ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 11, 1996 TAG: 9605130021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
There's a new look coming to New River Valley Speedway.
The new Truck Class will stage its first exhibition run under the speedway lights tonight in hopes of attracting some new fans.
"We've been talking about doing this for the last year and a half, after the Super Trucks came out and they were such a success for NASCAR," track owner Ronnie Snoddy said. "Everywhere they went, the crowds were great."
There are four drivers who have already committed to the class, including Tim Arrington, Ronnie Byrd, Daryl Cash and Tony Rogers. Byrd has recently finished building one truck chassis, but said he will not have his truck, a 1996 Dodge Ram, ready to run until midseason.
"I've finished the one chassis and now I'm helping a few other people with theirs now so we can get this thing rolling down here," said Byrd, who also runs the No. 42 Wade's car in the Limited Sportsman division. "The truck is one of the hottest things going right now so when a few people get running I think it's really going to take off and become a big thing."
Snoddy shares Byrd's sentiments and hopes the exhibition will help convince other drivers that he is dedicated to the truck class and has every intention of working it into the racing schedule by mid-July. Arrington and Cash will have their trucks ready to run tonight. Provided a driver who is expected from the South Boston area shows, the exhibition will commence.
"I think this is kind of a wait-and-see deal for a lot of the drivers, but I'm committed to it and I'm not going to drop this," Snoddy said. "I'm committed to sticking it out for the drivers who have already put their time and money into it. If we have three trucks here, they can put on an exhibition."
Ironically, it was a rule published by the speedway that has stalled the progress of the new class.
"When we originally came out with the rules, they said that all the chassis had to be made by one company," Snoddy explained. "We had eight people order trucks, all of whom put down a $500 deposit to have the chassis built. But the place drug their feet on getting the trucks out and that really hurt us. Five of the drivers canceled their orders because they couldn't get their trucks in time.
"So we drew up a blueprint, and as long as they go by our blueprint, anyone can build the truck now. I think having the chassis be able to be built anywhere is going to help the class grow a lot quicker."
There are some other advantages that Snoddy hopes will also aid in the growth of the new division, the biggest of which involves cost. One of the class rules will limit drivers to buying two new tires per week, a provision to help keep expenses down.
"The truck class is good for someone in Mini Stock or Pure Stock who doesn't have unlimited money or resources," Snoddy said. "It's hard for them to move up to Limited or Late Model because the cars are so expensive. One of the trucks can be built for less than $20,000. A Late Model car costs between $15,000 and $20,000. That's a big money difference."
Byrd explained that the difference comes not in the body of the truck, but in the motor.
"The chassis is like the Late Model cars with a full frame and racing tires," Byrd said, "but the good thing about the trucks is they have a Pure Stock motor so that cuts the cost down. A Late Model engine will cost you between $10,000 and $15,000, but a Pure Stock motor runs between $1,500 and $2,000. That makes it a lot better money-wise, plus you still have a pretty decent engine."
Cash was the first to show off the new trucks last Saturday, taking a few test spins around the track at an average lap speed of 17.5 seconds, about a second slower than the Late Model cars. Snoddy said Cash's runs drew the interest of at least two new drivers, who are now looking into joining the class. Snoddy thinks by mid-July there will be six to eight trucks ready to run - and that's when the fun will start.
"We'll do a race with six trucks," Snoddy said, "but I'd say by this time next year it will really surprise and disappoint me if we don't have 15 to 18 trucks. We'll start the point system after the first race, and I really don't think it'll be a problem to get a division sponsor. It'll be a super class after it gets going."
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. Daryl Cash was the first to show offby CNBthe new trucks last Saturday, taking test spins around the track at
an average lap speed of 17.5 seconds. color. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING