All season long Michael Pope has been on the cusp of winning his first Georgia Asphalt Series race, and after this past weekend, he no longer has to sit on the edge of his seat anymore.  Pope took the lead for the second time in Saturday night’s Peachstate Speedway GAS event late and sailed to victory lane, claiming his first Georgia Asphalt Series victory at what just happens to be one of his favorite tracks.

Michael Pope Finishes on Top at Peachstate Speedway

Young Driver Claims First Career Georgia Asphalt Series Victory

dropped back to the third spot late in the event when two other competitors were able to get by him due to loose conditions in the No. 44 machine.

“Around lap 75 the car started really getting loose, so I was having to stand on the brakes to keep the rear end from coming around. That really helped the car, but still, some of the lapped traffic was tough.  It was just a good, hard race.”

But, with as competitive and as hard of a race as Saturday’s GAS event was, fireworks were sure to occur.  Sure enough, while Pope was running third late in the race, the two leaders made contact with each other, giving Pope just the right amount of room that he needed to get by and past the two spinning cars.

“I didn’t know when this day would come; I love it,” said Pope.  “It feels really good.  It’s a big confidence builder for me and for the team.  Knowing that we can come out here and compete with these guys and win means a lot.

“I drove my heart out tonight and we finally got one.  This is for the whole team.  Last year we struggled with the rear end in the car, and we made some changes this year.  We didn’t even race this car last week at Opp.  But today during practice the car was really good.  I really owe a big thanks to everyone on this team for getting this car ready in just a week.”

For young Pope, the top spot was the place to be all day at Peachstate.  He earned the pole during qualifying, but after the inversion Pope started the event third.   He worked his way back up to the front of the pack by lap 14, and for the majority of the race he never really had to look back.  Eventually, he

Michael Pope gets all of the perks of winning his first GAS race on Saturday night at Peachstate Speedway.

“All I saw was (Russell) Fleeman get loose and he got up into Bubba (Pollard) and they both went spinning.  Bubba went down the track and Fleeman went up the track and there was a little hole in the middle that I was able to get through; I got lucky.”

Once Pope took the lead, it was still a battle all the way to the finish.  On the ensuing restart, Pope had to hold off defending GAS Champion Fredrick Moore on his way to victory lane.  Despite a small mishap on the start, Pope was able to beat Moore to the checkers, signing his name into Peachstate’s history books.

“As good as a car that we had, I almost lost it for us on that last restart.  But I was able to manhandle the car and drive the heck out of it to get the win.

“And I really have to thank my parents,” added Pope.  “They have spent a lot on my racing over the last nine years… and Mr. Brack Maggard and Southern Pan Services.  If it wasn’t for them, we probably wouldn’t be racing right now and be standing in victory lane tonight.”

Michael Pope and the No. 44 team will have the next weekend off to sit back and enjoy their victory.  They will return to action

on September 1st when the Georgia Asphalt Series heads to Watermelon Capital Speedway.

For more information on The Wild Child, Michael Pope, please contact Amy Hayes at (770) 855-1461 and be sure to check out Michael Pope’s new website at www.michaelpopeonline.com