team.  This speaks well of two well-coached and disciplined football teams.  The coaching staffs for either of these teams could take almost any program and make it successful.  It was high school football the way it should be played, hard and clean.  South Point is now 0-2, but they will bounce back and still have a winning season.  Lincolnton goes to 2-0 and needs to be careful of getting too confident.  You always need to remember what got you here and keep on doing it.

In other games, Ashbrook played well against Clover, but Clover has too many horses.  Bessemer City lost big to Hunter Huss.  In Cleveland County, Crest defeated Burns 42-19, and Shelby and Kings Mountain both won big.  I was 15-1 this week bringing my total to 22-5.  I have got to keep on predicting well to keep this up!

MY PICKS FOR THIS WEEK IN ALL CAPS:

GASTON COUNTY GAME OF THE WEEK

SHELBY @ Ashbrook - Shelby looks very strong and Ashbrook continues to struggle.  I think Ashbrook will improve, but with their tough schedule, they better get to work.  This game will be broadcast on WOHS 1390 or realcountry1390.com.

CLEVELAND COUNTY GAME OF WEEK

Kings Mountain @ BURNS - This will be a very close game.  Kings Mountain has a good team, but I am giving Burns the edge at home.  This game will be on the internet at whatsupshopper.com.

LINCOLN COUNTY GAME OF WEEK

Maiden @ LINCOLNTON – Maiden has improved greatly from last year, but Lincolnton will be hard to beat at home. Lincolnton needs to forget last week and concentrate on Maiden. This game will be on WHATSUPSHOPPER.COM!  The WOHS 1390AM What’s UP SunDrop Tailgate Party will be there for your pregame entertainment.  Play cornhole, grill out, register for prizes and more!

THE REST OF THE BEST

SOUHT POINT @ East Gaston - South Point will be fired up for this game, and although East has played well so far this season, I think the “Red Raiders” will be raiding.  This game will be on the internet at whatsupshopper.com.

Mooresville @ BANDYS - Bandys is playing well, and is tough at home.  Mooresville has not had a good year so far.

TC Roberson @ Crest - Roberson usually has a good team, but Crest is at home and the “Chargers” are really charging at this time.

CLOVER @ Forestview - Clover has been controlling Gaston County teams and Forestview will fall this week to the South Carolina powerhouse.

Tuscola @ HUNTER HUSS -   Tuscola traditionally has a strong program, but they are 0-2 so far this year.  Huss looked very good against Bessemer City and should continue their winning ways.

North Gaston @ WEDDINGTON - Weddington is undefeated and has scored big in its first two games.  The “Wildcats” still have much work to do.

Bessemer City @ CHASE - Both of these teams are 0-2, but Chase played well against Chesnee and Bessemer is still looking for answers.

CHERRYVILLE @ West Henderson -   West is 0-2 and Cherryville has played very well in its first two games.  This game will be broadcast on WCSL, 1590 AM or at hrnb.com.

EAST SURRY @ North Lincoln - East is 1-1 so far this season, and North is 0-2 and still has some problems to solve.

WEST LINCOLN @ Fred T. Foard - Coach Sain has the “Rebels” playing well so far this year.  They should continue this at Foard.

Highland @ BISHOP MCGUINESS - Highland is struggling this year and McGuiness is always a tough opponent.

Try to get out and see a game this week.  You will enjoy it, and the young folks will appreciate it.

“Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise”, I will see again next week in the WHAT’S UP SHOPPER.

-  See Ya, Lewis

What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

By Kevin “Hollywood” Hastings

Regular season NFL action starts next Thursday with a rematch of the NFC title game when the Minnesota Bretts, I mean Vikings, visit the New Orleans Saints.  Last week we started counting down our teams in our weekly poll and we eliminated the Cleveland Browns from Super Bowl contention before the season even started.  Each week we eliminate one team from, in my opinion, Super Bowl contention.  This year’s game in Dallas’ new stadium is sure to be one of the best yet.  This week we are not going to eliminate any teams, but I do want to talk about a few topics we didn’t get in depth last week.  So hold on folks, here we go…

ALBERT HAYNESWORTH

What a loser!  This guy is ridiculous.  How many of you would voluntarily change positions in your company for $120 million?  Don’t forget Haynesworth is the guy who intentionally stomped on the Cowboys Center, Andre Gurode, three seasons ago with his cleats.  I thought that was the most horrific act I’ve ever seen on a football field.  To purposely stomp on another players face with your cleats is a disgrace.  He should have been kicked out of the league then, and if I was Shannahan, I would run his butt off.  Haynesworth couldn’t pass a conditioning test a pregnant woman could do.  He said “I condition on my own, and I will do the same next season.”  What conditioning Albert?  You can’t run for more than three minutes without taking a 10-minute bathroom break.  Give me a break you loser!

BRETT FAVRE

You suck. I’m tired of watching you.  I hate everything about you.  Get over yourself.  Quit making googly-eyed faces in the mirror to yourself.  Quit wasting our time.  You’ll never win another Super Bowl, so quit please.  In fact, in Brett’s only Super Bowl victory, the freaking kick returner was named MVP of the game!  How’s that for all-time greatness Brett? Favre is reaching the stratosphere of pretentious, me-first players.  That will forever be his legacy. Not his records but how he’s behaved the past few seasons. It’s really sad where we’ve come with Favre and I’m through with him.  We shall not mention his name for the rest of the season in this column. Maybe.

PANTHERS QUARTERBACK

I’m going to catch from heat for this one, but I can’t bite my tongue any longer.  In the pre-season games so far, Jimmy Clausen and Matt Moore both have completed just 49% of their passes.  That is a ridiculously low number.  Look, even though I think I can complete 49%, and I can, that doesn’t mean the Panthers are going to call me up tomorrow.  What they could do though is use the 2nd round draft pick they traded up for in this season’s draft.

That’s right!  Let’s put Armanti Edwards behind center.  It can’t get any worse can it?  In fact, Edwards had better numbers in college than Clausen and Moore.  He also ran for over 1,000 yards twice and won Two National Championships.  Moore and Clausen have been nothing more than glorified pretty boys who can’t complete a pass.  Maybe if Jimmy would spend less time gelling his hair he’d have more time to study opposing defenses or practice throwing passes to his own team.  Just because you went to Notre Dame doesn’t mean it’s a right to be a starting NFL quarterback.  Look what’s going on in Arizona with Matt Leinart.

I’ve lived here all my life as a Cowboys fan and have struggled to find a reason to pull for the Panthers at anytime.  If you go to the stadium, everyone is rude and the prices are stupid high.  They’ve never had a Top 15 quarterback, and the only player I’ve ever liked for them, Julius Peppers, was run off.  The Cats made the right decision in drafting Edwards.  They’re just making the wrong decision playing him at WR.  Did anyone see him muff punts or drop passes this pre-season?  I know I did, but what do you expect? Name me ONE former college star quarterback who has made a successful transition to WR in the NFL.  You can’t, and that’s why the Panthers don’t have Jimmy Clausen and Matt Moore returning punts and catching passes.  So why are they asking Armanti? Edwards can’t produce any worse than 49% passing!  Let’s give it a try for real and for fun.  The Panthers may have the team’s best quarterback ever on the roster, and he’s returning punts with He Hate Me.  Come on Fox, put the Two-time National Champion and Player of the Year at QB!  Oh wait, he’s back at the 5-yard line returning a punt.  I wonder if Peyton Manning had to return any punts for Indy?

Rubbin’s Racing in NASCAR

Articles

By Clint Spencer

The Sprint Cup Series did not run this weekend; however both the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series were active as they visited two different tracks.  First, the Truck Series ran under the lights Friday night at Chicagoland Speedway.  Kyle Busch picked up the victory as he collected his 20th career series win.  The Nationwide Series did not run on Saturday as it generally does, instead it took the primetime spot that the Sprint Cup Series normally has on Sunday.  The Nationwide teams took their cars across the border as they visited Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.   Boris Said would emerge as the victor as he held off second place, Max Papis for a photo finish.

In other NASCAR News, you may have read or heard that Wal-Mart might be sponsoring the #24 of Jeff Gordon next season.  Last week the retail giant announced that despite the rumors they will not be sponsoring the Hendrick Motorsports team.

Furniture Row Racing, the Colorado based NASCAR team, announced last week that Regan Smith signed a Contract Extension to remain with the team through the 2012 season.  Smith, currently sits 30th in the standings with an average finish 26.7 this season.

Kasey Kahne, will be sporting a different look this weekend at Atlanta.  He will ditch the familiar Budweiser Red for the colors of Valvoline.  Kahne has to his credit six top five and eight top ten finishes at the 1.5 mile track in Georgia.

Denny Hamlin will also shed his familiar FedEx colors for a new sponsor this weekend.  Sport Clips, a sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series, will make their debut in Sprint Cup by sponsoring the #11 of Hamlin.

Prediction for the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway:  Two weeks ago it was Kyle Busch who visited victory lane for the third time this season giving him 30 bonus points heading into the chase.  This weekend, his older brother Kurt will return to winner’s circle at Atlanta for the second time this season.  If Kurt wins, he too will have 30 bonus points like younger brother Kyle.  Look for the elder Busch in victory lane Sunday night.

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