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

DATE: FRIDAY, August 20, 1993                   TAG: 9308200173
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SPEEDWAY OWNER TO TRADE ALCOHOL FOR `FAMILY VALUES'

"I personally am going all-out to be the only short track in America that's alcohol-free," Taylor said. "Family values mean a lot. Promoting beer is not the avenue I want to take."

Taylor takes this new approach as the track and track patrons face legal problems.

Fifty-six people were arrested on drug and alcohol charges July 31 at the speedway.

Next week, the Franklin County prosecutor's office will try to force Taylor to clean up the scene at the speedway when it takes him to court on civil charges of maintaining a public nuisance.

Sheriff W.Q. Overton was skeptical that Taylor can meet his new goal.

"That's another advertising thing he's come up with," Overton said.

Taylor will not be able to control alcohol consumption at the speedway until he puts up a fence to separate the track from the parking area, Overton said.

Authorities have said that forcing Taylor to separate the two areas is one thing they hope to achieve through the civil complaint.

"He can't control it, because he can't search every vehicle coming in," Overton said. "He's got more alcohol in there now than if he had a license."

But Taylor said his new insistence on an alcohol-free speedway goes along with an old mission at the Callaway track: to provide "affordable family fun."

He admitted the new alcohol-free push is market-driven.

"This valley's statistics show about 70 percent are Christian," he said, "and if that be true, I want to be with the 70 percent."

Keywords:
AUTO RACING