Residents and visitors to Dawsonville and the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame on Saturday sank their teeth into some of the best-tasting watermelons in the world.

As part of Dawsonvilles Heritage Days July 4th weekend celebration, five bins of watermelons were delivered to the hall of fame from Cordele known as the Watermelon Capitol of the World.

It was the combined efforts of Chase Elliotts mom, Cindy Elliott, Sheriff Billy Hancock of Cordele, Crisp County Commissioner Wallace Gator Mathis, melon growers Leger and Sons, and Big Tex Trailers that brought the souths summertime favorite to Dawsonville.

I was talking to Sheriff Billy Hancock, and we decided this would be a fun fundraiser, Cindy Elliott said. We were down there racing with Chase and his late model, and we just got to talking about it. He thought it would be a great donation for the hall of fame.

Chase Elliott has raced several times at the raceway now known as the Crisp Motorsports Park, Home of Watermelon Capital of the World.

Commissioner Mathis said its the soil in Cordele that makes the watermelons so tasty.

The soil is heavier than what you find in other places and it adds flavor, Mathis said. And youve got a great group of growers like Leger and Sons who donated the watermelons to the hall of fame. And theres just no better tasting watermelon around.

Hancock and Greg Leger of Leger and Sons went to school together.

When I called him and asked if hed donate the melons, he didnt hesitate a second, Hancock said.

Besides a love of watermelon, Cordele and Dawsonville have something else in common racing.

They help us promote racing and we help them, said Georgia Racing Hall of Fame President Gordon Pirkle.

Hancock agreed.

When Chase started winning big, he was still kind enough to race at Cordele, and when they were here, Cindy (Elliott) told us about the event in Dawsonville, Hancock said. I was really glad that Commissioner Wallace and Eddie MacDonald were able to deliver the melons so I didnt have to leave the community.

MacDonald is the general manager of Crisp Motorsports Park.

Melons were sold on Saturday in Dawsonville for $1 per slice, raising $179 for the hall of fame.