DATE: Sunday, July 13, 1997                 TAG: 9707110285

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CAPRON                            LENGTH:   58 lines

PAVED FOR SPEED SOUTHAMPTON MOTOR SPEEDWAY'S DUSTLESS OVALS HAVE RACING FANS WAVING A CHECKERED FLAG.

Auto race fans on Friday nights flock to the newly-paved Southampton Motor Speedway. Not only has the track been improved and upgraded, the class of cars running there this season has been upgraded as well. There's even talk of NASCAR coming to Capron next season.

Fans like the lack of dust at the former dirt track.

And they like the variety of races the track is offering - everything from reproductions of vintage autos with lawn mower and motorcycle motors, to modern motorcars just under NASCAR size, and full-sized and mini trucks.

The local track has twice been featured on cable channel ESPN this summer.

The 4/10-of-a-mile, tri-oval track is banked to encourage higher speed from the racers than at other local, flat tracks. Cars racing at Southampton this year are expected to attain speeds of well over 100 miles an hour.

Other improvements include hospitality tents, executive suites above the bleachers, and a children's playground. Another improvement is a reduction in the price of admission for children.

The Southampton Speedway is located on U.S. Route 58, just beyond Courtland and before you get to Emporia. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos including color cover by JOHN H. SHEALLY

II

The cars racing at Southampton Motor Speedway have been upgraded

right down to the tires to accommodate the new asphalt track.

Merle O'Neale is general manager of the Southampton Motor Speedway,

located on U.S. Route 58 at Capron.

During the Legends race - where reproductions of vintage autos with

lawn mower and motorcycle motors - a car spins after going

wheel-to-wheel and fender-to-fender with another vehicle. The

drivers include, Daryl Marshall, left, Jim Adams, center and Maynard

Gwaltney Jr., right.

Modified class race cars stream down the front straightway in front

of packed grandstands on a Friday night.

Car No. 6 smacks into the third wall at the Capron race track as two

other cars just miss it. The 4/10-of-a-mile, tri-oval track has been

banked to encourage higher speed from the racers than at other

local, flat tracks. Cars racing at Southampton this year are

expected to attain speeds of well over 10o miles an hour.

Drivers Jim Adams' Legends car kicks out smoke as he spins out

during race just several hundred feet from the checkered flag at

Southampton Motor Speedway, while Daryl Marshall tries to hang in

the race.

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