From staff reports

They left the competition in the dust.

In May, a racing team representing Long Cane Middle School participated in the Grissom Grand Prix in Huntsville, Ala.

The competition featured electric cars that were built by the teams representing middle school and high schools from across the area.

For the Long Cane team, which is known as Cougar Strong Racing, the race in Huntsville was its second ever, and it was a winning day.

Long Cane’s team started in eighth place, but it quickly moved up to first thanks to the effort of leadoff driver Chloe Morris.

Sebashtian Ferrar and Kevin Webb, the remaining two drivers, maintained that top spot, and Long Cane was able to celebrate a championship in the middle-school division.

Long Cane also finished second in the overall standings, and that included the high-school teams.

Long Cane’s three drivers completed 34 laps on the mile-long track, and there were no mechanical issues, which was a testament to the job done by the build team and the pit crew.

The race was part of the Greenpower USA program, and Long Cane was able to put a team together thanks to funding provided by the Troup County school system.

Long Cane’s team arrived in Huntsville on a Friday night, the day before the race.

The team was able to get on the course for a test run, and it was slowed because of a bad tire because of a bad wheel bearing.

The team made adjustments to the car late that night, and seventh-grader Bo Dyes led that effort.

On race day, Long Cane started in 10th place, and it was Morris leading things off.

Less than 20 minutes into the race Morris had Long Cane in first place among the middle-school team.

Next up for Long Cane was Ferrar, and he kept the team on top during his time on the track.

Webb was Long Cane’s last driver, and he maintained the lead and brought home the victory.

The team thanked its sponsors, Kia of LaGrange, 100 Black Men of West Georgia, BNG, Long Cane Middle PTO, and Elizabeth Ferguson Design.

Long Cane hopes to field two teams next year.