Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 10, 1991 TAG: 9102070138
SECTION: RACING PAGE: AR4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Three months after filing for bankruptcy protection, thus buying time to stave off creditors and hold on to the Callaway track, an unfazed Taylor claims he's the one holding the checkered flag.
"Bankruptcy is the best thing that's ever happened to me," Taylor says now. "Heck, I'm going to try and have one of those at the beginning of ever year.
"I got more sympathy from people. I could have passed the hat in Roanoke the morning after [the filing date] and got all the $100 bills I could handle.
"Bankruptcy has been a big blessing in disguise. It's like [a] Godsend.
"Before, I thought it would be a shame for a guy to go bankrupt, something that I would never do.
"Then after I done it, I must have 50 business guys in town call and say, `You did the right thing, don't worry about it.' "
If Taylor is losing sleep, he doesn't show it. In fact, the off-the-wall promoter appears to be turning more revs than ever.
"Where's the money?" said Taylor, repeating the question. "Well, I've blown a lot of money over the years on different businesses when I should have just concentrated on racing.
"It's never been a fact that I didn't make money. I just didn't make as much as I was accustomed to blowing.
"But if anything, [bankruptcy] has made me wiser. It taught me a lesson. The last three years, I haven't really been into racing.
"But I'm here this year and everybody will stand up and pay attention. When I get finished, everybody will be paying attention."
Taylor says the commotion and publicity generated by his bankruptcy filing in October can only spike interest in his ]-mile oval.
"I see [bankruptcy] as a promotion," he said, breaking into a sinister laugh. "There will be people coming to Franklin County Speedway who have never been there before. I've had people I didn't know who see me on TV or [in the] newspaper come up to me and say, `I'm coming this year.' "
Taylor claims he no longer frets about competition from Dublin's Pulaski County Speedway.
"Pulaski, like I said it would do, drew a lot of interest early," Taylor said. "It did hurt us for a while, but not anymore.
"I've gone back into the Martinsville area. It's a racing hotbed. I get about all my race cars from down that way now. The people with cars up around Pulaski should stay up there. I don't blame 'em."
Taylor said his biggest trump card in the track war is a $5 general admission ticket. A recession in the economy won't faze his place, Taylor said.
"A recession always does us good. Last time we were in a recession, it was one of our better years.
"With the $5 ticket and races on television [via tape delay on WJPR Channels 21/27], Franklin County Speedway, by far, is going to have it best year ever.
"Last year, the newspaper used the headline: `Franklin County is alive and well.' This year it should say, `Franklin County is alive and kicking tail.' "
FCS, which begins its weekly Saturday night show on April 6, will offer competition in six classes - Late Model Stock, Modified, Street Stock, Mini Stock, Rookie and Any Car.
Paul Radford, the venerable 59-year-old speed demon from Ferrum, will return in hopes of defending his LMS title.
\ Natural Bridge Speedway, also owned by Taylor, begins its 1991 season on Friday, Apr. 5.
Taylor said he has installed a new lighting system so that several of the weekly shows at the ]-mile dirt oval can be taped for television.
Six divisions, including a new rookie class, will compete every Friday night from April through October.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB