Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994 TAG: 9406300221
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That line from a skit on the television show "Hee Haw" pretty much describes the racing luck Roanoke's Tink Reedy has had lately in the Late Model Stock Car division at New River Valley Speedway.
Reedy won the first 200-lap race of the season on May 14. Since then, it's been nothing but accidents and engine problems. And Saturday night brought both.
For the fourth time in five weeks, the engine in Reedy's Dodge Avenger was uncooperative. The lack of horsepower in the Chubby Arrington-owned automobile had Reedy 16th on the starting grid.
That was fourth from last, 0.79 seconds (about 4 mph) slower than pole-sitter (and eventual race winner) Tony McGuire.
Rather than race an uncompetitive car, the mustard yellow Dodge was loaded back on the truck for a trip to the shop where yet another engine change awaits.
Without a ride for the race, Reedy hooked up with track newcomer Billy Daniel of Rocky Mount. Daniel had been having some trouble with his Chevrolet so the family-operated team wanted to get some advice from Reedy.
"He's been racing longer than I have," said Billy Daniel.
Added father and car owner Ray Daniel: "We needed some brains."
Reedy climbed into Daniel's car and started from the back of the pack because of the driver switch. Half a lap after the race started, Reedy's luck turned from bad to worse.
"They told me there was an accident on the back stretch," said Reedy. "But by that time, I was spinning."
Randy Ratliff tried to take advantage of front-row starters McGuire and Jeff Agnew racing for the lead. But instead of passing both of them, he spun and brought out the first caution. The rest of the field escaped pretty much unscathed. Except for Reedy.
Reedy re-entered the race and spun about 10 laps later bringing out another caution. He ended up 13th.
\ HE SAID IT: Ronnie Newman of Salem on becoming the first driver to win the Curtis Turner Hard Charger Award twice: "It means we can't qualify well. We run with everyone in practice. At qualifying time, they put the new tires on and they're faster than us. But once the racing starts, they come back to us."
Newman won the honor for his first two races at NRVS after competing the first half of the season at Franklin County Speedway.
\ THIS WEEK AT THE TRACKS: There will be fireworks at New River and two nights of racing at Franklin County.
Saturday at New River Valley Speedway, the Wicker Basket 200 features all five divisions, including a 100-lap Late Model feature. And there will be a giant fireworks display to cap off the evening.
Gates open at 2 p.m. Racing starts at 8.
Saturday at Franklin County Speedway is regular action with the Affiliated Electronics 300. Gates open at noon and racing starts at 8.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB