ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, July 27, 1996 TAG: 9607290018
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: IN THE REGION
SOURCE: From staff reports
The New River Valley Speedway will be the battlefield for some of the best blue chip Late Model Stock drivers in the Winston Racing Series this weekend in the Kroger/WDBJ-7 250, which will pay a record $15,000 to the victor.
Kroger and WDBJ have teamed up to sponsor a total payout of over $28,000 for the Late Model event, including $500 to the Late Model pole-sitter, $50 to each pole-sitter for the Pure and Mini Stock races and $1,000 to the leader at the end of the first segment of the Late Model feature race. In addition, one lucky fan present at the track during the race will go home $1,000 richer.
Several prominent drivers, including former track champion and former Winston Cup rookie of the year Ronnie Thomas, J.D. Gibbs, son of former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, and Michael Ritch, another former driver at NRVS, will be running.
Gates open today at noon, practice begins at 2:30 p.m. and qualifying starts at 5. The first green flag will fall at 8, with live television coverage by WDBJ at 9.
* A new time and price have given Franklin County Speedway a boost in attendance and a boost in driver turnout, and the Callaway track expects its biggest race of the season for the Comfort Homes 300 tonight.
Admission to the speedway is $5 for adults and students, $2 for children ages 2-10 and children under 2 will be admitted free. Racing is set to begin at 8 p.m.
Collinsville's Jimmy Mullins will look to continue his domination of the Late Model division, while Jay Peery and Gary Joyce hope to hold on to their points lead in the Pure and Mini Stock divisions. In addition to these races, the ladies will take to the track for the Powder Puff division. Twenty ladies are entered.
* The under-15 Roanoke Star boys' soccer team defeated Verlruse IK from Denmark 2-1 on Friday to advance to the final 16 of the Dana Cup in Hjorring, Denmark.
The boys' team lost to Bagterp IK in its next game, and was eliminated from the 64-team tournament.
The U-16 Roanoke girls lost their final 16 matchup 2-1 to Norway's Leveral IL in the last minute of the second overtime period. Roanoke's goal was scored by Sarah Jane Whitman on an assist by Leigh Ann Lyle.
LENGTH: Short : 49 linesby CNB