Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 25, 1995                   TAG: 9506260118
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: D-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                  LENGTH: Medium

RITCH JUST GETS RICHER WITH DOUBLE-POINTS WIN

It did not matter how long or short the green flag segments were Saturday night. Because once Michael Ritch got out front, no one was going to catch him.

The High Point, N.C., driver put his Chevrolet Camaro on the pole and led all 100 laps in the Late Model Stock Car feature of the Dick Price/Holiday/Skyline Ford 200 at New River Valley Speedway.

Ritch got the maximum worth from his victory. All of Saturday's races were worth double track points and Ritch leads the Late Model division on the strength of his three wins in the past five races.

``The car was superb,'' said Ritch. ``We had to make up for last week [a 10th-place finish]. We had to do something. All of this rain has changed the track. So we had to change some things. That made the difference tonight.''

Ritch led Tony McGuire by more than three seconds toward the end of a 62-lap segment of green flag racing. McGuire and the other drivers behind Ritch battled for position instead of the lead.

``Michael was awfully strong tonight,'' said McGuire, who also drove a Camaro. ``It was evident from lap one that the rest of us were racing for second place. We made our moves and ended up second. We'll take that.''

When Billy Daniel spun on lap 93, Ritch found himself having to win a three-lap shootout with McGuire. But that contest, like the race, was over as soon as the green flag dropped.

``Definitely, I was watching him those three laps,'' Ritch said of looking in his rear view mirror as the race drew to a close.

Ritch beat McGuire by a second.

Floyd's Jeff Agnew was third, Bassett's Ray Young took fourth and Roanoke's Tink Reedy finished fifth.

Tony Allie of Christiansburg took the lead at the midway point and went on to win his third Pure Stock race of the season. Randy Taylor of Madison was second and Tony Rogers of Cloverdale was third. The race was extended to 28 laps because of a late-race caution.

The Limited Sportsman, Modified Mini Stock and Mini Stock races were not completed by press time.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING