ROANOKE TIMES Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times DATE: Saturday, May 4, 1996 TAG: 9605060122 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: METRO DATELINE: RADFORD SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
Jeff Agnew will be seeking his fourth consecutive checkered flag tonight in the Wilco 300. Agnew will battle a good field of cars in the special 200-lap Late Model Stock Car event. Among those drivers looking for their first win is Tony McGuire, who is second in the point standings.
McGuire feels he has chased Agnew enough this season and hopes his luck is going to change.
"He's tough, but we have made our fair share of mistakes,'' said McGuire. ``We haven't been catching the lucky breaks so far. We hope that it will all change [tonight]."
J.D. Gibbs, son of Joe Gibbs, owner of the Interstate Batteries Car and former Washington Redskins head coach, will make his debut tonight in the LMSC race. Gibbs will drive the Mountain Spring Water car owned by Joe Gibbs Racing.
Gibbs, who is just getting started in Late Model racing, is looking forward to racing at NRVS. "I'm excited about running up there,'' said J.D. Gibbs. ``This will be a good race for me. I need all the seat time, and 200 laps will fit the bill.''
Late Model driver Tam Topham is seeking his third consecutive win in the Limited Sportsman division. Topham, who is leading the points' race in the Limited division, feels good about his chances of winning the 35-lap event. "We found where we've been making our mistakes and corrected them. The car feels great," he said.
Davis "Ducky" Phillips, who was the 1994 champion in the Pure Stock division, is making a comeback. Phillips has been knocking on the door for his first win this season. "We've been close a few times this year. We finished second last week and the car is handling great. We'll be there before to long," said Phillips.
Jeff Jablonski, the left wing for the Roanoke Express will be on hand to sign autographs. Jablonski, the hockey team's captain this past season, led the club in scoring.
The green flag drops at 8 p.m.. Gates open at 1:30 and practice begins at 3:30.
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB