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THE RACING AGEES AIM FOR TWO ACE TITLES IN 2001

Altamahaw, North Carolina - The foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains produce some spectacular scenery but also are famous for producing some of the finest weekly racers in the country. Names like Satch Worley, Paul Radford, and the late car owner William Mason, who helped give Bobby Allison his start, are legends in the local modified ranks.

Lately that modified torch has been carried by Grover Agee, better known as G.C. Agee to the fans at Ace Speedway, the ultra fast 4/10's of a mile asphalt NASCAR Weekly Racing Series facility located just North of Burlington, NC. G.C is entering his fourth season of racing. Previously G.C. and brother Donnie, (D.C.) helped turn the wrenches on third brother, Billy's race cars. Most of those years have found the Agees racing Modifieds, not Late Models which have become the dominant car at most area speedways.

"We've just always like the looks and speed of a modified," commented G.C. "When Billy quit racing to start a family it didn't take much convincing for me and Donnie, along with mom and dad's help, to keep the tradition going. Other than a few little medical setbacks on my part, it's gone pretty well."

That little medical setback was a bout with cancer that G.C. won two years ago and as his health has improved so has his racing. Last season he won 2 races and finished third in points with his home built car, another Agee tradition.

"We just build these cars ourselves, "said G.C. "We've made friends with some of the modified guys from up north, and picked up on some of their knowledge. The rules at Ace are so reasonable; a person can put together an Ace modified for under $10,000 that will run the pants off those $50,000 late model stock cars. Plus the car has actually made money for the past two years. Heck, there's hardly any tire bill, like in the late models, and these cars are a ball to drive. I don't understand why more guys don't come run with us when you have a car that looks good, runs fast, and can make money"!

Last season at Ace Speedway, another of the racing Agees, made his racing debut, Corey Agee, D.C.'s son, and G.C.'s nephew.

"Corey's wanted to run so we put him in a Mini Stock at Ace, after he ran in the rookie class at Franklin County (Callaway, VA), " said D.C. "He did real good at Ace, especially after we bought Tommy Horner's mini stock and put him into some good equipment." Corey, a high school student, finished 9th in points and had a third place run midway in the season. He knows he has a strong racing tradition to uphold.

"I guess I have some big shoes to fill", commented Cory. "But racing is all we do and it keeps us all close together as a family. I don't know what I'd do if we weren't spending Friday nights racing at Ace."

The number 33's, Agees Racing Modified and Mini Stock, were both practicing this past Saturday afternoon at Ace. They plan to be back again this Saturday at 12:30 and at every practice prior to the season opening event on Friday Night, April 6th.