Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 30, 1993 TAG: 9310290248
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
"I didn't make enough money to retire," said Ronnie Snoddy, the track's promoter and co-owner.
"So I guess I'll be back next year."
That will be Snoddy's first full year as promoter.
He and John Frazier purchased the race track during the season. Now they have a chance to work out some of their own ideas. Chief among them are more and longer races for all five divisions.
"We definitely plan on adding some races," said Snoddy.
"We haven't sat down and drawn up the schedule yet. But we'd like to start earlier and finish a little bit later."
Snoddy said the race season would probably go 26 weeks in 1994 - four weeks longer than this year.
What is already known about the schedule is the Goody's Dash cars, a touring series of NASCAR, will be at NRVS for a 100-lap race on Aug. 20.
Snoddy hopes to have the rest of the schedule set by the end of November.
As far as length of the races, Snoddy plans to act on the suggestions of the drivers.
"All of the smaller classes have been asking for longer races," he said. "We'd like to do that at least two or three times during the year [for each class]. If we run the Late Models 100 laps, then we could have a longer race in one of the classes."
Snoddy added he hoped to have a pair of 200-lap Late Model races every month as well as two or three twin Late Model races.
The season-ending "big show" is also slated to return.
The purse could be as high as $40,000 for the Late Model race with $10,000 going to the winner.
"I feel good about that [last week's big race] because it fell into place after I came here," said Snoddy.
"It was something I feel I had a part in planning rather than something that was planned before I got here and I just put it on."
Other decisions expected in November include rule and equipment changes, the prices for tickets and season passes and the schedule of other activities at the track.
Concerts, go-kart races in the infield and enduro races - any car races for amateur drivers whose vehicles meet safety requirements - are among the things being considered, Snoddy said.
\ CHANGING OF THE GUARD: The three drivers who dominated news at New River Valley Speedway this year may not been around when the green flag falls next spring.
Paul Radford, the 62-year old Ferrum Flash, was leaning toward retirement before the 300.
"The way I feel today, this could be it," said Radford.
"But I haven't made up my mind yet."
Radford retired after 1990, sat out 1991 and returned this year to win the track championship.
Race winner Johnny Rumley is still hoping to land a Busch Grand National ride for next season.
"We keep throwing our name in the hat but someone keeps throwing it back," Rumley remarked.
And late in the season, Christiansburg's Ronnie Thomas, the winningest driver in the track's history, had said he plans to run only the bigger races next season.
\ WHO'S ZOOMING FOR WHOM? The end-of-season race marked the end of some agreements and the possible start of some others.
Stacy Compton's contract to drive cars prepared by Chubby Arrington ended after the second Martinsville race and was not renewed. Mike Buffkin of Yorktown drove Arrington's car at NRVS - which bore a different number and sponsor than it had during the season.
Compton drove the Agees car which Michael Ritch drove part-time this year at NRVS and finished second. After the race, Compton said he hoped to be driving for the Agees again next season and bring sponsorship with him.
Tink Reedy will drive for Arrington next season. He had been driving for Russell Letchford since mid-season, taking over a ride that had been driven mostly by Orvil Reedy, Tink's father.
Kenny Montgomery, the Limited Sportsman champion, will be racing Late Models in 1994 for current car owner Bobby Underwood. Montgomery finished 24th in the Late Model portion of the 300 after an accident put him out at lap 167.
THE DIRT TRACK LIMITED: Rock Harris proved this year that dirt-track racers can drive on the hard stuff.
The Yadkinville, N.C., driver made a successful transition to asphalt during the regular season, winning two races and four poles and finishing fourth in the points. Since then, he has captured the big races at North Wilkesboro and NRVS.
Harris' secret for success in the 300: "I had a new spotter for this race who's from around here. He helped me get through the turns."
\ NEXT MEAL: The next race is 1994. But the New River Valley Speedway awards banquet is Dec. 10 at the Salem Civic Center.
The social hour is at 6, dinner is at 7, the awards presentation is at 8 and dancing follows.
The cost is $20 per person or $35 per couple. Reservations must be made by Dec. 3.
For more information, call the speedway at 639-1700.
M.J. Dougherty cover sports for the New River Valley bureau.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB