Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 7, 1991 TAG: 9104070165
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CALLAWAY LENGTH: Medium
With his Camaro running on cruise control, McGuire led from start to finish Saturday night to bank the first-place prize in the Late Model Stock Car feature of Franklin County Speedway's season-opening show.
"You don't get many nights like this in racing," said McGuire, a 23-year-old Vinton native. "I've probably had only one race ever that could rank with this one. Believe me, it's usually not this easy.
"Shoot, that guy over there probably could have won in this car," quipped McGuire, nodding his head at his 55-year-old father Bill "Squeek" McGuire.
The elder McGuire shook his head affirmatively, saying, "I think I could have [won]. I think any capable driver could have won in this car tonight.
"We never brag on what we've got, but we didn't run full-bore after 20 laps. The car just handled so well. It was that good."
McGuire, who is splitting driving chores this season with his older brother, Tim, started on the pole and drove away from his 11 competitors. Fifty laps later, second-place runner Rodney "Six-Pack" Cundiff of Boones Mill, would have needed a cellular phone hookup to make contact the winner.
"Tony was just too strong for everybody. I couldn't touch him," said Cundiff, who finished a straightaway down to the winner.
Salem's Clay Highberger finished a distant third, followed by Lexington's Frankie Pennington and Martinsville's Kenny Minter.
"Nice cakewalk, wasn't it," said Tim McGuire, who had to be wishing this would have been his week behind the wheel.
"Nice thing, though, is we're splitting everything, including the money."
Speaking of money, FCS promoter Donald "Whitey" Taylor spent much of his night counting his. Taylor, whose financial problems have been chronicled the past six months, estimated the crowd at 10,000.
"This is the biggest crowd we've had in two years over here," said Taylor, pumped up as a long line of cars flowed into the ]ths-mile oval tucked in the Franklin County hills.
"I guess everybody showed up to help me pay my debts. Plus, we got great weather. A guy told me today that the Lord takes care of only fools and babies, and I'm a fool."
The best race of the night was the 25-lap Mini Stock opener. Tim Willis of Henry passed Vinton's Sonny Arrington with one lap left and rolled into victory lane, expecting to take home his first FCS win. But Willis' Ford was later disqualified in post-race inspection for being set too low to the ground, giving Arrington the win.
Rocky Mount's Kenny Wagner led from flag-to-flag to capture the 25-lap Street Stock event. Roanoker Mike Dudley was second, with Rocky Mount's Randy Arrington third.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB