Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 14, 1993                   TAG: 9305130199
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-11   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

DRIVERS WANT SHOT AT A BIG PURSE

Well, 43 drivers have registered for Saturday's 200-lap Late Model Stock Car race as part of the Valley Rich-Xpress Markets 300 at New River Valley Speedway.

And about 9,000 fans are expected to pack the grandstand and the back stretch hillside when the racing program gets under way at 8 p.m.

Generating this interest is the bonus - $50,000 - which goes to any driver who can win all six races in the Camaro Junction-Doughton's Racing Parts Challenge.

There is also a $5,000 point fund for the six-race series.

Saturday's race carries with it a $12,125 purse. That includes $2,725 for winning the race and $200 for capturing the pole.

Among the favorites in the race are the two drivers who have already won a pair of races at NRVS this season - Johnny Rumley and Ronnie Thomas.

The Cline Racing team was making adjustments on the brakes and steering this week to get its Chevy Lumina ready for Rumley.

"I just talked to the car owners and they've been working on the car, changing some things," said Rumley on Tuesday. "We've been real lucky a couple of times. We might not get so lucky this time."

Meanwhile, Thomas is aware of exactly what it will take for him - or anyone - to take the checkered flag Saturday night.

"One big thing is to stay out of trouble for 200 laps and not be involved in an accident," Thomas said Wednesday. "The other thing is to keep the equipment together for 200 laps."

Thomas added that in a long event, he races the first 150 laps against the track. Then the last 50 are raced against the competition.

His team also has had a mechanical problem to work out this week. Thomas' Ford Thunderbird has run almost as hot literally as it has figuratively the last two weeks.

If someone is to win his first race of the year, the most likely contender may be Frankie Pennington. His Ford Thunderbird has been strong when he hasn't experienced engine problems. And Pennington is coming off his best showing this year at NRVS - a second place.

Points-leader Paul Radford has been consistent all year. But he has not led a lap in four races in his Chevy Lumina.

And defending points champion Jeff Agnew has run in the top five in all four races. But some late-race problems have slowed his Chevy Lumina the last couple of weeks.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING