Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9505020061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Ronnie Thomas' treks around New River Valley Speedway to victory lane are beginning to look routine.
Thomas, for the third time in four races, led every lap to win the Late Model Stock Car feature race in the New River Mall 200 on Saturday night at NRVS.
The race was extended from 100 to 106 laps because of a wreck in turn three of the 100th lap. The extension provided Tony McGuire an opportunity to pass Thomas' Dodge, but the polesitter prevailed.
``We definitely did not want that last caution,'' Thomas said. ``Right now, we are riding high and I'm enjoying it. It will not always be this way.''
Thomas, a Christiansburg native, led every lap but never by more than a half-second.
``You could give me a thousand cracks [at passing Thomas] but until [NASCAR officials] do something about the horsepower, nobody is going to get by him,'' said McGuire, alluding to the belief held by some drivers that NASCAR's current weight-and-carburetion rules for Late Models give an advantage to Fords and Chryslers. McGuire drives a Chevrolet.
``If the Chevy boys think we have got more horsepower, they can build one [a Ford or Chrysler], too,'' Thomas said after his 51st career victory at NRVS. ``This is a free country. We may have a little more horsepower but the Chevys handle better. There are pros and cons to both sides.''
McGuire, of Roanoke, ran a strong race after qualifying fifth. He worked his way through the field and slid past Jeff Agnew into second place on lap 98. Agnew posed the biggest threat to Thomas and, at several points, the two raced nose-to-tail. But Thomas never was passed.
``We are tickled to death with way the car ran [after it suffered heavy damage in last week's race],'' said Agnew, a Floyd resident.
Rodney Cundiff of Boones Mill made a late charge at Agnew but settled for fourth, his best finish of the season. Tim McGuire of Roanoke finished fifth.
Radford's Wayne Moore took the lead on lap 21 and waltzed to victory in the 25-lap Mini Stock race. The race was marred by an accident that stopped the race for 20 minutes and sent Conway Combs and Kevin Snider the hospital. At press time, no report on the condition of the two drivers was available.
Top qualifier Randy Bell of Galax finished second. Roanoke's Robert Cox finished third.
Christiansburg's Tommie Allie took the lead on lap 12 and captured the Pure Stock race, which was extended to 27 laps due to a late accident.
Barry Williams of Pembroke held off Cloverdale's Tony Rogers to finish second.
Bruce Brown of Rocky Mount took the lead on the first lap and pulled away from the field to capture the 35-lap Limited Sportsmen race.
Polesitter Hank Turman of Indian Valley finished second. Christiansburg's Terry Lawson finished third.
At press time, the Kool 100 Radio Enduro was not completed.
by CNB