Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505040090
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Effective with Saturday night's Late Model race, Thomas will be using the same size 350 CMF carburetor as the General Motors cars at the track. Promoter Ronnie Snoddy and co-owner Johnny Frazier said the decision was made after several hours of meetings with Thomas and track officials and a telephone conversation with NASCAR officials in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The rule will not apply to other Dodge or Ford drivers competing at New River Valley Speedway, Snoddy said, and was made to place the division on a level playing field.
A change also has been made in the time schedule at NRVS because of the increased number of competitors this season.
Beginning Saturday gates will open at 1:30 p.m. instead of 2. Practice sessions also will be moved up a half-hour to 3:30 p.m. Likewise, the starting time for qualifying will be moved up 30 minutes. Race time remains 8 p.m.
In other sports in the region:
Virginia Tech pitcher Brian Fitzgerald pitched eight strong innings and former William Byrd standout Matt Reynolds drove in four runs to lead the Hokies past Liberty 6-3 in a non-conference baseball game in Blacksburg.
Reynolds picked up two of his RBI in a three-run third inning on a sacrifice fly to deep center field. He added a two-run homer in the fifth that plated another former Terrier, Josh Herman, and gave the Hokies (28-22) a 5-0 lead.
Fitzgerald (5-5), a junior lefthander, allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out four and not walking a batter. Charlie Gillian picked up his sixth save of the year, which ties the Tech career record of 18 held by Joe Salisbury.
Roanoke College and Washington and Lee each placed five players on the men's All-ODAC lacrosse team announced Wednesday.
Jeff Jones of Roanoke and Ande Jenkins of W&L were each named first-team attack while J.J. Blatt was first-team midfield. Both Brian Doyle of Roanoke and Shaun McKenzie of W&L made the first team on defense. Second-team members included Andy Dutton of W&L and William Metz of Roanoke on attack,the Generals' Adam Butterworth and Scott Mackley as midfielders, and Roanoke's Chris Davin on defense.
Ed Curry, a senior attack from Hampden-Sydney, was named player of the year and the Tigers' Ray Rostan was the coach of the year
Virginia Tech junior Erin Graham, who set a school indoor record in the 55-meter hurdles, was named outstanding track performer and sophomore Michelle Smith, the Metro Conference shot put and discus champion, was named outstanding field performer for the Hokies' women's track and field team. Sprinter Julie Reeser was named the team's rookie of the year.
Wendy Palmer and Peter Wright were honored as Virginia's top female and male athletes of the year at the school's awards dinner Wednesday night.
Palmer, a junior from Timberlake, N.C., averaged 17.6 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Cavaliers' women's basketball team.Wright, a senior from Delran, N.J., never lost a 500 freestyle event in dual meet competition during his career on the UVa men's swim team.
Women's soccer player Mia Ward and wrestler Mike Krafchick earned Virginia's ACC Scholar-Athlete awards. Men's lacrosse player Sean Miller earned the Craig Fielder Award for overcoming adversity, and John Anderson of the men's track and field team received the Ralph Sampson Scholarship Award.
Women's soccer player Jennifer Gilpatric earned the Ernest H. Ern Award for outstanding contributions to student life at UVa. The school also honored former athletic director Jim Copeland, now the AD at Southern Methodist, with the Bus Male Service Award.
Jeff Sprinkle, the assistant pro at Blue Hills Golf Club, shot a 1-under 70 on Wednesday and finished 10th in the Middle Atlantic PGA Pro-Am at Shenandoah Golf Club in Front Royal. Chip Sullivan of Hanging Rock fired a 73.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB