Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 21, 1991 TAG: 9104210210
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
The 59-year-old newcomer stunned a large field of cars by leading from start to finish to win the Granger Select 200 Late Model Stock race Saturday night.
It wasn't so much that he turned the rare trick of winning consecutive races here, but the way he and his Dodge did it.
Pole-sitter Radford was so far in front for so long - there was only one caution in an exceptionally clean run - that he appeared to be a running a race all by himself.
The rest of the field may have been in Scud missile range from Radford. Second-place Joe Lucas and third-place Tink Reedy were never factors.
"I think the conditions with the new sealer they put on the track have been in my favor," Radford said. "A couple of years ago, I came up here and couldn't win a race. Now I've won two in a row. There must be some difference - better equipment, better driving, I don't know what. We've had the right combination."
And the right tires.
Earlier in the day, Radford was one of five PCS drivers who competed in the Lowe's 150 at North Wilkesboro, N.C. Riding on Goodyear tires, Radford was sixth in a race won by Johnny Rumley.
Rumley brought a backup car to Pulaski on Saturday night and never put up much of a challenge. Radford switched to Hoosiers with spectacular results.
"People have been winning with Goodyears down there [at North Wilkesboro], but they've come up with a new compound this year for them and they're not as quick," Radford said. "I probably should have run the Hoosiers down there, too."
From the look of things Saturday, Radford could have rolled out just about any brand of tires and made a good showing.
Radford wanted to talk about his make of car, a non-conforming Dodge in a field dominated by General Motors products.
"I keep on winning and people up here and going to start switching to Dodges," Radford said.
By winning, Radford qualified for a $2,000 sponsorship from Champion Spark Plugs should he enter, qualify and start in the Champion Spark Plug 300 Busch Grand National race May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
In other races, Scott Hill led start to finish in the Street Stocks, edging Charles Miles and Kenny Prillaman to win his first race.
In the Modified Mini class, Bo Howell, a track champion here in two different classes, outpaced Ricky Jefferson and Doug Vaught.
William Flinchum outran Garry Davis and Jon Tolley to the checkered flag in the Pure Stocks.
Charlie Smith won the Mini Stock feature, with Tommy Cline in second and Paul Vaught third.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB