Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 29, 1994 TAG: 9405290125
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY SPORTS WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Agnew had his Chevrolet Lumina in front the last 50 laps en route to a victory in the Late Model Stock Car race in the Budweiser 200.
The race was extended an extra five laps to 105 because of an accident on lap 97.
But instead of making the race closer, the late caution period gave Agnew the breather the Floyd driver needed to hold off charging Michael Ritch.
"Mike sure had a lot for us at the end," Agnew said. "That caution helped us out a lot."
Ritch came closest to making a pass for the lead on lap 95 when he briefly pulled beside Agnew.
"I was sure going to try; we were pretty close," said Ritch, of Winston-Salem, N.C., Ritch, who also drove a Chevrolet. "I'd make a mistake, and he'd move up. He'd make a mistake, and I'd catch back up."
The victory was the seventh for Agnew in nine races at the speedway. He joins Ronnie Thomas and Johnny Rumley as the only drivers to win that many Late Model Stock Car races in a season at the track.
The first half of the race belonged to Mike Dillon. The driver from Clemons, N.C., sat on the pole and had opened a 2 1/2 second lead when a flat tire caused Rick Sigmon to hit the turn 4 wall on lap 46.
When the race restarted on lap 53, Dicky Wilson spun going into turn 3. Then several drivers, including Agnew, reported that Dillon was leaking fluid out of his the rear of his car.
That prompted track officials to take a look at Dillon's Pontiac, and they found Dillon was indeed losing fluid onto the track. The leak forced Dillon out on lap 56, and Agnew took over the top spot.
After Agnew and Ritch at the finish came Tony McGuire of Roanoke in a Chevrolet, Stacy Compton of Hurt in a Ford, Kenny Prillaman of Salem in a Pontiac and Tim McGuire of Roanoke in a Chevrolet.
In Saturday's other races:
Pole-sitter Rock Harris of Yadkinsville, N.C., never was challenged as he won his third Limited Sportsman race of the season.
Charlie Miles was second, followed by Tam Tophan, Eddie Walls and Dave Blessing.
The race was stopped for about five minutes to clean up after an accident on lap 12. Points leader Bo Howell and last week's winner, Dean St. John, tangled on the front stretch while racing for second place.
Last year's Pure Stock champion, Tommy Allie of Christiansburg, made his first start of the year at the track count by starting from the pole and leading every lap en route to an easy win. The race was extended to 27 laps because of a late-race accident. Davis Phillips outraced Barry Nolen for second place.
Ray Sowers of Floyd inherited the lead on lap 8 and held on to post his second straight victory in the 25-lap Mini Stock race. Tommy Burgess finished second, and Ken Moxley recovered from an early race spin to take third.
Dale Sutphin of Max Meadows raced away from the field to record his second Modified Mini Stock win of the season. Eddie Rankin was second, and Ricky Jefferson was third.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB