Randolph Record - Randolph Record

02 Dec

Caraway moves holiday event to late January

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway speedway, Darren Hackett, Stock car racing

SOPHIA – The 36th edition of Caraway Speedway’s Thanksgiving Classic has been postponed for about two months. Last Sunday’s version of the event was called off because of expected rainy weather. So Russell Hackett’s Original Thanksgiving Classic has been moved to Jan. 29. Afternoon races will be scheduled for UCARs, Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, Late Models, Challengers, Bootleggers and Enduros. “We are dealing with a special event with this race,” track owner Darren Hackett said. “Russell Hackett’s Thanksgiving Classic has been a staple of the Caraway Speedway schedule for 35 years and we don’t want to break the season-ending tradition…

01 Dec

Labonte Foundation surprises youth with bikes

Randolph RecordFeatures, SportsBobby Labonte, NASCAR, YMCA

WINSTON-SALEM – The Bobby Labonte Foundation, founded by NASCAR Champion and Hall of Fame race car driver Bobby Labonte, teamed up with Herbalife Nutrition to build and donate 60 youth bikes at the YWCA of Winston-Salem recently as part of the foundation’s annual charitable efforts. The surprise giveaway, which benefited children enrolled at the YWCA’s Best Choice Learning Center, also included helmets and bike safety lessons provided by Brenner Children’s Hospital. The Bobby Labonte Foundation and Herbalife also surprised center representatives with two oversized checks for $10,000 each. The Best Choice Learning Center focuses on education and income equality, providing…

29 Nov

Prep Notes: Trinity’s Payne starts strong; Wrestlers compete in tourneys

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Dominic Payne, Prep Basketball, prep wrestling, Trinity athletics

Southwestern Randolph’s Kenzie Martin shoots over Asheboro’s Kaylen Nance earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) TRINITY – Junior guard Dominic Payne of Trinity has been off to a sizzling start in boys’ basketball. Payne scored 37 points in a 67-66 overtime victory last week at Oak Grove. He was back at it the next night with 25 points in a 71-28 trouncing of visiting East Davidson. Teammate Dylan Hodges added 21 points in that game. Meanwhile, Asheboro’s boys’ basketball team won a notable matchup based on last season’s area conference champions. The Blue Comets won 65-35 at Providence Grove. Last…

29 Nov

Furniture company cuts employees with no notice

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsFurniture company, layoffs, United Furniture Industries

WINSTON-SALEM – United Furniture Industries terminated all its employees last week just days before Thanksgiving in a move that drew considerable backlash in the Triad. Workers based in Winston-Salem were among those impacted. The Mississippi-based company sent an email overnight just two days before Thanksgiving notifying staffers it was terminating all employees due to “unforeseen business circumstances” and telling them not report for their shifts. The immediate termination applies to all employees with the exception of “over-the-road drivers that are out on delivery,” the memo said. “Your layoff from the Company is expected to be permanent and all benefits will…

26 Nov

Eastern Randolph fades in Class 1-A loss

Randolph RecordSports

Eastern Randolph quarterback Stratton Barwick takes a hit from Mount Airy’s Deric Dandy during Friday night’s Class 1-A game in the state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph’s football season came to a close with Friday night’s 35-17 loss to visiting Mount Airy in the Class 1-A regional semifinals. The Granite Bears scored the game’s final 21 points – all in the fourth quarter – to win. “We had four plays that killed us,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates said. “We just didn’t make the plays.” Eastern Randolph (11-2) had an 11-game winning streak end in dropping the…

21 Nov

Prep Notes: Coaches have various results in debuts

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Autumn Gentry, Gracyn Hall, nchsaa, Randleman athletics, Trinity athletics, Wes Berrier

Maddie Small of Southwestern Randolph goes up for a shot against Asheboro during last week’s season opener. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph ruined the coaching debut for Asheboro’s Mike Headen in girls’ basketball last week. The host Cougars defeated Asheboro 52-49 in Friday night’s non-conference game. Headen was promoted from assistant coach to head coach during the summer upon the retirement of Don Corry. Also in girls’ basketball, a couple of area players who’ve already eclipsed 1,000 career points got off to good starts. They are seniors Gracyn Hall and Autumn Gentry. Hall of Randleman racked up 16 points in…

21 Nov

Three in-state teams make FCS playoffs

Randolph RecordSportscollege football, Davidson football, Elon football, FCS, Football Championship Subdivision, Gardner-Webb football

Three college football teams from North Carolina are in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Big South Conference champion Gardner-Webb and Davidson, which received the Pioneer Football League’s automatic bid, join at-large selection Elon. All three teams begin with road games Saturday in the 24-team field. Gardner-Webb (6-5), which lost a non-league encounter with Elon in September at Elon’s Rhodes Stadium, goes to Eastern Kentucky (7-4). This will be the first FCS playoff game for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. Gardner-Webb secured the bid by defeating visiting North Carolina A&T 37-18 in a winner-take-all game Saturday in the regular-season finale. No. 5 seed…

21 Nov

Asheboro man cashes in on lottery

Randolph RecordNews

ASHEBORO — An Asheboro man bought a Powerball ticket at the last minute and won $150,000, according to an NC Education Lottery news release. Strickland, a 29-year-old welder, bought a Quick Pick ticket for the Nov. 5 drawing using Online Play on his phone. He matched numbers on four white balls and the Powerball to win $50,000 on his $3 Power Play ticket. The prize tripled to $150,000 when the 3X Power Play multiplier hit. “It was just a day of disbelief because I’ve never won anything before,” Strickland said. After required federal and state tax withholdings, he took home…

19 Nov

Wildcats score late to keep alive season

Randolph RecordSportsBurton Cates, Eastern Randolph, Eastern Randolph athletics, Ervodd Cassady, nchsaa

RAMSEUR – Ervodd Cassady scored on a 26-yard run with 6:27 remaining as Eastern Randolph’s football team overcame visiting Robbinsville for a 29-26 victory in a third-round game of the Class 1-A state playoffs Friday night. The Wildcats, who are the top seed in the West Region, made two defensive stops inside their own 20-yard line in the final two minutes to hold on. Linebacker A’donye Herbert made a couple of key tackles. “Just make a play so we can keep moving in,” Herbert said. “It felt great, just one more step to moving in.” Eastern Randolph (11-1) will meet…

18 Nov

Southwestern Randolph grad Shiflet named top rookie in conference for volleyball

Randolph RecordSports

GREENSBORO – Southwestern Randolph graduate Payton Shiflet was named Rookie of the Year for USA South Conference volleyball. Shiflet is a freshman outside hitter for Greensboro College. Shiflet became the eighth Greensboro volleyball player to receive USA South Rookie of the Year recognition, though the first since 2012. Shiflet led all rookies and was second in the conference overall with 3.88 kills and 4.3 points per set through the regular season. She averaged 4.0 kills per set and 4.4 kills per set against USA South competition. Also, Shiflet was selected for the all-conference first team. Greensboro finished with a 20-13…