Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 14, 1993 TAG: 9309140113
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
After nearly 3 1/2 hours of deliberations Sunday, New River Valley Speedway officials disqualified Johnny Rumley, who had won both 75-lap Late Model Stock Car races in the Huff Petroleum/Chevron 250.
Rumley's engine was found to be illegal.
The resulting changes in positions gave Radford, the 61-year-old "Ferrum Flash," the track championship by two points over Ronnie Thomas of Christiansburg.
"A lot of people told me I had won it," said Radford, who has won track championships at five different tracks since 1970.
"When they disqualified Rumley, that helped me. I had finished 13th [in the second race] and I moved up to 12th."
Until the disqualification, the two were tied with 470 points. And Thomas would have won the title because of more race victories: 12-2.
Radford appeared to be in command after the first race when he finished fourth. Meanwhile, Thomas wrecked on the second lap and ended up 24th, giving Radford a 468-450 points lead.
But the reverse happened in the second race: Thomas was fourth and Radford wrecked and placed 13th.
The disqualification moved everyone up one position in each race. And because 12th is worth four points, two more than 13th through 26th, Radford took the title 474-472.
"When Rumley got disqualified, we knew it was curtains for us," Thomas said. "If he hadn't been disqualified we would have won. And if we hadn't wrecked in the first race, we would have won."
Rumley was disqualified because the intake on his engine purchased for his car had been ground off.
"That might mean a slight advantage," said Lynn Carroll, the track's chief steward. "It could possibly result in more horsepower."
Besides Radford, Lexington's Frankie Pennington and Roanoke's Tink Reedy were the main beneficiaries of the disqualification. Each was awarded a victory.
It was Pennington's first win this year. He was followed by Kenny Prillaman, Radford, Reedy and Rodney Cundiff.
It was Reedy's first victory at NRVS since 1990. Behind him were Pennington, Thomas, Franklin County Speedway regular Dicky Wilson and Jeff Agnew.
In other NRVS races:
Charles Miles of Christiansburg won for the fourth time this year in the 35-lap Limited Sportsman race. But it wasn't enough to prevent second-place finisher Kenny Montgomery of Parrott from winning the division championship. Mark Akers was third.
Scott Brawley of Lenoir, N.C., was awarded his 10th win and Tim Maiden ended up second in the 25-lap Modified Mini race. Dale Sutphin (too light) and Ricky Jefferson (refusal to tear down) were disqualified from the top three. Points champion Charlie Smith of Dublin did not race.
Tony Howell of Christiansburg captured the Mini Stock points championship and won his 11th 25-lap race of the season in the process. Jay McCray finished second.
Tommy Allie of Christiansburg won the Pure Stocks championship by winning the 25-lap race. It was Allie's fifth win. Davis Phillips finished second.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB