Raceway

As Baltimore County planners prepare for a crucial hearing on the proposed Eastside NASCAR speedway, members of a community association in White Marsh voted against the planned $100 million raceway last night.After Adam Paul, president of the White Marsh Civic Association, one of the area's largest community groups, called for a secret ballot at a packed church hall meeting, members voted 37-1 against the track.The meeting was punctuated by heated exchanges between residents and the lawyer for the raceway, John B. Gontrum.

In a procedural showdown over the proposed $100 million NASCAR speedway in Middle River, more than 100 people packed a Towson hearing room last night as business representatives argued with residents about the speedway's value to eastern Baltimore County.With increased security to handle a crowd that spilled into the hallway, the Baltimore County Planning Board heard representatives of chambers of commerce and local businesses praise the raceway as a potential savior for the county's east side, which suffers from high unemployment.

Kathryn Mann, a political rival of County Council Chairman C. Vernon Gray, accused the three-term incumbent yesterday of political impropriety.At issue is an $8,000 debt for a 1989 fund-raiser at Laurel Raceway listed on Mr. Gray's November 1993 campaign fund report.The County Council, sitting as the Zoning Board, will hear a case involving the Laurel Racing Association next week and Ms. Mann, who is challenging Mr. Gray in the September Democratic primary, wants Mr. Gray to excuse himself.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- If Mark Martin can take the Southern 500 Sunday at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, he will become the third driver in as many years to win four NASCAR Winston Cup races in a row.Harry Gant was "Mr. September" in 1991 for the Leo Jackson-owned team. And Bill Elliott was "Mr. March" last year in his first season with car owner Junior Johnson, sweeping four starts that month.Martin can't be a "Mr. Month" should he win the Labor Day weekend classic on the historic track, because his streak would stretch from August into September.

Candidate forums scheduled by district Baltimore's League of Women Voters has scheduled candidate forums this month for each of the city's legislative districts. Candidates for the state Senate and the House of Delegates have been invited to the forums, and audience members will be permitted to ask questions. The forums include District 40: Thursday at Great Hall, Lovely Lane Methodist Church, 2200 St. Paul St. District 41: Friday at Forest Park Senior Center, 4801 Liberty Heights Ave. District 43: Wednesday at Good Samaritan Hospital, 5601 Loch Raven Blvd.

FREESTATE RACEWAY FIRES CALLED ARSONTwo arson fires over the weekend at the old Freestate Raceway in Laurel caused $125,000 damage to the closed harness track, authorities said.The fires, under investigation by the state fire marshal's office, destroyed most of the grandstand area, the jockey's lounge and first aid building at the track, which is scheduled to be demolished to make way for a business park.Investigators have not determined if the same person or people are responsible for the two blazes, which occurred on Saturday afternoon and early Monday morning.

The Rosecroft Driving Challenge, pitting four leading New York area drivers against four Maryland drivers, will be one of the featured attractions on Sunday's Rosecroft Raceway card.Jim Doherty, Bill O'Donnell, Ray Remmen and Ted Wing will represent New York, and Bill Long, Jim Morand, Jim Morrill and John Wagner will drive for Maryland.The four-race competition will take place during races 5, 6, 8 and 9. Scoring will be 50-25-12-8-5, based on order of finish. Last year the New York team won, 437-168.

A prosecutor in Fairfax County, Va., will present the case against Maryland harness track owner Mark Vogel to a grand jury next month.The grand jury will decide if there is enough evidence to indict Vogel, who has been charged with possession of 4 gram of cocaine.Yesterday, Vogel, 42, waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Judge Ian O'Flaherty in Fairfax District Court.Officers participating in Vogel's Sept. 13 arrest were set to testify, but Plato Cacheris, one of Vogel's attorneys, said the "strategy of the case" dictated that the hearing be waived.

Race fans are like any other sports fans -- they can't get enough of their sport. In the past, racing came to a halt during the winter months. Thanks to the Monrovia Raceway, that won't happen this year.For the next three Sundays beginning today, there will be indoor go-kart races in the Cow Palace at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.The doors will open each Sunday at 7 a.m. with practice at 9 a.m. The time trials that will determine the starting field in each class begin at 11:30 a.m. The racing starts at 2 p.m.Aware that the interest for racing during the winter months does not subside, Monrovia Raceway officials scheduled an indoor race last year.

Sunfest in O.C.Celebrate the start of the fall season in Ocean City with four days of fun, food, arts, crafts and music when Sunfest '98 shines on the resort's inlet parking lot today through Sunday. The annual event includes entertainment, hayrides on the beach, scarecrow making, pumpkin carving, and much more in and around four big-top tents. Headline artists presenting concerts are David Gates of Bread, Toby Keith, the Jerry Garcia Band, and 38 Special. There's also an outdoor stage featuring local bands.