Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 9, 1993 TAG: 9305110508
SECTION: DISCOVER PAGE: 24 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
It's the roar of 20-or-so engines coming to life before their race. It's the cheering of several thousand race fans, rising to their feet to encourage their favorite driver. And it's the voice of the public-address announcer, setting the line-up before the green flag falls.
Now you're intrigued. You see the large sign on the highway marking the entrance to the speedway. So you turn down the road to investigate.
You take your seat in the grandstand just as the race starts. And after five races covering 210 laps around the track, you're hooked.
That's what happens every Saturday from mid-April to early September at New River Valley Speedway.
The NASCAR-sanctioned racetrack is the only professional sports in the valley. And with more than 200 drivers registered to race, the 0.416-mile oval is also one of the valley's busiest roadways every weekend.
"More drivers should mean more fans," said track General Manager Clay Campbell. "The regulars at the track all have people who come to see them - family, friends, spouse - no matter what division they are in. That's a big key for us."
The track's grandstand on the front stretch will hold about 10,000 fans. The hill along the back stretch can accommodate another 2,000 to 3,000 spectators.
Last season, a normal race night drew between 6,000 and 6,500 fans. The 200-lap Late Model Stock races brought in even more - 7,500 to 9,000. This year, there are four of those longer races for the track's premier division. The first one is the Valley Rich/X-Press Markets 300 on Saturday.
"People want to see the regular drivers in [longer] races like that," said Karen Sifford, the assistant general manager. "They want to see Frankie Pennington, Ronnie Thomas, Jeff Agnew. That's the reason we went from two [200-lap] races to four. We're giving the people what they want."
Agnew is the two-time defending track champion. Pennington was the runner-up in the Late Model class last year. And Thomas is a former Winston Cup Rookie of the Year.
The other 200-lappers are the Shelor Chevrolet 300 on June 26, The Basham/F&L Oil/Pennzoil 300 on July 17 and the Taco Bell/Virginia's 13 300 on Aug. 7.
All four long races also are part of a six-race series with Martinsville Speedway. It offers a $50,000 bonus to any driver who can win all six races and $5,000 to the series winner.
There will also be an appearance by the Goody's Dash Series cars on Aug. 21 at the Pontiac Excitement 250.
Also providing excitement will be four visits to the speedway by sky divers: May 29, June 26, July 17 and Aug. 7.
But the two most attractive features of the track are its family atmosphere and its prices.
"This is a place you can take your kids on a Saturday night for two hours of entertainment," said Campbell. "There are some places that I would shudder at that thought. But it's not that way here."
Tickets are among the lowest in racing. Adult tickets are $8 for all races - including the 200-lappers. Children under 12 are admitted for $1.
The racing season continues every Saturday night - except Aug. 28 when the Winston Cup Budweiser 500 is at Bristol - through Sept. 4. The season finale is scheduled for Sunday afternoon Sept. 12.
For all night races, the gates open at 2 p.m., practice begins at 4, qualifying is at 6:15 and racing gets under way at 8.
\ NEW RIVER VALLEY SPEEDWAY
\ May 15: Valley Rich/X-Press Markets 300 (Martinsville/New River Valley Late Model Challenge race)
\ May 22: Miller Genuine Draft/WPSK 200
\ May 29: Budweiser 200
\ June 5: New River Pontiac, GMC Truck, Nissan 200
\ June 12: Jesse Jones 200
\ June 19: Ford Dealers 200
\ June 26: Shelor Chevrolet 300 (Martinsville/New River Valley Late Model Challenge race)
\ July 3: Marathon Oil/Jordan Oil 200 (Double Points race)
\ July 10: Wicker Basket Outlet 200
\ July 17: Basham/F&L Oil/Pennzoil 300 (Martsinville/New River Valley Late Model Challenge race)
\ July 24: Coca-Cola 200
\ July 31: Hoechst Celanese 200
\ Aug.\ 7: Taco Bell/Virginia's 13 300 (Martinsville/New River Valley Late Model Challenge race)
\ Aug.\ 14: Miller Genuine Draft/J93.5 FM 200
\ Aug.\ 21: Pontiac Excitement 250 (Goody's Dash Race)
\ Sept.\ 4: Dooley Printing 200
\ Sept.\ 12: Rain Date (Double Points)
by CNB