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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 15, 1993                   TAG: 9306150247
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LONG POND, PA.                                LENGTH: Medium

SPECTATOR WHO RAN ONTO TRACK REMORSEFUL

Chad Blaine Kohl, who was charged with running in front of Kyle Petty and Davey Allison as they drove during Sunday's Champion Spark Plug 500, told police he had been drinking for several hours before the race.

Kohl told a magistrate Monday he may have a drinking problem.

Kohl, 25, of Ephrata, Pa., was ordered held on $20,000 bond Monday after being charged with crossing the track during Sunday's race at the Pocono International Raceway. He said he drank beer for nine hours and took a pill to stay awake. Kohl is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 24.

"He really has his tail between his legs," District Justice John Whitesell said. "He seems to be quite remorseful."

A liability expert said when the fan entered the track, he not only endangered himself and the drivers but the ability to put on races at an affordable price. Fan self-control, track safety and affordability go hand in hand, said Kenneth Cox, an expert in legal liabilities in sports at Lock Haven University.

"When you're going into a mega-thing like the Pocono 500, they can't afford too many problems with the crowd," Cox said. "Insurance could really play havoc. Somebody has to assume those costs."

If the raceway must build higher fences or pay higher insurance premiums, the $25-$175 ticket price at Pocono probably will go up, Cox said.

NASCAR tracks are responsible for their own insurance, but beyond confirming that, NASCAR referred all questions to Pocono. Pocono officials didn't return phone calls Monday.

"A certain balancing has to take place," said Robert Shepherd Jr., a professor of sports law at the University of Richmond. "They could eliminate risk altogether with a 20-foot fence with razor wire at the top . . . but fans would get the feeling they were animals in a cage."

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by CNB