Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 14, 1994 TAG: 9409140055
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M. J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
Racing's so-called ``silly season'' has begun.
Beginning Saturday, Late Model Stock Car drivers in the region have a chance at a large check almost every weekend.
That will mean some hard decisions for drivers. The Winston Racing Season, which determines NASCAR's eight regional and national Late Model champions, ended Sunday. But like many places, New River still has a couple of races remaining that carry track points.
This weekend, the drivers have options that will mean they can race at both NRVS and in a big money race.
New River has a double points race Saturday. North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina has its first fall LMSC race on Sunday. Qualifying is on Saturday but the track is less than two hours away via Interstate 77, so drivers can do both events.
Several New River competitors are expected to do that. Last Thursday, Floyd's Jeff Agnew, Christiansburg's Ronnie Thomas, Grundy's Randy Ratliff and Wytheville's Boyd Sult were among the drivers who rented out North Wilkesboro for practice.
(Also there was Winston Cup rookie Loy Allen. And the Late Model drivers were consistently as fast or faster than Allen, whose has won superspeedway poles but had trouble making short-track races.)
Of course, not all is as simple as it can be. South Boston Speedway complicates matters by paying $12,000 to win its Late Model race.
Martinsville Speedway has its first fall race Sept. 24 as the companion race for the Winston Cup Goody's 500. NRVS doesn't run that weekend. That means almost every local driver who wants to can enter that race. More than 40 cars were at the track's open practice for Late Model races Sept. 7.
The track schedules conflict again on Oct. 1, when North Wilkesboro runs its second Late Model race, this time as a companion to the Winston Cup Tyson Holly Farms 400.
But also on Oct. 1 is the Late Model regular season finale at New River. Winston Cup regular Ken Schrader is scheduled to drive at NRVS that night.
On Oct. 8, Concord Motor Speedway in North Carolina has a Big Ten event.
The next weekend has a pair of races.
Oct. 15 is the N.C. State Championships at Tri-County in Hudson, N.C.
One day later, Martinsville holds its second LMSC race. This time it is part of a doubleheader with the Busch Grand National Advance Auto Parts 300.
New River Valley Speedway gets into the big-race act on Oct. 22 with the second annual Southwest Virginia Chevrolet Dealers 250. The race will have a record purse, with the winner's share expected to be about $8,000. The companion race will be a 50-lapper for the Pure Stocks. And WDBJ Channel 7 will provide live television coverage.
On Oct. 30, there is a doubleheader of the Mid-Atlantic Championship 500 and a 300-lap Late Model race at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C.
Then in November, the schedule moves south and west. Places like Myrtle Beach Speedway in South Carolina host big races around Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Concord has Big Ten races scheduled for Nov. 6 and 27.
Also, Late Model Stocks are one of the four feature divisions in the NASCAR Winter Heat races from Tuscon Raceway Park in Arizona. The Nashville Network will broadcast live the West Coast Shootout on Dec. 18.
HAIL TO THE CHAMPION: Tony Howell of Christiansburg became the first driver to clinch a track championship when he finished third in the Modified Mini Stock race Sunday.
It was the second title in as many years for Howell, who claimed the Mini Stock crown last season.
"We started the year deciding to see how well we could do," said Howell. "We wanted to win some races and figured the points would take care of themselves. But it [the championship] is always in the back of your mind."
The Modified Mini division was also the first title clinched last year. Charlie Smith of Dublin wrapped up his 1993 championship before the final race - the only driver to do so.
ROCK STEADY: Rock Harris is one of four drivers with 11 wins in 1994. But the Limited Sportsman competitor from Yadkinsville, N.C., has accomplished something none of the other double-digit winners has done. Harris has won in two different cars.
Harris' first nine wins were in his Pontiac Firebird. But that car is being readied for the post-season, big money Limited Sportsman race at North Wilkesboro that Harris won last season.
So Harris has been driving the Ford Thunderbird that Robert Fain of Blacksburg had piloted most of the season. And the last two weeks, Harris has put that car in victory lane.
Fain, new to the Limited division at NRVS, bought the car from Thomas during the off-season. It is same the Ford Thunderbird that carried Thomas to a track-record dozen wins in the Late Models last year. And now Harris has added two victories to the car's list of triumphs.
"That's a strong car," said Harris. "Ronnie had a ride."
AGNEW'S DAY: Late Model Stock Car points leader Agnew took his first "DNF" of the season Sunday when his engine died and he "did not finish" the first 75-lap Late Model race.
Ironically, it was the first race all year that Agnew raced the newer Chevrolet Lumina at New River. He had won previously with the car at Lonesome Pine.
Luckily for Agnew, he was able to borrow Mike Porter's car and finished fifth in the second race.
"I really have to give it to him, he saved me," said Agnew, who saw his points lead over Tony McGuire shrink to around 40 points after a disqualification on Sept. 3 and the DNF. ``It would be tough for me to get out the car when I had come to race. But he did me a big favor. And someday, somehow I will repay him.''
THIS WEEK AT THE TRACK: Racing returns to Saturday night at New River Valley Speedway with the Heritage Buick, Olds, Pontiac, GMC 200.
It features the last double-points races of the season. It has a 100-lap Late Model main event as well as a 35-lap Limited Sportsman race and 25-lappers for the Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks and Modified Minis.
Gates open at 2 p.m. Practice begins at 4. Qualifying is at 6:15. And the green flag drops at 8.
The cost is $10 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB