Thursday, July 17, 1997

Legends racing to appear at Texas Motor Speedway

By Ted Dunnam / Abilene Reporter-News

For those who would like to revert to yesteryear, Texas Motor Speedway will host Legends racing beginning July 24.

The "Thursday Night Stampede" will be held July 24 and 31, and Aug. 7, 14, 21 and 28. Spectator gates will open at 6 p.m. and the first race will start at 7:30 p.m.

The Legends series was designed to return racing enthusiasts to the roots of stock car competition.

Legends racing combine classic car designs with modern, fast-paced action. Drivers, ranging in talent from experienced short-track enthusiasts to hobbyists, will fire up 125 horse power, 1200 cc engines in body styles ranging from a 1934 Ford Sedan to a 1940 Ford Coupe.

Legends cars have competed in nearly 2,000 events at more than 200 speedways in the past year. Technical inspections and regulatory procedures insure that the success of each Legends car relies on the abilities of the driver.

Drivers from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana will be competing in the Pro Division, Masters Division and the Semi Pro Division.

All Legends cars are replicas of modified stock cars from the 1930s and 1940s, driven by the sport's earliest stars in the formative years of NASCAR.

The races will be held on the quarter-mile asphalt oval along the front stretch of the speedway.

Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children ages 6-12. Pit passes are $5 and $15.

Celebrity race

Abilene Speedway will be hosting a celebrity race in addition to its full schedule of racing on July 26.

Fifteen celebrity drivers are scheduled to compete in the event during the intermission of the racing program. Limited late models, super stocks, mini-modifieds, street stocks plus V-8 sprint cars are on tap for the racing which begins at 7:30 p.m.

The celebrity race benefits Meals On Wheels.

Cycling first

Angelle Seeling has earned much attention with her rapid ascent in the NHRA's pro stock motorcycle category, but Stephanie Reaves is also making her mark.

Reaves climbed to 10th in the standings after last month's event at St. Louis where she advanced to the quarterfinals.

That puts two women in the top 10 of the standings for the first time in NHRA history. Seeling is sixth.