Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 23, 1994 TAG: 9405230040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Agnew won the first race in dramatic fashion, overtaking Tony McGuire on lap 69 after they had raced door-to-door for two laps.
"He [McGuire] slowed down in the corners and I was quite a bit quicker. I had to bump to get him out of the groove and get by him. It was just racing," Agnew said.
Agnew's biggest accomplishment in the first 75-lap segment may have been survival. The race became a battle of attrition, with six caution periods in the first 48 laps. The most severe of the crashes came on lap 44, when three of the race's top five cars were knocked out of contention.
"There was oil all over the track," Agnew said, noting he had nearly fallen victim to the slippery surface.
After being passed by Agnew, McGuire, who led the first 68 laps, allowed Kenny Prillaman to slip by him into second place. Though Prillaman fielded a strong car, he never made a run at Agnew in the closing laps.
"Jeff had a strong car and a good run," Prillaman said after his best finish of the season.
Prillaman also blamed oil on the track for the rash of crashes.
In the second half of the feature, Agnew held off McGuire to win by two car-lengths. Agnew started sixth and quickly worked his way through the field, taking the lead for good on lap 6.
"I can't believe it," said Agnew, who won for the sixth time in eight races this year at the speedway. "Everything is going our way right now, thanks to a lot of hard work by my crew and sponsors."
Dicky Wilson finished third, and Prillaman was fourth.
In other races Sunday:
Dean St. John took the lead on lap 19 and went onto win the 35-lap Limited Sportsmen event. Pole-sitter Rock Harris finished second, and Bo Howell was third.
Ray Sowers of Floyd was awarded a victory in the 25-lap Mini Stock race after Radford's Gene Duncan was disqualified. Randy Bell of Galax finished second, and Newport's Paul Vaught placed third.
Ronnie Vaught led wire-to-wire in the 25-lap Pure Stock race in taking his second victory of the season. Tony Giles of Pulaski finished second, and Roanoke's Sam Sayers took third.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB