Institute drops effort to clone Va. raceway’s tree

DANVILLE, Va. (AP) — Researchers have dropped an effort to clone the Virginia International Raceway’s iconic white oak tree.

The tree marked the track’s apex until it fell last summer. Raceway officials asked the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville to conduct tests on the tree to determine whether it could be cloned.

Media outlets say the institute announced Tuesday that the more than 150-year-old tree was too old to clone.

Raceway owner Connie Nyholm says track officials hope to plant a memorial tree in the fall. They also have discussed creating mementos from the fallen tree, such as salad bowls and furniture.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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