Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 25, 1990 TAG: 9005240020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV16 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Jeff Motley
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
The Pure Stocks are the newest class of cars at Pulaski County Speedway, what some drivers call a "poor man's race car." The cars are older models that can be bought at a used-car lot or fished out of a junk yard. The parts also can be pulled from a salvage yard or from an auto parts store, but no high-performance parts are allowed. The only modifications are a roll cage, a fuel cell, a racing seat and a shoulder harness.
These cars are supposed to be built for less than $5,000, which is the reason for the claimer on the car. It is a rule the drivers like.
"It is a good rule because it keeps everybody honest," says Allen Willard, a driver from Alum Ridge. "The only thing you really lose if someone buys your car is the time you put into it. It keeps some guy from putting some high-dollar parts into these cars, because if someone offered him the $5,000, then he would lose money and start getting beat by his own car."
Willard drove in the Street Stock class in 1989, but the expensive nature of that class was a looming factor in his decision to drop to Pure Stocks.
"I had an $800 motor and some of those guys have $3,000 jobs," Willard said. "Now, the most I usually spend a week is about $25 or $30, and that is to change the oil and put some gas in. Every three races or so I may need new tires and that can be a little expensive, but nothing like getting a Street Stock ready to go. Of course, all this is provided you don't tear one up in an accident."
On Saturday night, seven cars started the 25-lap Pure Stock feature, which is beginning to attract interest. There were no Pure Stock entries at the track during the first three weeks.
\ Late Model Stock driver Karen Schulz hasn't been racing at PCS the past couple of weeks because she is waiting for an engine, but Schulz spent plenty of time in the New River Valley last week doing her second favorite thing: talking to children about drug awareness.
She spoke to eighth-graders at Pulaski County Middle School and joined McGruff, the crime-fighting dog, at some area elementary schools.
"I talk to a lot of schools near the tracks that I race at," Schulz said. "I try to talk to mostly sixth through eighth grade, and I talk about more than just drugs. I also talk about automobile safety and being a female in a male-dominated sport, I can sometimes be an inspiration.
"The biggest thing that makes this successful is that I am completely honest with them. I will have about 30 minutes of question and answer, and they will ask me anything from my racing experience and crashes to drugs and alcohol. It keeps their attention and seems to keep everyone involved."
\ After last week's 25-lap Mini Stock race, second-place finisher Tony Howell protested Kenny Prillaman's runaway victory. What followed was a two-hour teardown witnessed by almost 200 people that kept inspectors at the track until past 1 a.m. Sunday. Lynn Carroll, the track's chief steward, had announced that anyone lodging a protest would have his car inspected for the same offense. Carroll and Steve McMurray, the track president, emphasized that this was a rule sent down by NASCAR and not a track rule. The driver filing the protest must put up $200.
\ Christiansburg driver Ronnie Thomas, who seemed snakebit during the first month at the track, is starting to see Lady Luck smile upon him.
After five second-place finishes in three different cars, the former Winston Cup rookie of the year won his first Late Model Stock race of the year Saturday night in the Hoechst-Celanese/Gatorade 200. He also picked up sponsorship from WPSK Radio in Pulaski and apparently will add Pepsi-Cola as an associate sponsor. With this weekend's three-race challenge, Thomas may be peaking at the right time.
Late Model Stock drivers will compete in three races this weekend at three different tracks. On Friday night, a 150-lap LMS event will pay $1,500 to the winner at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, N.C. A victory Saturday night in PCS' 200-lap race will carry with it a $2,500 payday, and Sunday at Lonesome Pine Speedway in Coeburn, $2,000 will go to the winner of a 150-lap event. Any driver winning two of the races gets a $1,000 bonus and anyone who wins all three will win $5,000.
\ For the first time all season, McMurray was blessed with fair weather Saturday. Under clear skies and with the help of Hoechst-Celanese, who sponsored the race, PCS had its largest crowd of the year. McMurray estimated it at around 4,000. Celanese sold 2,400 tickets and gave approximately 1,700 to its employees.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB