ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 3, 1996 TAG: 9607030026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JIMMY ROBERTSON STAFF WRITER
With Independence Day looming, one can guarantee on seeing some fireworks at Franklin County Speedway.
Both on and off the track.
The Southern Modified Auto Racing Teams (SMART) return to the Callaway track for the second time this year Thursday night to headline a holiday lineup that includes a non-winner's Late Model Stock race (for Late Model drivers who have not won at the track this year) along with the regular Mini Stock, Pure Stock, Rookie and AnyCar races.
Topping the night off will be the 18th annual fireworks display.
"We'll have better fireworks than Victory Stadium," said Whitey Taylor, the track's owner and promoter. "This night has become more than a race. It's an event. People will come to see this [the fireworks], if nothing else."
Racing is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. The 150-lap SMART race should start around 8, with the fireworks to begin shortly after 9.
"We're trying to get everything done by 9 so we can set the fireworks off," Taylor said. "This way, people who have to work on Friday can get home earlier."
In the SMART race, look for local boy Jay Foley to be one of the favorites. The Stuart driver formerly was an FCS Late Model regular and won his first and only SMART race on the 3/8-mile oval October.
Foley's Chevrolet was running third in April's race with 25 laps left before a flat tire knocked him out of contention. He ended up seventh.
"I had a little bit of bad luck there, but I'm not too disappointed in the year I've had," said Foley, who has finished third, fifth, seventh and 12th in four races this year. "I'd love to win there.
"It's where I practice and it's my favorite track. I feel I got as good a chance as anyone and there ain't too many tracks where I can say that."
Frank Fleming of Mount Airy, N.C., came back to win the SMART show in April after sitting on the pole. Fleming is second in the points standings with 654, trailing Gary Myers of Walnut Cove, N.C., by 18 points. Foley is third with 625 points despite not leading a lap on the tour. He has run almost every lap this year.
"I've got time to catch 'em if I win it [Thursday's race] or finish strong," Foley said. "If I don't, though, it will be hard to catch up."
Other notables in the race are Junior Miller, a three-time SMART champion, and Jamie Tomaino, a former national champion on the NASCAR FeatherLite Modified tour.
Admission to the race is $15 for adults, $10 for students and children 10 and under get in free. Taylor said no plans had been made if the race were to be postponed because of rain. Should weather be a factor, SMART officials will decide a makeup date, but it won't be this weekend. Thursday's race is the beginning of three straight SMART races as the tour moves from Callaway to the Tri-Counties track in Lenoir, N.C., and then to Caraway in Asheboro, N.C.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB