Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 14, 1994 TAG: 9404140307
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. Dougherty
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
It's doubtful. But maybe NASCAR's carburetor and extra weight experiment in the Late Model Stock Car division will allow Fords and Chryslers to be competitive without dominating their General Motors counterparts.
Under the terms of the experiment, the Fords and Chryslers could use the larger-on-top carburetor that gave them extra power last year. But the cars also had to be 25 pounds heavier than the GM products on each side.
The result: Frankie Pennington finished third in his Ford Thunderbird last week at New River Valley Speedway. That finish was higher than any recorded previously this season by a non-GM product. (``Fast'' Eddie Johnson did drive a Ford to victory Saturday night at Langley Raceway in Hampton).
``That was a lot better, finally,'' said Pennington. ``But I didn't run away from Dicky [Wilson, the pole-sitter who drove a Buick] on the straightaways either. It was pretty even all the way around.''
Tink Reedy (seventh in a Dodge Avenger) and Chad Harris (ninth in a Ford Thunderbird) also had top 10 finishes among the Ford/Chrysler contingent.
What happens now is up to NASCAR. A ruling - whether it be to adopt the rule, modify it, continue the experiment or make the Fords and Chryslers go back to the smaller carburetors the GMs use - is expected before this weekend's races.
``I don't know what will become the standard,'' said Lynn Carroll, the chief steward at NRVS. ``Cook [Jerry Cook, the competition administrator for NASCAR] will have to wait until he hears from the other tracks. It'll be his decision.''
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: In the post-race interviews, Pennington paid tribute to Wilson for clean racing. The two raced side-by-side for third place the last half of the race without ever touching.
Pennington won the battle. Wilson had handling trouble late in the race - especially after the late-race restart - and ended up sixth.
Meanwhile, racing behind Pennington and Wilson for fifth place were Kenny Prillaman and Michael Dillon.
Prillaman and Dillon also raced close - too close. They eventually collided in turn 4 on lap 94. The resultant accident was so vicious it noticeably moved the wall away from the track. The race was stopped briefly to get Dillon's car off the track.
LOW OR WIDE MEANS LAST: Six Late Models had their qualifying runs disallowed. Dillon, Mike Porter, Malcolm Fink, Gary Richards and Wes Adair had their roofs too low, which reduces wind resistance and allows the car to go faster.
Kelly Denton had too wide a tread width, which would give the car better handling.
All started their cars in the back of the field, except Porter, who decided not to run.
IF IT WEREN'T FOR BAD LUCK: Being a Ronnie didn't mean much at NRVS this week.
Ronnie Thomas, last week's Curtis Turner Hard Charger Award winner, had to park his Chrysler LeBaron after 13 laps of the Late Model race because a pulley flew off the engine and caused overheating.
Ronnie Vaught, the winner of the first week's Pure Stock race, did not start. His fuel pump died as he warmed up his Chevy Nova right before the race and he could not get a new one installed in time to make the green flag.
Mechanical problems also sidelined a couple of Limited Sportsman drivers. Defending division champion Kenny Montgomery had a top five run going before his rear end gave out. Mark Akers, the 1990 champ in Street Stock (the predecessor of the Limited division) did not start because a front seal broke, causing an oil leak.
In the Late Model race, Jeff Agnew ended up second, in part because of his change in tire stagger. But opening it up a bit didn't work; his car slowed as the race progressed, and Tony McGuire caught Agnew.
And finally, there is the case of Aaron Deplazes. The Pure Stock winner had more trouble with the post-race inspection than he did with the other 14 cars in the field. It took Deplazes and his crew about an hour - longer than their race - to remove the oil pan, which did meet with the officials' approval.
QUICKNESS COUNTS REVISITED: For the second straight week, a lap of 16.55 seconds (90.49 mph) grabbed the pole for the Late Model race. This time, Wilson turned the trick.
That's still well short of both the Late Model record set of 16.13 seconds (92.85 mph) by Pennington in April 1992 and the all-time track record of 15.86 seconds (94.43 mph) recorded by Junior Leagans in the Six-Cylinder Sportsman class in 1988.
Meanwhile, Rock Harris captured the top starting spot for the Limited Sportsman race with a lap of 16.76 seconds (89.36 mph), faster than any Limited lap last year.
And a correction: Track champion Paul Radford recorded the quickest qualifying time last year in Late Model: 16.69 seconds (89.73 mph) on May 22.
ELSEWHERE ON THE CIRCUIT: Wayne Patterson held off Barry Beggarly and Stacy Compton to win the 200-lap Late Model race at South Boston. Former NRVS Late Model champ Danny Willis finished fourth.
Lonesome Pine International Raceway in Coeburn opens its season this weekend. Boyd Sult of Wytheville, a part-time NRVS competitor, finished second there last season to Tommy Spangler in Late Model.
THIS WEEK AT THE TRACK: The Winston Racing Series point chase begins for the Late Models this weekend with the Kool100 Radio 200.
And this year, NASCAR will award a 50-point bonus toward the regional and national titles to the driver leading the track point standings on September 11, when the Winston Racing Season ends.
Last season, Mid-Atlantic and national champ Beggarly won track titles at Ace Speedway in Julian, N.C., and Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C.
Also, Beggarly broke a two-year hold NRVS drivers had on the regional title. Michael Ritch captured the 1992 Mid-Atlantic championship, which Johnny Rumley won in 1991.
This week's race card includes a 100-lap Late Model feature, a 35-lap Limited race and 25-lappers in the Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks and Modified Minis.
Gates open at 2 p.m. Practice begins at 4 p.m. Qualifying starts at 6 p.m., and the green flag drops at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under.
by CNB