Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 14, 1995 TAG: 9506140046
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But a little after 5 p.m., no one would have thought that there would be anything at NRVS but another rain out. After threatening for most of the prerace practice session, rain finally started falling. And did it ever fall.
For more than a half-hour, a vicious thunderstorm pounded the track.
The storm produced wind gusts going almost as fast as the cars run around the track. The wind was so strong that it blew down the advertising signs that line the fence between turns 1 and 2. The rain was so hard at times that the back stretch could barely be seen from the control tower. There was even some hail mixed in with all that rain. And just to keep things intersting, there was the occasional streak of lightning or clap of thunder.
The only injury reported was Late Model owner Eddie Kimbleton of Claytor Lake, who was treated by the rescue squad for a reported broken little finger. He suffered the injury trying to prevent the canopy over Kenny Prillaman's car from collapsing in the wind and rain.
Almost as quickly as the storm started, it ended. The sky cleared, and the sun poked out. Track officials and drivers set about the task of drying the track.
A little bit before 7, with the track almost dry, the rain started again. It was just a short shower, but it was enough to send fans scurrying.
Half an hour later, a third shower rolled through, bringing more rain and wind. It was not as strong as the first storm, but enough to convince a few drivers - incorrectly, it would turn out - that there would be no racing that night.
Clearing skies at 8 p.m. and a forecast for more storms Sunday led track officials to decide to try to get the races in.
It took a little more than two hours, but at just after 10, the Pure Stocks took the flag. Mother Nature did get the last laugh, though. Early Sunday, fog started rolling in. By 12:50 a.m., the fog was too thick for racing to continue. By that time, however, everyone but the Mini Stocks had taken to the track. That was the first time a race had been fogged out at NRVS.
MONEY FROM STRANGE PLACES: The new tires on Randy Ratliff's Oldsmobile this week were provided by an unusual benefactor: the Oakwood Late Model driver's 12-year-old brother, Derrick.
The younger Ratliff won the weekly 50-50 raffle held by the Pulaski County Life Saving Crew. The prize was $630. He donated $30 back to the rescue squad, gave $300 to his brother and kept the rest of the money.
"Mom kind of talked him into it," joked the racing Ratliff brother. "Actually, it was his idea. He is into this [racing] big time."
The money was enough to buy Ratliff three new tires. But he wasn't able to talk his brother into buying him a full set of Goodyears.
"He's got $100 stashed somewhere," Derrick Ratliff said.
NRVS ALUMNI REPORT: It took just five races for Johnny Rumley to pass the man he replaced in the Busch Grand National points standings.
Rumley's sixth-place finish in the Delco 200 was the second Top 10 run for the Winston-Salem, N.C., driver. It moved him into 34th place in the points standings, one spot ahead of Ken Shelmerdine, who drove the No. 25 Chevrolet for the first seven races.
Rumley, with 30 career victories, is the second-winningest driver in NRVS history. Only Ronnie Thomas (52) has more.
Meanwhile, another North Carolinian, Mike Skinner of Randelman, leads the SuperTruck series in victories with three, as well as in points. Skinner ran some big races at NRVS in 1993 and 1994.
ELK CREEK REPORT: The Jacksons were 2-3, but Russell Carter was the big winner in the Pro Class last week at Elk Creek Dragway.
Wytheville's Carter edged Rusty Jackson of Pulaski to win the division. Dennis Jackson, Rusty's father, finished third. Meanwhile, in the Sportsman Class, Barry O'Rourke of Christiansburg was one of the semifinal round winners.
THIS WEEK AT NRVS: The Legends return and fans get a chance to meet the drivers next week as part of the Shelor Chevrolet 200.
The feature is the 100-lap race for the Late Models. Also on the schedule are a 35-lap Limited Sportsman race and 25-lappers for the Mini and Pure stocks.
And just to make things complete, there is a 25-lap race for the Legends cars. Timothy Peters, the 14-year-old from North Carolina, will be going for his second win at NRVS and fifth in his short racing career.
Gates open at 1:30 p.m. Practice starts at 3:30. Qualifying gets under way at 6. And the green flag drops at 8.
After qualifying and before racing begins, fans will get a chance to meet the drivers for autographs and photos as part of Fan Appreciation Night.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under.
Also, this will be the last week that rain checks from the recent rain outs will be honored.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB