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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 12, 1994                   TAG: 9405120092
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THOMAS SAYS HE'D RATHER DRIVE BUICK

After struggling through the early weeks of the racing season, the Christiansburg Late Model driver has decided enough is enough.

Thus, when Thomas next races at New River Valley Speedway, his car will be a Buick.

"The main reason I'm switching is NASCAR," said Thomas. "It looks like we're going to be forced to run a NASCAR-mandated Chevrolet motor. . . . We wanted to stay with the Chrysler but we can't afford to do it."

The mandate Thomas is referring to is the current NASCAR rules governing carburetors. As it stands now, Ford and Chrysler products must use the same size carburetor as General Motors cars and can be 50 pounds lighter.

Or, at a few tracks - and NRVS is among those - the Fords and Chryslers can use the larger-on-top carburetor used in past years, but have to weigh 100 pounds more.

In part because of the various rules changes, Thomas has had trouble competing. He has led only one race and has only one top 10 finish after winning a dozen races a year ago.

Thomas cited two main reasons for his switch. One is that the post-season big-money races will be at the track which permits only a small carburetor on non-GM cars. The other is the prospect of additional restrictions from NASCAR on Fords and Chryslers if he starts winning.

Thomas hopes to have the conversion of his car finished before the end of the month.

\ IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR: There were more relatives racing at Franklin County Speedway Saturday night than at any time in recent memory.

In the Late Model division, the competitors included brothers Rick and Joey Sigmon, and the father-and-son combination of Orvil and Tink Reedy.

Brothers Tommy and John Dooley raced in the Pure Stock 25-lapper.

But the Wilson clan was the big winner with four family members entered: Dicky (Late Model), Jimmy (Rookie), Damien and Kenny (Mini Stock). Dicky Wilson's fifth place in Late Model was the highest "relative" finish.

\ THIS WEEK AT THE TRACKS: At New River Valley Speedway, there will be twice as much fun with the Valley Rich/X-Press Markets 300 as the Late Models will run their first 200-lap feature of the year.

Gates open at 2 p.m. and racing at 8. Tickets are $10 for adults and $1 for children 12-and-under.

Also, the monthly open practice for May is today from 4 to 8 p.m. Gates open at 3. There is no charge for spectators.

At Franklin County Speedway, it's a regular racing night with nearly 300 laps of action in six divisions. The feature race will be a 100-lapper for Late Models.

Gates open at noon, qualifying starts at 6 with the green flag dropping at 8 - one hour later than last week. Tickets are $5 for adults with children 10-and-under free.