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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 15, 1993                   TAG: 9306150316
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

STADIUM RACING STALLED PROMOTER ASKS THAT REQUEST BE WITHDRAWN

But he may be back - depending on what he hears from council members.

Shortly before council's meeting Monday night, Taylor told Mayor David Bowers he wanted to remove his request from the agenda.

Taylor told a reporter he plans to talk individually with council members before deciding what he will do.

Several council members said last week they would review Taylor's proposal closely because they are concerned about the finances and negative image created by small crowds.

"Before I vote for them, I want to see a well-developed marketing plan to make the races more profitable and to create a more positive image for the city," Councilman Delvis "Mac" McCadden said.

Monday night, Bowers said he has favored a limited number of races at the stadium. But it's awfully late in the season to schedule many races in the stadium this summer, he said.

Bowers noted that the Music for Americans concert and the Commonwealth Games will be in the stadium in July and high school football games will begin by September.

The profitably of the races is something for Taylor, not council, to worry about, Bowers said.

But McCadden said a sparse crowd can reflect negatively on the city.

If the city is going to upgrade the stadium, it needs shows and events that create a positive image, he said.

"What good does it do if it causes everyone to take a hit [in negative publicity]?" McCadden said.

Taylor had planned to ask for permission for races on 10 Friday nights, beginning next month.

Taylor requested 20 nights of racing last year, but council authorized eight, and only six were held.

Taylor said earlier he was not ready to quit despite sparse attendance during the first two years of racing in the stadium.

When the racing started, Taylor predicted it could generate $50,000 to $75,000 a year for the city. But he said it would take three or four years to build up the crowds.

The racing generated $11,769 for the city last year. The city's income for the first year was $7,675.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING