DATE: Friday, July 11, 1997                 TAG: 9707110845

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BRIAN J. FRENCH

                                            LENGTH:   63 lines

AUTO RACING BRIEFS

After a season of seven-car fields and dwindling fan interest, Southampton Motor Speedway promoter Gary Daughtery pulled the plug on the SMS Dash series, a division of four-cylinder cars.

Daughtery said it was the combination of low car counts - as low as five at times during the year - and the slim chance for the fields to grow that forced him to make the decision.

``We started the season with light car counts everywhere, except in Late Model,'' Daughtery said. ``As the season went on, the other divisions, Grand and Limited, went up each week, but the four-cylinder class never got going. ''

``And it's a real shame, too. ``It used to be one of Southampton's strong divisions, and entertaining as well. I guess some of the dirt trackers didn't feel comfortable on the new surface.''

The SMS Dash series will be replaced on a semi-regular basis, beginning with Saturday's program, by the Modified division.

Richmond's Southside Speedway dropped its Mini Stock division to part-time status before the season began. In 14 races the division has only run four times due to low interest.

Over at Langley Speedway, the Mini Stock division is on solid ground. Though the smallest of the established classes (promoter Wayne Wyatt said the average field is 16 or 17 cars a night), don't look for the four-cylinders to be bumped from the Hampton track.

``I don't think Mini Stock is a dying division,'' Langley Speedway promoter Wayne Wyatt said, ``just one in need of a revamp. It's still a good `next step up' class.'' LANGLEY Goody's Dash Series race to be taped by ESPN2

When the Goody's Dash Series appears at Langley Aug. 16, ESPN2 cameras will be rolling.

ESPN2 is coming to Langley as part of a four-date package of Goody's features the cable network has committed to televise. The race is scheduled for broadcast Aug. 20 at 10 p.m.

Wyatt noted the Late Model 100-lapper will also be taped, possibly for use the same night. Goody's races tend to run about 45 minutes, Wyatt said, and ESPN2 has a two-hour slot to fill.

This won't be the first time a Hampton Roads track has been featured on ``The Deuce.'' On May 1, ESPN2 broadcast a tape-delayed Jackaroo Pro Cup series race which ran April 19 at Southampton. Briefly

Southampton's first asphalt Enduro - originally slated for Sunday - has been moved back to Aug. 16. . . . Tonight's Dixieland program will include a pit crew challenge. Ten crews will vie for a $200 prize. . . . Look for yet another new leader in Langley's Late Model series. Edwards has committed to run in Saturday's Advance Auto Parts 250 Busch Grand National race at Myrtle Beach, S.C. With 10 points separating the top three drivers, Edwards will almost certainly fall to third. Edwards says it will be the only Langley race he plans to miss this season.

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