Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 29, 1994 TAG: 9408290080
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Coming into this season, those two drivers had combined to win more than half the Late Model Stock Car races ever run at New River Valley Speedway.
But bad racing luck for Thomas and a full-time Busch Grand National ride for Rumley let others to take the spotlight this season.
Until the Miller Genuine Draft/J-93 Radio 250. Thomas grabbed the lead on the first lap and led the entire race in the first of the twin 75-lap Late Model races. In the second race, Rumley came back from an accident on the second lap that put him last in the field to post his win.
For Thomas, the victory ended a winless drought that had lasted almost a year. The Christiansburg driver started on the outside of pole-sitter Jeff Agnew. After a few laps, Thomas pulled in front of Agnew. And that's where he stayed the rest of the race.
``It was hooked up from the first lap to the last lap,'' said Thomas, whose 47th career win at the track kept alive his streak of winning there each season since it opened.
Tony McGuire of Roanoke passed Floyd's Agnew for second on turn 4 of the final lap. A pair of Salem drivers, Dicky Wilson and Kenny Prillaman, rounded out the top five.
In the second race, Rumley looked like anything but a contender after the second lap. He was involved in a three-car accident on the backstretch that took out Ricky Hall and Danny Blevens. But Rumley's crew took advantage of two things: caution laps not counting in a 75-lap race and a track rule that allows cars to be worked on when the race is red flagged.
When racing resumed after a five-minute delay, Rumley was still on the lead lap. But all that was left of the front of his car was the safety frame. He had no front end, no hood and no fenders in front of the tires.
But whatever the car lacked in aerodyamics and appearance, it made up for in power. On lap 64, Rumley nudged his way past McGuire and went on for the win.
``It feels good to come back up here and win,'' said Rumley, who gained his second victory this season and 30th of his career at the track. ``The crew did a tremendous job getting this car back into racing shape.''
Ray Young of Bassett was third, followed by Prillaman and Stacy Compton of Hurt.
nPole-sitter Junior Leagans of Max Meadows cruised to his first win of the year in the 35-lap Limited Sportsman race. Rock Harris was second and Rick Cook third.
nGrump Willis of Bozoo, W.Va., easily bested the field in the 25-lap Pure Stock race for his first win of the season. Tommy Allie was second and Davis Phillips third.
nRay Sowers of Floyd took the lead on lap 14 and held on to win the 25-lap Mini Stock race. It was his third win this year. Kevin Kenley was second and Jeff Manning third.
nTony Howell of Christiansburg captured the 25-lap Modified Mini Stock race. It was his seventh win this season. Eddie Rankin was second and David Huff third.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB