Learn to Shoot A Rifle

Warren Gress, Executive Director of AFFA, called this season’s effort a success, noting the group does a similar project for troops on Memorial Day.

Last year, AFFA members completed Operation Shoebox twice during 2008, providing over 280 shoeboxes full of goodies to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan combat areas.

For more information on AFFA, including how to contribute to the next Operation Shoebox event, check out www.affa-sc.org.

On left, CPT John E. Shutt, JA

On left is 1LT Kayin Darby, a JAG officer and Orangeburg resident.

Col. Zeb Williams, a Citadel graduate and South Carolina resident

DARLINGTON, S.C. (Dec. 21, 2009) – The 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway has been voted the top race of the decade by members of the media on NASCARMedia.com.
The thrilling event produced one of the best late-race duels in the history of NASCAR between Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch. Craven would eventually out-maneuver Busch to capture his lone Darlington win by only .002 seconds setting a record for the slimmest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series since the advent of electronic scoring.
“Having the 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 named the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event of the decade is a true honor,” said Darlington Raceway President, Chris Browning. “The 2003 event showcased what Darlington is all about: fast, close and exciting racing.”
Craven’s Darlington victory was the second and final victory of his career and one he will always remember.
“Winning at Darlington is what was important,” Craven said.  “As the years have gone on, it has been about the event and the spectacular finish, but, as a racer, it was always about winning at Darlington.”
Although he came within inches of capturing that elusive Darlington victory, Busch still has fond memories of that day.
“Craven and I were both in the same state of mind in that we both wanted to win, but neither of us was going to wreck the other guy,” Busch said. “It was the ultimate example of two guys racing as hard as they could to win. If that same situation played out again a hundred times, 99 of them would probably end with a big crash before they got to the finish line. To this day, every time I think back about that race I have to say that it was pretty incredible.”
Darlington Raceway or the track “Too Tough to Tame” as it is known to many, is where the purest of NASCAR competition meets true southern hospitality. A NASCAR staple since 1950, Darlington Raceway has seen some of motorsports most talented drivers thunder to Victory Lane. In 2010, NASCAR’s stars return to battle the track “Too Tough to Tame” in the Sprint Cup Series Southern 500® and Nationwide Series Darlington 200.
Don’t miss any of the paint-scraping action at Darlington Raceway in 2010. Tickets to the 2010 Southern 500®, as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series Darlington 200 are on-sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 866-459-RACE or online at http://www.darlingtonraceway.com/tickets/.

Photo by: Motorsports Images and Archives.

Some of Joan’s pictures from around Charleston:

For more of Joan’s work, check out her blog at http://news.sc/wp-admin/post-new.php and www.News.sc, where her photographs are featured regularly.

Kid Quick

Written By: Robin Green

From karts to GM Performance, Zack Mitchell “Kid Quick” has made a name for himself. In 2008, he was the youngest to win in a GM Performance Late Model at the age of 12. Now at the age of 13, his 2009 season looks to be even better than the last.

The first time I saw this young man at Travelers Rest Speedway, I remember thinking “Oh NO, This young kid is going to get creamed out there.” That was until the very first lap he made around that track and driving like he had been doing it for 50 years. Each time he went around the turns, I was left to wonder how anyone could be so graceful on a dirt track. I would not be able to keep it between the ditches on a dirt road at 20 mph much less doing 100 but Zack makes it look so easy.

They say “it is in his blood” and I for one believe that. Zack is a 3rd generation driver. His father Todd and grandfather Jerry were also turning heads on the race track with the very same familiar number 57 which Zack decided to keep and run so proudly. From Enoree, South Carolina, this young man is well on his way to making it into Nascar some day. Just take a look at some of this kid’s sponsors already like Hot Spot, Clary Hood Inc. and R.L. Jordon Oil Company. You can’t say that does not speak for it’s self and his ability to handle that car right along with the best veteran drivers on the dirt track.

At 5 years old, he started out in karts and for several years won numerous National and Local Championships. Once he got into a Young Guns car, the same happened. He won numerous Local and National Championships. In 2008 he stepped into a GM Performance Late Model and won 4 races his first year. Now here we are 2 weeks in the 2009 season and the first race he came in 2nd and then 1st place for the second race. Now if that is not a good start, I don’t know what is.

Mike Johnson said “I am watching a star of tomorrow each week I see KID QUICK race. I noticed him at a practice at Mileback in a young guns car. I’m a Blake Bentley fan, I watched him win a championship at the age of 11 in young guns and here’s this kid a few years later Zack Mitchell age of 10 or so running with Blake , I was shocked. Now I follow Team Mitchell where ever they go. 10 years from now move over KYLE BUSCH the KID IS IN TOWN.”

Zack Mitchell has created a fan base that spans several states and he has even been heard of as far away as California. I once asked him what he thought about his many fans, he said “I would not be here with out them. My fans have always been there and cheered me on through it all.”

He makes it a point to thank the fans each and every time he wins a race along with his sponsors, crew and family. With all that goes into Kid Quick’s adventure in racing, he has a number of people helping in any way they can to keep him on the track and in a safe car. Travis Morgan, Chad Husky, Frank & Janice Vinson, Jerry & Bonnie Mitchell, Jeremy Thomas, Keith DeYoung and his parents Todd & Jennifer Mitchell are by his side each step of the way bringing it all together in order to see his dreams come true.

Wins so far this year at Travelers Rest Speedway for Zack Mitchell “ Kid Quick”.
1st Place – April 11th at TR Speedway
2nd Place – April 4th at TR Speedway and April 25th TR Speedway

This past race on April 25th, 2009 really showed his skills as he came from 4th taking his leaps all the way up to finish second place. He passed some of the best out there in the GM Performance division and I believe if he would have had maybe a lap or two more, this week would have been another first place for “Kid Quick”.

Photo By The South Carolina Stingrays

The Kelly Cup and Cool Ray paid a visit to Carolina One