Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 28, 1993                   TAG: 9303280144
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: D12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: CALLAWAY                                LENGTH: Medium

TAYLOR PLANS 31 NIGHT RACES AT FCS

He has scheduled 31 Saturday night races in 1993, and stock car legend Bobby Allison will make a guest appearance during the season.

"We're working on a couple of other Winston Cup stars, too," Taylor said.

Taylor has made some alterations in the racing format.

"Our feature race, the Late Model, generally will be 100 laps every week [up from 50 last season]," he said. "And five nights, including opening night, we'll run 200 laps."

Taylor said that longer races are a more attractive lure for drivers as well as fans.

Salem's Dicky Wilson, the first back-to-back Late Model Stock Car points champion in the track's history, will be seeking to make it three in a row. His strongest competition is expected to come from Rick Sigmon and Tony McGuire.

Points champions from the other classes are expected to return, and Taylor noted that many drivers are advancing to more challenging levels of competition.

"Tracy Owen and Kenny Wagner, two of our tougher Street Stock drivers, are moving up to Late Model this year," he said. "I'm trying to go with more economical classes because that's what seems to bring out the crowds."

This year's stock car racing lineup will include Late Model, Street, Mini, Pure, Rookies and Any Car (a category that caters to clunkers). All classes other than Late Model will run 25 laps.

Taylor said his admission charge remains $5, with no charge for children under 8.

Recent snows and heavy rain have forced postponement of several scheduled practice sessions and delayed the progress of work crews.

"All these storms threw us behind," Taylor said, "but come Saturday night, we'll have the track painted up and ready to roll."

Keywords:
AUTO RACING