Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 12, 1995 TAG: 9504120034
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The usual abundance of cars turned into an overflow as more than 100 drivers came to the track with the hopes of competing. And except for those who wrecked or blew up in practice, all did.
It was the largest field overall in several years at NRVS. All four divisions which will run weekly - Late Models, Limiteds, Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks - had at least 20 cars start. That had not happened on the same weekend in a while.
A field of 20 Late Models is fairly common. But for the other divisions, it has been rare. Over the last two years, the Limiteds have started that many cars on three occasions - the companion race for the 1993 Southwest Chevy Dealers Shootout, the 1994 season-opener and the 1994 WDBJ-TV race. The Pure Stocks had that many cars start three races last year and none in 1993. And the Mini Stocks have had a 20-plus car field four times in each of the past two seasons.
Track co-owner and promotor Ronnie Snoddy expects the field sizes to stay fairly large. Several drivers who didn't have cars at the track Saturday are expected to be in the pits this weekend. And despite the large number of competitors, most drivers escaped without serious damage to their cars.
The exception was the Limited Sportsman division where two major wrecks led to red flags and only 11 of the 20 cars. On the first lap, Bruce Brown of Rocky Mount spun on the backstretch and then was hit by Bland's Randy Linville. Also, Melvin Smith of Newport damaged his car as he hit traffic stopped in front of him. On lap 12, rookie driver Brian Pate of Shady Springs, W.Va., lost control of his car on the backstretch. As Pate spun, he clipped Mark Akers of Narrows, who was running second. The collision sent Akers' car flying and it brushed the wall.
FAST TRACKIN' LATE MODELS: The first six cars in the Late Model field were separated by just 0.06 seconds (or 0.33 mph). Making that closeness even more remarkable was the speed of the field.
Christiansburg's Ronnie Thomas won the pole at 90.98 mph. His Dodge took 16.46 seconds to make a lap around the 0.416-mile track - the fastest Late Model lap in three years. Michael Ritch of High Point, N.C., (90.81 mph) and Tim McGuire of Roanoke (90.76 mph) also had qualifying runs that were better than anyone has run since 1992.
Roanoke's Tony McGuire and Floyd's Jeff Agnew each equalled the best qualifying run at the track last year: 16.51 seconds (90.71 mph).
And Frankie Pennington of Lexington, driving a Chevrolet that was so new he used masking tape for numbers, was just one one-hundredth of a second slower (90.65 mph).
Overall, 19 drivers had qualifying laps of less than 17 seconds (88.09 mph). The only times last season there were more drivers that fast were the two televised races.
NORTH WILKESBORO REPORT: Three NRVS regulars ventured to the Lowes 150 at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Motor Speedway which was won by 1992 New River Rookie of the Year Michael Dillon of Clemmons, N.C.
Floyd's Agnew had the best time. He qualified fifth and finished fifth, winning $1,050. Agnew would have fared even better had his car not had rear-end problems.
Thomas qualified sixth and was running in the top 10 until dropping out with a flat tire. He finished 22nd.
Tink Reedy of Roanoke had the worst time. He was running in the top 10 when his engine seized up on lap 58. Not only did he end up 26th in the 30-car field but the problem also caused him to miss the New River season-opener. But he didn't regret his decision to take part in the all-comers race that paid out less money ($19,360) than Martinsville paid its winner ($25,000) last month.
"Sometimes you have to race for more than money," Reedy said. "You have to race for the prestige."
The Lowes 150 was broadcast live Saturday afternoon on ESPN2 and on a delayed basis that night on ESPN.
Another familiar name at the race was Johnny Rumley of Winston-Salem, N.C., driving for the Sweeney brothers of Floyd. He was involved in an accident on lap 68 and finished 23rd.
SOUTH BOSTON REPORT: Stacy Compton started off where he ended last season at South Boston Speedway - on top.
The Hurt driver inherited the lead when Elliott Sadler spun with 35 laps to go. Compton then held off Wayne Patterson to win the 300-lap season-opener and the $5,500 prize.
Compton, the defending SBS track champion, led twice for a total of 157 laps.
Danny Willis of Cluster Springs, the 1988 NRVS champion, finished eighth, one lap down.
ELK CREEK REPORT: Duane Gray of Willis won the Pro Class at the Elk Creek Dragway last week. His 1970 Ford Mustang with a "Boss" 302 cubic inch was faster than the other 13 competitors.
Dennis Jackson of Pulaski finished second in his 1967 Chevy Corvette with a big block 454 engine.
Mike Thompson of Pulaski won the Trophy Class. He drove a 1970 Chevelle with a small block 350 engine. That class drew 48 entries.
KART COMMOTION: Jason Lawrence was a double-winner April 2 as New River Valley Speedway held its first WKA Go Kart races on its new inside oval. Lawrence captured the Super Stock and Stock Light divisions.
The other winners were Terry Swantz in Champ Kart, Mason Thomas in Briggs Modified; Jeff French in Limited Modified; P.F. Hanks in Stock Heavy; Berkley Moore in Stock Medium; Timothy Peters in Unrestricted Junior; Hunter Pearce in Junior Sportsman II; and Stephen Crouch in Junior Sportsman I.
The next kart action at the speedway will be April 23.
THIS WEEK AT THE TRACK: Saturday is the FM-94 Radio/Old Milwaukee 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 Legends - making their first appearance at NRVS - which will run 25 laps each.
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.
by CNB