By Doug Hawley, Calhoun Times Sports Editor
A Calhoun boy is making a noise these days as a bandolero race car driver.
Jerry Silvers, Jr., 17, always has an extra reason to celebrate July 4th. That also happens to be his birthday.
On the most recent birthday, Silvers was a part of 10-year Atlanta Motor Speedway's first time to have it Thursday Thunder on Wednesday the 4th.
Silvers, who considers AMS his home track, responded with a fourth place finish in the Outlaws Division. He has been participating in the special summer series since it kicked off May 31.
"Racing is my love, and God is my life." Silvers said, "I am about spending time with my family and my friends. I started in go-karts at a young age (about three years of competition) and had acceptable success before I moved up to the Bandolero Outlaw Division of racing."
Bandolero race cars are sanctioned by INEX which is the sanctioning body of the legends, bandoleros and thunder roadsters across the United States, Canada and Europe. It represents the third largest sanctioning body behind the NASCAR weekly racing series and International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) with more than 3,500 members.
INEX annually sanctions more than 2,000 races throughout the world.
Bandolero competition customarily comes in 20 or 30 lap features on a quarter-mile track-basically five to 7.5 miles. Top speeds on a straightway reach 80 miles per hour.
Silvers and his team, JW. Motorsports, will be running his bandolero car at major speedways around Georgia, Florida, Alabama and North Carolina.

FATHER is "backbone"
"My father (Jerry, Sr.) is the backbone of this team and has made it what it is today," Silvers praised. "I am very thankful to have him as a father and as my crew chief. My mother (Linda) is my encourager and spiritual leader, along with my church family (non-denominational Word of Life in Calhoun)."
His father is particularly proud of the car's No. 23.
"He (son) runs my badge number," then Sargent supervisor of the Calhoun City Police Department's day shift chimed in. "The number's on my patrol car."
Some others figure vividly in the racing mix.
"My best friend, Jeffrey Green, helps in the pit, along with my brother, Brian." Silvers informed. "Marty Carroll and Danny Elrod have helped me with sponsorship and helped to make it possible for me to chase my dream. Rusty Clanton of Hampton has offered invaluable advice to our team."
Anticipates this career
From a career standpoint, Silvers said that he expects to remain in the racing profession.
"I'm leaning toward automotive engineering to help me along the way,"he related."I want to pursue NASCAR in one form or other. I would prefer it as a driver."
For motivation, he points to some current NASCAR standouts who competed in the legends. Included are Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Reed Sorenson, David Ragan, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Paul Menard.
He observes celebrated Bill Elliott almost weekly in legends competition.
By next year, Silvers plans to compete every Tuesday night in the Summer Shootout at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC
Need more sponsors
In the close-knot family, Silvers is home-schooled.
"He couldn't do it (racing) if he were not home schooled." his father said. "He's two credits before graduating. He basically handles it o his own through a Christian Academy in Ohio."
At present, there are three Calhoun sponsors. They include Elrod Electrical and Plumbing, Carrol Pain and Body Towing Recovery and Elegant Home Furnishing.
"We really need some more sponsors," his father emphasized. "Racing is a huge sport, and there is a great opportunity for companies to get maximum exposure."
Interested sponsors can contact the family through 706-625-4408 or 770-547-9048.