Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 14, 1994 TAG: 9408140014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
A multiple-car wreck on the first lap of the Late Model Stock Car race delayed the completion of the feature race until after press time.
The Narrows driver led the last 23 laps of the race but had to hold off Junior Leagans' late charge. The margin of victory for Akers as he won his second race of the season was less than three feet.
Akers took the lead on lap 12. He and Harris bumped coming out of turn 4 and Akers used the opportunity to take the lead.
"I was to apologize to Rock for that but it was just racing," Akers told the crowd after the race. "I don't know what happened. I got back into it [the throttle] a little bit sooner than he did and he got a little loose."
Harris dropped off the pace four laps later and eventually had drop out of the race.
Then Leagans started his charge. The pole-sitter, Leagans ended up back in the pack after spinning on the first lap.
But Leagans worked his way through the field and grapped the scond spot with four laps left.
On the final lap, he dove inside but Akers, racing the outside grove, held on for the win.
"This is racing and nobody remembers second place," said a disappointed Leagans, who completed a race for the first time this season in three starts.
Charlie Miles, the points-leader, was third and Bruce Brown fourth.
Gene Duncan jumped in front at the start and stayed there for the entire 25-lap Mini Stock race. Ray Sowers finished second while Paul Vaught held on to third.
Duncan had the fastest qualifying time but started on the outside of the first row as the top six postitions were shuffled by lot. However, by the first turn, he had the lead.
The win was the sixth in a row, seventh in eight races and 10th overall for Duncan, the division's points leader. Duncan is also tied for the most victories by a driver at the track this sseason, regardless of division.
Tommy Allie of Christiansburg passed Davis Phillips on the ninth lap and went on to record a one-second win the 25-lap Pure Stock race. Points-leader Phillips finished second and Robbie Cundiff third.
Allie, the fastest qualifier, started fifth as the top six starters drew for teir position. But it took him just four laps to work his way up to second place.
Allie has won 10 races in his 12 starts in 1994. The victory moved Allie, who missed the first eight races of the season, into seventh place in the points standings.
The 25-lap Modified Mini race was not completed by press time.
NASCAR has suspended Pure Stock driver Aaron Deplazes for one race, fined him $50 and placed him on probation for the rest of the season for a "rough driving" incident that occured Aug. 7.
The Newport driver was involved in an accident with Tommy Allie of Christiansburg on the second lap of the 50-lap event. Several other cars were also got caught up in the wreck.
Jerry Cook, the competition director for NASCAR, announced the decision after reviewing a video tape of the incident.
Deplazes will be able to return to action at the track next weekend.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB