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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 11, 1993                   TAG: 9308110193
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT                                LENGTH: Medium

RACERS ON LAST LAP?

Even bad publicity can be good for business, Franklin County Speedway owner Whitey Taylor often has claimed; but if state and Franklin County law enforcers get their way, the speedway soon could be out of business.

The county commonwealth attorney's office - at the urging of Sheriff W.Q. Overton and Alcoholic Beverage Control Agent Barney Arthur - has filed a bill of complaint asking the Circuit Court to shut down the speedway.

The complaint is a civil action that claims the speedway, where 56 people were arrested on drug and alcohol charges in a July 31 raid, is a continuing nuisance.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that:

Many people at the Saturday night races have been intoxicated, loud and disorderly, and they have urinated in public.

Taylor's security guards not only have not enforced state ABC laws, but have told race-goers it was legal to drink alcohol at the speedway.

The race announcer warned race patrons over the loudspeaker to hide or get rid of their alcoholic beverages the night the track was raided.

Taylor either knew or should have known about the illegal drinking and rowdiness going on at the track.

Taylor was not available for comment.

If the court agrees to shut the track, the civil action would allow the state agencies involved to require Taylor to take specific actions before races again could be held.

"I have to agree with Whitey - where else are you going to get all that excitement for $5?" Overton said. "But you have to keep the violations out of it."

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by CNB