THE LONESOME PINE RACEWAY IN COEBURN VIRGINIA WILL BE REOPENING THIS YEAR. A NEW MANAGEMENT GROUP HEADED BY LONGTIME DRIVER, CAR OWNER AND ABINGDON BUSINESSMAN JEFF ROARK ALONG WITH LONGTIME RACE PROMOTER HAROLD CROOK AND THREE SILENT PARTNERS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE LEASE OF THE RACEWAY. THE CHANGE OF HANDS COMES AFTER 2007 TRACK MANAGER CLINTON VANCE LEFT RACERS QUESTIONING HIS BUSINESS PRACTICES. THE CONTROVERSY CENTERED AROUND BAD CHECKS ALLEGEDLY BEING ISSUED TO DRIVERS. AS A RESULT, VANCE WAS CHARGED WITH FRAUD BY THE WISE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR. ROARK SAID VANCE IS NOW COMPLETELY OUT OF THE PICTURE AND THE NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM IS STARTING A NEW SLATE IN 2008.