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

DATE: MONDAY, November 8, 1993                   TAG: 9311080018
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HICKORY, N.C.                                LENGTH: Short

RUMLEY WINS BIG

Veteran short-track driver Johnny Rumley pulled off a stunning upset Sunday in the NASCAR Granger Select 300 Busch Grand National race at Hickory Motor Speedway.

Rumley, a regular driver at New River Valley Speedway in Radford, drove an unsponsored Oldsmobile in his seventh Grand National race.

After running in the top 10 for most of the race, the driver from Winston-Salem, N.C., cruised into the lead on lap 279 and stayed in front the rest of the way.

Steve Grissom wrapped up the 1993 GN series championship. Grissom, of Gadsden, Ala., finished ninth in the 300-lap race on the .363-mile track. His closest challenger in the points race, David Green, finished 17th after a multitude of problems. Grissom has a 188-point lead entering the season finale in Atlanta on Nov. 13, a margin Green cannot overcome in one race.

Chuck Bown of Portland, Ore., finished second in a Pontiac, 2.62 seconds behind Rumley, with Tommy Houston of Hickory, N.C., third in a Ford. Ricky Craven of Newburgh, Maine, was fourth in a Chevrolet, with Tommy Ellis of Richmond, fifth in a Chevrolet.

Rumley won $13,600. At New River Valley Speedway, he won six races this season and has 28 victories during his career, second only to Ronnie Thomas.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by CNB