Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 10, 1990 TAG: 9006100261
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
Winner Ronnie Thomas staked out a safe spot at Pulaski County Speedway - up front - and stayed there all 200 laps.
"There wasn't a better night in the world to be on the pole than tonight," said Thomas, $2,500 richer as a result of his labors.
Second-place Johnny Rumley, third-place David Blankenship and the rest of the finishers in the lead lap no doubt were just glad to have been there. Many of the 28 starters didn't make it that far.
Red flags halted proceedings thrice, the first time on lap No. 1. The final red flag came on the 125th lap when Clay Highberger's car got tangled up coming out of a restart and went skidding spectacularly down the front straightaway on its roof.
Highberger walked away from that crash, as did the rest of the victims of some free-for-all driving.
"I called the crew on the radio and told them I thought I was back at Daytona or Talladega," said Thomas, a former Winston Cup driver. "It seemed like every time I came around the track, there was somebody in the wall or on their roof. Wild.
"I figured with a 200-lap race, people would be a little more conservative early on. Not tonight."
The casualties included Ricky Seay, Karen Schulz, John Curtis, Butch Isom, Dicky Wilson, Buddy Decker and Ray Huff.
Thomas, meanwhile, had too much car for anybody.
"The car ran great," he said. "The only problem I had was a little vibration late in the race."
Thomas increased his Late Model Stock points to 226 to hold onto first place. Rumley has 196.
In other races, Ronnie Byrd won the Pure Stock and was followed by Jon Tolley and Allen Willard. Mack Akers was the Street Stock winner, Shannon Tate was second and Charles Miles was third. In the Modified Minis, Ricky Jefferson finished first, followed by Dean Young and Bo Howell. In the Mini Stocks, Tony Howell was first, Mark Smith second and Charlie Smith third. I called the crew on the radio and told them I thought I was back at Daytona or Talladega. It seemed like every time I came around the track, there was somebody in the wall or on their roof. Wild. Ronnie Thomas Pulaski County Speedway winner
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB