Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 12, 1995 TAG: 9503130036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The prize for winning the Miller Genuine Draft 300 is $25,000. That's more money than Floyd's Jeff Agnew won in 11 victories last season at New River Valley Speedway. That's more money than Barry Beggarly of Pelham, N.C., earned by sweeping both Late Model races at Martinsville in the fall. And that's more money than Terry Labonte or Kenny Wallace took home from Busch Grand National victories at Martinsville in 1994.
``It's going to be tough. It's going to bring out the best from everywhere,'' said Stacy Compton, a part-time racer at New River Valley Speedway and the 1994 champion at South Boston. ``This is the Daytona of Late Model Stock for us.''
The best are expected to total 140 when qualifying begins Saturday. That's why Martinsville Speedway decided to add a third qualifying race for the $74,920 main event - NASCAR's richest Late Model race.
``We could see this coming,'' said Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway. ``Our first open practice session drew 94 cars and the one we held Wednesday [drew] 55. Our goal, since we are giving the [Late Model] Stocks their own show, is to allow as many drivers as possible to race on Sunday.''
The drivers who have been at the track getting ready to perform make up a veritable who's who of the Mid-Atlantic Late Model ranks. Martinsville winners include Beggarly (the two-time defending regional champion and the 1993 Winston Racing Series national champ), Christiansburg's Ronnie Thomas (the all-time winningest Late Model driver at New River and the 1978 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year), Phil Warren (track champion at Langley Raceway in Hampton), Bugs Hairfield (winner of the 1994 spring Late Model race at Martinsville) and Wayne Patterson (the pole-sitter in the spring).
Track champions who have taken practice laps include Compton, Shayne Lockhart (Southside Speedway in Richmond) and Mike Dillon (Tri-County Speedway in North Carolina).
Other notable drivers who will be trying to make the field are New River regulars Tim and Tony McGuire of Roanoke, Kenny Prillaman of Salem, Ray Young of Bassett and Randy Ratliff of Oakwood; South Boston drivers Elliott Sadler and Richard Landreth; part-time Busch Grand National drivers Johnny Rumley and Michael Ritch; longtime modified driver Satch Worley of Rocky Mount; and the sons of two prominent racing Dales - Kerry Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jason Jarrett.
Drivers will have two chances to shake down their cars on race weekend: from 1-4:30 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
Time trials begin at 3 p.m. Saturday. The fastest 20 cars will get the first 20 starting positions for the Sunday race. As many as 120 more cars will move on to three Sunday qualifying races.
On Sunday, gates open at 7 a.m. The three 50-lap heats to set starting positions 21-32 begin at 12:30 p.m. The top four drivers in each race move on to the main event. The last four positions in the 36-car field will go to provisional starters. After the last qualifying heat, the 200-lap feature race gets under way.
Tickets for Sunday's racing are $15. For information, call the track at (703) 956-3151.
by CNB