ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603110084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRUCE STANTON STAFF WRITER
To most Late Model Stock drivers, racing is a weekend hobby. It's what they do after a long, hard work week. It's how they blow off steam, how they have fun.
But not Roanoke's Tony McGuire. Sure he has fun, but Late Model racing is his job. It's how he makes his living.
So winning races is important. Especially winning big races, as he did in the Taco Bell 300 in October at Martinsville Speedway. He received the prestige of winning at the famous half-mile speedway, along with the $25,000 paycheck - the largest Late Model Stock payoff anywhere.
While many would have spent the money lavishly, McGuire bought his WDBJ 7/Berglund Chevrolet race team another engine and another car. A pure business decision.
Now, McGuire has three cars and three engines in his arsenal, which should carry him through the season at New River Valley Speedway in Radford and through both Late Model races this year at Martinsville.
``I'll be in good shape this year no matter what,'' said McGuire, who has finished second in the Late Model points standings at NRVS the past two seasons. ``The most critical thing is when you commit to run a full season, can you finish? It's easy to get started, but it's hard to finish due to horrendous crashes or blowing your engine or your backup engine. Winning a race like [Martinsville] allows me to stock up on parts and engines. I'll be in good shape this year no matter what.''
While it might appear unusual that a driver can make a living at a weekend track, McGuire said he knows of several Late Model drivers who have two or three full-time crew members.
``This division of racing is no longer a night-time job,'' he said. ``It's a full-time job for one person, and it will work that one person to death. There's a lot of teams that have full-time employees. That's something that's unknown about our division.''
What is known is the importance of Martinsville Speedway's two Late Model races to drivers in that division. As it did for McGuire, the $25,000 payoff can make a year for a team. Besides that, every driver who qualifies is guaranteed $1,000, as much as a winning purse at some tracks.
``That's really big-time stuff for Late Model Stock. That's an awesome purse,'' said McGuire, who hopes to be one of 36 drivers in the field for the Miller 300, held at 12:30 p.m. March 17 at Martinsville Speedway. Tickets are $15 for the 200-lap feature and the four 25-lap qualifying races. First-round qualifying will be held at 3 p.m. March 16.
``It should be a knock-down drag-out race,'' McGuire said. ``You've got 15 to 18 cars or more that could win. And then you've probably got 15 more that could shock you.''
McGuire's victory in the Taco Bell 300 was something of a shocker. He didn't take the checkered flag, but he ended up in Victory Lane after Elliott Sadler of Emporia was disqualified for having cylinder heads that did not pass the post-race inspection. McGuire also made the 36-car field because of a disqualification in a qualifying race.
Eventually, McGuire would like to find his way to Victory Lane at Martinsville on his own.
``Definitely some of the accolades that come with it weren't there,'' he said of being awarded the victory after the race fans were long gone. ``The Victory Lane celebration and post-race hoopla weren't there. It's definitely a goal of the team to get back there and do it right this time.''
Besides the Martinsville payoff, McGuire's team has been bolstered by the support of WDBJ and Berglund. The rare luxury of two prominent sponsors has enabled him to become one of the drivers to beat in Late Model races at New River and Martinsville.
``It makes a difference when you need an extra set of tires or an extra day of practice,'' he said. ``That makes the difference between just being there and being up front.''
McGuire also attributes his success to crew chief L.C. Poff, who also builds his engines, and crew members Mike Dillon, Scott Williamson, Tim Reedy and Wesley Roach.
While his crew and sponsors keep him making laps, McGuire said it was his family - mainly father Squeek and brother Tim - that got him behind the steering wheel. His father used to own Franklin County Speedway and used to drive, so Tony had a lot of exposure to racing.
``I was basically brought up around it,'' he said. ``I've been interested since Day One. It's something about the genes. It's like a disease. It gets in the blood and that's all you want to do.''
In the future, McGuire would like to move up to SuperTrucks or Busch Grand National racing - just like most other Late Model Stock drivers. But he knows that will take patience and the right owner and sponsor. Not to mention a winning track record.
Until then, the William Byrd High School graduate will continue working hard at his full-time job.
``You miss out on a lot of things racing every week the past 10 years,'' he said. ``But it's been worth it. If I could back up, I'd do it all again.''
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB