ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602140029
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER|
He finished sixth in the Pure Stock Division points race at the New River Valley Speedway in 1995 and was voted the division's Most Popular Driver by the speedway's fans his rookie season.
Christiansburg's Randy Custer expected to make an impact on the upcoming race season at the Radford race track, especially since his team, Custer Racing, was busily preparing a new car. Custer felt the new ride would give him a legitimate chance for the points championship.
"After all the success we had last year, I felt like we had a good shot at winning races and hopefully competing for the points title this year," Custer said. "I really felt good about the season."
Custer's optimism has turned to doubt, his ambition yellow-flagged by a lack of sponsorship.
"I was so hyped up at the end of last year because we had a lot of top-five finishes and we won a race," Custer said. "But now we're having trouble finding sponsors for the upcoming season and we've got a half-finished car sitting in the garage. It's discouraging."
Custer and the rest of his family-owned race team, which includes his father and co-owner, Randall Custer Sr., and Mike Howell, a co-owner and crew chief, have been working hard to find the backing that will give his dream a fighting chance.
"My phone bills have definitely been higher than normal because we are spending so much time calling possible sponsors," Custer said. "We have a few businesses that told us at first they were interested in sponsoring us, but when we call them back, they say they want to think about it more."
Custer Racing has retained one sponsor from last year, Vic's Heating and Cooling, and the Dairy Queen in Blacksburg is allowing the team to use the garage adjacent to the restaurant on U.S. 460, but Custer says more help is needed.
"The track owner at the speedway told me once that for every 100 doors you knock on, you might get one sponsor. We're just going to have to keep knocking on the doors."
Lack of money isn't all that is hampering the Custer team's efforts. He is also running out of time.
"The end of February is when we would like to have the car finished because open practice at the track begins in mid-March," Custer said. "As it stands now, if we can't find some sponsors to finish the new car, we're going to have to run last year's car again."
Despite the problems the team has endured, the three men remain optimistic about signing on additional sponsors in time to finish the new car for the '96 season.
"We're a determined team," Custer said. "We work day and night in dirty garages with kerosene heaters going to keep us from freezing. We're just going to keep on working and hope it all works out."
If you have an idea for a story or note about recreational sports, call Chad Willis at 381-1672 in Montgomery County or Radford or 1-800-346-1234, extension 672 elsewhere or fax to 381-1656.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Randy Custer tries out the driver's seat in what willby CNBbecome his new race car. Crew chief Mike Howell (center) and
Custer's father, Randall, discuss the car. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING