Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993 TAG: 9309180047
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
However, it was four hours later before the race's outcome - and more importantly the outcome of the season-long points battle between Paul Radford and Ronnie Thomas - was finally known.
The wait was agonizing. But it also permitted justice.
"I know we did it right, and that makes me feel good," said Lynn Carroll, the track's chief steward. "But it takes time to do it right."
The reason for the delay was two-fold - the unusual, illegal intake on Johnny Rumley's engine and the scoring of Gene Pack's car.
"We thought we would check something like intake, and dang if that wasn't where the problem was," said Carroll.
The intake had been ground off on Rumley's engine. That possibly could give him a slight horsepower boost, though probably not enough of a boost to explain how easily he ran away from the field in both races in the Huff Petroleum/Chevron 250.
It was difficult to judge how much the intake was worked on - whether or not it warranted disqualification - because the intake used for checking and and the intake on Rumley's car were made at different plants from different castings.
But the intake on Kenny Prillaman's car was matched with Rumley's and it was legal. So it became the standard. And Rumley's intake failed the test.
That shuffled the field in both races. So the scoring became very important to the points battle. And the attention centered around Pack. One scorer in the control tower and Pack's own scorer showed him two laps down. But two other scorecards had him only one lap down. How many laps Pack was down would determine where Radford finished and thus who won the track championship.
So cards were reviewed, tape watched and drivers interviewed until it was determined Pack was indeed two laps down.
"As he was leaving the track, I asked Gene where he was and he said he was passed [by the leader] twice," said Carroll. "And no driver is going to tell you he is more laps down than he is."
So when all was said and done, Radford won the title by just two points over Thomas: 474-472.
\ THE DQ BLUES: Rumley became just the third driver - and the first winner - to be disqualified from a Late Model race this season. Both drivers disqualified from two races, Rumley and Michael Ritch, run part-time on the Busch Grand National Circuit.
The driver who benefitted most from the disqualifications was Radford. He picked up two points on Thomas on Ritch's DQ in June, two when Prillaman was disqualified in August and two on Rumley's results in the twins being thrown out.
\ EVERYTHING BUT: Thomas didn't win the points championship. But he did win 12 races, a track record, seven poles (and won all seven of those races) and led more than half the laps at NRVS this season (1,367 of 2,574, or 53 percent). And Thomas has the most victories all-time at the track - 46.
\ DOMINATORS DEFEATED: Thomas wasn't the only dominating driver who didn't win his division. Scott Brawley won 13 poles and 10 races but finished second in the Modified Minis race. Steady Charlie Smith - two victories - had the title wrapped up before the season finale.
Grump Wills won 10 races and 10 poles in the Pure Stocks. Then his car was sold and he moved to a different division. Tommy Allie took over control of the division after that and finished with five wins, seven poles and the championship. Wills had amassed enough points to finish sixth despite missing the last seven races (and eight overall).
Meanwhile, Kenny Montgomery and Tony Howell controlled their divisions and won the titles. Montgomery won nine paces and six poles en route to the Limited Sportsman title. Howell had 11 victories and 13 poles as he took the crown in the Mini Stocks.
\ BANQUET INFORMATION: The NRVS Awards is Dec. 10 at the Salem Civic Center. The cost is $20 for individuals, $35 for couples. Tickets have to be purchased by Dec. 3. For more information, call the track at 639-170.
\ BIG SHOWS TAKE OVER: Points racing is over for 1993. It's time for the dashes for cash.
The traveling shows start Sunday at North Wilkesboro, N.C. Then its on to Martinsville for the Goody's 150 on Sept. 25. Then back to North Wilkesboro on Oct. 2. And back to Martinsville for the Advance Auto Parts 500 on Oct. 17.
The two Martinsville races finish the six-race Doughton's Racing Products/Camaro Junction Challenge Series. The first four races in the series were run at New River.
Thomas (94 points), Rumley (90) and Radford (84) are atop the standings for the $5,000 points fund.
And speaking of NRVS, the track enters the "Big Show" circuit for the first time with the Southwest Virginia Chevy Dealers 300 on Oct. 23. It will have a 250-lap Late Model feature and a 50-Lap Limited Race.
M.J. Dougherty cover sports for the Roanoke Times & World-News' New River Valley bureau.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB