Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 15, 1994 TAG: 9412160017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
A few days ago, in North Carolina, Rumley talked his way out of a speeding ticket. On Friday, Rumley captured the pole position for Sunday's 200-lap Late Model Stock Car race, the second portion of the Advance Auto Parts 500 doubleheader.
Today at 1 p.m., Rumley will attempt to qualify for Sunday's marquee event, the 300-lap Busch Grand National race. Rumley is one of only a handful of drivers competing in both divisions.
``Racing is a lot of luck,'' said Rumley, who also was the pole-sitter at the Goody's 500 Late Model race here three weeks ago [he finished second].
``A state man got me for speeding the other night, but he didn't give me a ticket. I knew it was going to be a pretty good week after that.''
Rumley, behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro, posted a qualifying time of 21.506 seconds (88.050 mph) on Friday, faster than 81 other drivers. Rumley was the 55th racer to qualify.
The temperature was in the 50s and the air was damp, but intermittent showers did not delay qualifying.
The 20 fastest drivers Friday earned spots in Sunday's race. Those who failed to qualify have a second chance today in one of two 50-lap heats starting at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. The first six finishers in today's races will advance to Sunday's competition. Four provisional places also will be selected.
``I told my crew that if we missed the pole, they could blame me,'' Rumley said. ``I wasn't as aggressive as I could have been.''
Rumley's time stood up through 27 more drivers. Only Richard Landreth, driving a Pontiac, was able to break 88 mph (21.518 seconds, 88.001 mph). Landreth, of Pine Hall, N.C., was the 61st qualifier.
``The weather played a big part today,'' Landreth said. Going out later in the day helped me a lot.
``It's always nerve-wracking here. You can really hurt yourself and I get nervous anyway with all these cars here. I was just hoping for a top five.''
Landreth started third at Martinsville in September.
The separation between Rumley and the 20th qualifier, Roanoke's Tony McGuire, was .358 seconds (1.342 mph).
``There are 10 or 12 guys here I've got to beat,'' Rumley said, specifically citing former Martinsville winners Barry Beggarly, Wayne Patterson and Phil Warren.
Beggarly, who beat Rumley to start on the front row at Martinsville three weeks ago, qualified third. Patterson qualified eighth. Warren did not make the top 20.
Chesterfield's Bugs Hairfield, a Martinsville winner this past spring, qualified 14th. Another past Martinsville winner, Dennis Setzer, posted the 16th fastest time, but his Pontiac was disqualified because of an off-set frame.
Setzer was the only Busch Grand National regular competing with the Late Models.
Setzer's disqualification enabled McGuire to slip into 20th place. Other area drivers who made the field include New River Valley Speedway Champion and Floyd resident Jeff Agnew (sixth), South Boston Speedway champ Stacy Compton (ninth), and Roanoke's Tink Reedy (10th).
Salem residents Dicky Wilson and Kenny Prillaman also qualified, taking starting positions 16 and 18, respectively.
McGuire, who thought he had qualified 21st (prior to Setzer's disqualfication) was not happy with his time trial.
``They changed the schedule on us,'' McGuire said. ``We were supposed to break and then get another practice after lunch. But we didn't. I wasn't prepared. We didn't scuff up the tires the way we wanted to.''
Among the 62 racers who did not make the field are former Martinsville champions Mike Buffkin, Jay Fogleman, and Ronnie Thomas, as well as area drivers Frankie Pennington, Bobby Radford, Rick Sigmon, Ray Young, Kenny Wagner and Billy Daniel.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB