THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190474
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
If races were held 52 weekends a year, it's likely there would be plenty of fans who wouldn't think that was enough.
The question now for fans in Southeastern Virginia isn't finding a race, but choosing a track.
Two weeks ago, the Suffolk City Council approved a 684-acre industrial park, including a half-mile, 7,500-seat paved racetrack.
That would give fans a choice among Langley Speedway in Hampton, which operates on Saturday nights, Southampton Speedway near Capron, which also runs on Saturday nights, and the proposed Suffolk International Speedway. Former Langley promoter Joe Baldacci Jr. plans to run the Suffolk track and said it, too, would run on Saturday nights.
The big question of NASCAR sanctioning remains.
New Langley president/promoter Wayne Wyatt has applied to have Langley continue to run as a NASCAR- sanctioned track. He said Tuesday that he expected to hear this week.
``It's looking pretty positive,'' he said.
Baldacci said Monday that he already has been promised NASCAR sanctioning for his yet-to-be built track.
NASCAR spokesman Andy Hall, however, could not confirm.
``We are still in discussions with both parties,'' Hall said Tuesday from his office in Daytona Beach, Fla. ``Hopefully, we will know something soon.''
Hall said earlier that it is rare for sanctioning to be issued to an unbuilt facility unless your name is Penske - as in Roger, who is building a superspeedway in Southern California and already has a Winston Cup date set for 1996.
Baldacci said he plans to have Suffolk International Speedway ready by late summer.
``We should open by the first of September,'' Baldacci said. ``We'll have practice for a couple of weekends and open for racing the third weekend in September and then run about five races.''
Ground-breaking is expected around Feb. 1.
Wyatt has been focused on refurbishing Langley and knows that at least for this season, the Suffolk track won't affect him.
``I have my doubts about it ever being built,'' Wyatt said of the proposed facility. ``They have so many curfew and noise restrictions being placed on them already.''
The city has placed an 11 p.m. curfew on the track, has banned concerts and plans to research possible noise restrictions.
Anyone who has attended a race at Langley knows that it is rare for the last race to be completed by 11 p.m. Many say that is enough to throw a wrench into Baldacci's plans.
``(The restrictions) won't hurt us,'' Baldacci said. ``They said as long as we don't start a race after 11 p.m., and that won't be a problem.''
Reed Panasiti, who took over as general manager and promoter at Southampton Speedway last month, doesn't think having a track down the road will affect Southampton - a dirt track - too much.
``They are two different styles of racing, and I think we have a dedicated type of fan. It might even complement us a little bit and expose more people to racing,'' Panasiti said.
From a driver's standpoint, any additional opportunity to race is a bonus.
``You can't have too many racetracks,'' said Barry Strathmann of Norfolk, who has competed in the Late Model Stock division at Langley. ``The surface with a new track is always smoother . . . everything is new, and any time you can run at a new facility over a 20-year-old one is a plus. It's like checking into a new hotel.
``I also hope Wayne and his guys can put some money into Langley and keep it going.''
Mini-Stock driver Cathy Mosier made the trek from Norfolk to Suffolk to speak in favor of the track at a Planning Commission meeting last month.
``It is always nice to have a new track,'' Mosier said. ``I've never run at any other track (but Langley).
``I think the people (of Suffolk) have some valid concerns, but I hope that once they see some races, they will come around.''
PIT NOTES: Langley Speedway will host an Enduro race at 2 p.m. Sunday, its first event of the season. Gates will open at 11 a.m. by CNB