Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 10, 1995 TAG: 9504110066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
First, a power failure delayed the start of racing for an hour. Then, Ronnie Thomas drove his black Dodge to victory in the Late Model Stock Car feature of the double-points Eagle Country-PSK/Pizza Den 200.
As an Appalachian Power Company crew repaired a blown transformer, Thomas hung around his trailer. Then, when the race started, the Christiansburg driver hung around the front of the field for all 107 laps.
It was the 49th victory at New River for Thomas, but his first in a season-opener.
Thomas won the pole at a speed of 90.98 mph, so he and his crew didn't have to do anything during the delay.
``We never touched it,'' Thomas said. ``We left the car like it was for qualifying.''
Roanoke's Tony McGuire slipped past Michael Ritch of High Point, N.C., to grab second during a restart on lap 106 after a race-extending caution period. Floyd's Jeff Agnew, the 1994 track champion, was fourth and Philip Morris of Ruckersville was fifth. All four drove Chevrolets
There were about 6,000 fans and more than 100 competitors at the track when the lights went out.
The outage knocked out the power to the front half of the speedway. That meant there were no lights on the frontstretch, no power in the control tower or concession stands and no way to operate the scoreboard and public address system.
To let fans know help was on the way, track announcer Levi Garrett got into one of the crash trucks at the track and used its loudspeaker system.
Fortunately, the lights on the backstretch and power to the buildings in the pits are provided by a different transformer. Thus, the speedway was not plunged into total darkness.
Overall, the power was out for about 30 minutes. Still it was enough to push back the conclusion of the racing program to early Sunday morning.
In other races:
Hank Turnman of Indian Valley was awarded first place in the 35-lap Limited Sportsman race after the apparent winner, Junior Leagans of Max Meadows, was disqualified for using improper fuel.
That moved Melvin Wright Jr. of Madison Heights to second, Bo Howell of Christiansburg to third and Timmy Hogan of Rocky Mount to fourth.
Barry Davis of Christiansburg won the 25-lap Pure Stock race. Dean Young of Radford was second and Barry Williams of Pembroke third.
Ray Sowers of Floyd won the 25-lap Mini Stock race. Robert Cox of Roanoke finished second and Doug Moore of Dugspur was third.
Jimmy Hinkley of Christiansburg won the 25-lap Modified Mini Stock race. Tim Maiden of Indian Valley was second and K.J. Bishop of Riner third.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB