Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 5, 1995 TAG: 9504060021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As a result of an increasing number of requests, NASCAR has changed the point system for Winston Racing Series tracks to award more points to more of the racing field.
Now, winning will be worth 50 points. Second place is 48, third place 46, and so on. The point value decreases by two points for each position until reaching 25th place, which is worth two points. Also, all finishers below 25th will receive two points.
Under the old system, winning was worth 26 points and the values declined until reaching two points for positions 13th and below.
This new system should result in more racing for position throughout the field and it will make it more difficult for drivers who do not enter every race to do well. It will also keep track championship battles in doubt much longer because the spread between first and last can be as many as 48 points in the new system, versus 24 under the old rules.
All 98 Winston tracks, including New River Valley Speedway, are expected to use this points system.
NRVS MEANS NEW RIVER: Of the 208 drivers who competed at NRVS in the five regular classes last season, 84 were from the New River Valley. Thus, over 40 percent (40.4 to be exact) of the drivers came from Montgomery, Pulaski, Giles and Floyd counties and Radford.
The New River Valley provided the most drivers for every division, except Late Model. Six drivers were local, while seven came from both the Roanoke Valley and Franklin County.
Overall, the Roanoke Valley had 18 drivers at the track (8.7 percent), Wythe County had 13 drivers (6.3 percent) and Carroll/Grayson counties, Franklin County and North Carolina had 10 drivers each (4.8 percent).
YELLOW MEANS SLOW DOWN: A new piece of safety equipment being tried this year at New River Valley Speedway is the Race Safe System.
The system involves a yellow light mounted on the dash and a radio receiver. When the caution flag is put out, a signal is sent from the control tower to the receiver that causes the yellow light to shine, letting the driver know instantly that there is trouble on the track.
The system would prevent situations where a driver doesn't realize there is a problem until too late and hits a stopped car (or group of cars) at nearly full speed. It is mandatory in at least one division at many tracks in the Northeast.
Ronnie Snoddy, co-owner and promoter of NRVS, said the system would be optional this year and would probably be mandatory in all classes in 1996.
BUSCH UPDATE: Former NRVS driver Brad Teague of Johnson City, Tenn., finished seventh in the Goody's 250 Busch Grand National Race last Saturday at Bristol (Tenn.) International Raceway.
Teague raced Late Models at New River in 1993. He has made occasional appearances in Grand National and Winston Cup races over the past few years.
KART REPORT: The first Go Kart practice at New River Valley Speedway drew more than 50 karts on the last weekend of March.
Sunday's season-opening race drew a similar number of entries.
The Go Karts use the two straightaways, turns 3 and 4 and special turns 1 and 2 that were created by paving a section through the pits about halfway down the track.
The next WKA Go Kart event is April 23.
DRAGGING AWAY: Mike Thompson of Pulaski drove his 1970 Chevy Chevelle with a 350-cubic-inch engine to victory in the Trophy Class of the season-opener at Elk Creek Dragway.
The trophy class is for street cars with no electronics or stick shifts allowed and 71 cars entered.
Elk Creek runs Saturday nights. Gates open at noon and eliminations start at 6 p.m.
THIS WEEK AT NRVS: The track holds its second open practice of the season today from 4 to 8 p.m. Admission to the grandstand is free.
More importantly, the track holds its first race of the season Saturday: the Eagle Country PSK 107/Pizza Den 200. The feature is a 100-lap Late Model race. Also, there will be a 35-lapper for the Limiteds, and the Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks and Modified Minis will run 25 laps each. Double points will be awarded in all divisions.
Admission is $10 for adults and $1 for children 12-and-under.
Gates open at 2 p.m. Practice starts at 4. Qualifying gets under way at 6:15. And the green flag drops at 8.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
Memo: ***CORRECTION***