Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 6, 1995 TAG: 9509060061
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Rumley, who is second in career victories at the speedway with 30, is running his first full season on the Busch Grand National circuit. He was able to race at the speedway because the Busch Series is in Richmond this weekend.
The Winston-Salem, N.C., resident's first year on the circuit hasn't been picturesque. Having been victimized by bad luck on numerous occasions, he is 27th in the points standings.
``Right now I'm not having a lot of fun,'' said Rumley, who was eliminated from Monday's race in a first lap accident. ``We have had a lot of tough luck. Some of it has been beyond our control and some of it has been within our control.''
One of the biggest adjustments has been to factor in the importance of the entire team. Racing in the Busch Series requires several full-time employees who are relied on heavily. The inner workings of the circuit have also taken some getting used to.
``It is an entirely different level and politics are much more important,'' Rumley said. ``Having to adjust to both of those changes has been the hard part.''
The one thing that hasn't changed is Rumley's desire to win. Despite his struggles this year (his best finish was a sixth at Dover), Rumley knows that he is capable of not only competing but winning on the Busch tour. In 1993, he won a race at Hickory Speedway in North Carolina and also sat on the pole and led the first 135 laps of a Busch race at New River before running into problems. Because of his past success Rumley expects no less, now or in the future.
``I'm one of those people who races to win,'' Rumley said. ``If I finished second in Richmond this week I will be happy for the crew but I will be disappointed for myself.''
When Rumley arrives at the track, no matter where it is located, he is all business.
``It is nice to go to the different [race] sites but I go to the track to race,'' Rumley said. ``You can take a vacation in the winter time.''
At the moment Rumley's future with his current Busch team is still undecided. He would like to remain in the car next year.
The one certainty about Rumley's immediate future is that he has a contractual obligation with Taco Bell to drive in six Late Model races. Monday was his second (the other was in Martinsville). Rumley had hoped to return to New River for Sunday's race but the damage done to the car in Monday's race will prevent that.
FULL FIELD: It's unfortunate the first lap accident on Monday eliminated so many cars from contention because the field for the race was as good as you are going to see.
Joining Rumley was the usual complement of drivers including Elliot Sadler, who is second in the chase for the Mid-Atlantic points title, and Steve Grimes, who is leading the points race at Caraway Speedway, in Asheboro, N.C.
The 20-year-old Sadler, who leads the standings at South Boston as well, is a driver to keep an eye on. He has run one Busch race this year, at South Boston, and he finished in the top 10. He will attempt to qualify for this weekend's race at Richmond and hopes to join the series full time next year.
``We finished in the top 10 at South Boston but people are waiting to see how we do on the bigger tracks,'' said Sadler, who lives in Emporia. ``We are talking to a few people, and I think if we run well this weekend we will have a few offers for next year.
``I enjoy racing here [NRVS]. The track and the facilities are nice and the people treat you right. And if you beat the Ronnie Thomases of the world you know you have done something.''
Grimes' name isn't one that most fans at the Speedway are particularly familiar with but they do recognize his car. In his first appearance at the track, Grimes drove Clarence Pikarel's car, the same one Michael Ritch drove most of the year. Grimes has won 10 races at Caraway this season, but like Rumley, was caught up in the first lap accident Monday
RITCH IN RICHMOND: Speaking of Ritch, he's been busy assembling a Busch car. Ritch, who hasn't raced at New River in over a month, will take his own car to Richmond this week in hopes of qualifying for the race and possibly drawing the interest of a car owner.
``We tested there Tuesday and Wednesday [of last week]'' Ritch said. ``I feel like if we can get through qualifying we can have a pretty decent run.''
Ritch has talked to potential sponsors and car owners but has no concrete offers at the moment. The High Point, N.C., driver also plans to attempt qualifying at Rockingham and the Homestead in Florida. The Homestead, a new track, is a 1.5 mile oval that is predominantly flat. It is designed like a mini Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
ON DECK: All races at Sunday's Heritage Buick, Olds, Pontiac, GMC 200 are double points events. With the track championship up for grabs in every division this weekend, the races will go a long way toward determining who finishes where. The 100-lap Late Model race will be the feature event.
The Legends cars will also return to the speedway in a 25-lap race. Also scheduled is a 35-lap Limited race and 25-lap Pure, Mini and Modified Mini Stock races.
Gates open at 10 a.m. and practice starts at noon. Qualifying starts at 1:30. The green will drop at 3.
by CNB