ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 8, 1996 TAG: 9607080154
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
Tony McGuire's crew made a change in the setup of his car before the June 29 Late Model Stock race at New River Valley Speedway, a change he hoped would translate into a victory.
But a wreck on lap 3 involving six cars forced McGuire out of the race, too early to tell if the changes would make a difference.
So McGuire decided try his luck again in Saturday night's Dooley Printing/Haynes 100, and this time he got the desired result - his third victory of 1996. (Results in Scoreboard. B4)
``We didn't get a chance to test the change out last week, because we got in the wreck so early,'' McGuire said. ``But we just stayed with it this week and it seemed to work real well in racing. But it does seem to hurt a little in qualifying.''
Just what change did McGuire's crew make to the car?
``Now, I can't tell you that,'' he said with a laugh.
Sixth after qualifying, McGuire jumped ahead two spots by lap 11, then edged past Late Model points leader Jeff Agnew for third place seven laps later. Next in line was Rodney Cundiff, and McGuire moved by him into second place on lap 29.
The only one left between McGuire and the checkered flag was Clay Highberger, the pole sitter and winner of the June 29 Late Model race. Highberger built a sizeable lead over the field, but was drawn back after a caution flag flew on lap 39. The restart gave McGuire the opportunity he needed, and after pulling even with Highberger on lap 47, he took the lead for good on turn 2 of lap 48.
Highberger fell back to fourth two laps later, opening the door for Chad Harris, who had been running third. Harris held on for second, his best finish of the season.
``The car ran real good tonight,'' Harris said. ``We were just a little bit off, but I'm tickled to death with second. If we'd have been just a little better ... but I don't know, Tony's awfully smooth.''
Agnew moved into third place on lap 77 after Cundiff's car spun on the front straightaway. Agnew held off late-charging Tim McGuire for the third-place finish, with Tim McGuire taking fourth and Highberger fifth.
In other racing Saturday at New River Valley Speedway:
In the 35-lap Limited Sportsman race, Eddie Walls picked up his second consecutive victory, leading the pack from flag to flag. Walls' victory June 29 was his first at the track.
``The boys have got the car running perfect right now,'' he said. ``This is a lot of hard work ... but you won't find any tougher racing than this.''
Jay McCray and Hank Turman dueled through the final 29 laps, with Turman holding off McCray for second place. Kenny Montgomery and Rob Fain completed the top five.
Class points leader Tam Topham lost control on the front straightaway on lap 2, his second incident in three weeks. Topham stormed from the back of the field to finish sixth.
Little changed in the Pure Stock division as Tommie Allie took the checkered flag for the eighth consecutive race and the 10th time this year. After taking the pole, Allie picked the sixth starting position in the draw designed to keep the top six qualifiers even, but it didn't matter.
Two laps into the 25-lap event Allie moved into second behind Randy Taylor, and when Taylor's car slipped coming out of turn 4 on lap 16, Allie took advantage and moved to the front.
After the race Taylor made remarks suggesting that if speedway officials checked the cars thoroughly, Allie would be disqualified. Ironically, it was Taylor's car that was disqualified after the postrace inspection, giving John McMahan the second-place finish and putting Anthony Hall third.
Kevin Snyder (Christiansburg) led all 25 laps of the Mini Stock race, with the real race between Robert Cox and Ray Sowers for second. Cox held the position on laps 16-23, but with two laps to go Sowers took the inside and held on for second.
The Legend cars made their second appearance at the speedway this season an uneventful one, finishing the 25-lap race with no cautions and no changes in the top three positions. Clay Hair dominated the field, maintaining a lead of nearly five seconds through the last half of the race. Jeff Matthews took second place and Eric Sartin was third.
The Truck class made its first official showing at the speedway this season, with four drivers battling for first place. Tim Arrington, a Legends driver, took the checkered flag, followed by Daryl Cash, Tony Rogers and Tommy Wooldridge.
Ronnie Snoddy, the speedway's co-owner and promoter, said the class will be added to the track's weekly lineup if enough trucks are entered.
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB