ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 3, 1996 TAG: 9608050020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Racing
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
When the phrase "nice guys finish last" was coined, it's a safe bet the party responsible had never met Chad Harris.
While Harris has yet to park in New River Valley Speedway's victory lane, the 28-year-old Late Model Stock driver from Stuarts Draft must be considered a track title contender.
And he's doing it while minding his manners.
With speedway stars Jeff Agnew and Tony McGuire hogging the headlines in 1996 with 10 wins and a growing feud between them, Harris has politely and quietly crept to third place in the Late Model points race, standing just eight points behind McGuire. As far as Harris is concerned, though, the points race is secondary to public perception.
"I'd say that I would rather have people say that I'm a good driver and I have a lot of respect for the other guys on the track," Harris said. "I mean, that's your reputation ... Jeff and Tony have worked hard for years to get to where they are now. They've earned respect. One day I hope to be at their level."
For Harris, respect has come through the weekly grind of proving oneself on the .416-mile Radford oval.
"I feel like I've gotten better since I first started driving here," Harris said. "I've been around racing for years but I still learn something every time out. My father, Buck Harris, was involved in racing for 37 years. I've won two go-kart state titles and two dirt track titles at East Side Speedway [Waynesboro]. But the best drivers in the area drive here. You really need a lot of experience to do well at this track. I'm not quite there yet, but it'll come."
Harris admits he has learned by close study of his chief rivals - Agnew, McGuire and Clay Highberger.
"Jeff is a real competitor and just drives the wheels off his car every week," Harris said. "Tony is smooth as glass out there. Clay worked on my crew some last year, and I learned a lot about driving from him. He really knows a lot about the sport. Competing against them every week makes you better because those guys will race you hard."
Harris' run at the front of the pack is made even more startling when you consider that the financial constraints common with Saturday night racing nearly forced him into a part-time gig.
"We're tickled to death to be where we are in the points race," Harris said. "Before the season started, we thought we were only going to be able to run six or seven races in our Ford because we just didn't have the money. Then we got lucky and got a deal to drive the Magic City Sprinkler car the whole season."
The new ride turned out to be Harris' first big break. In 16 races this season, Harris has piloted the No.75 Chevrolet Monte Carlo to 10 top-five, 13 top-10 finishes (tied for the most at the speedway) and a July 20 start from the pole in the New River Pontiac GMC Nissan 100. His consistent performance has placed him in the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Blue Ridge Region's top-40 drivers for much of the season.
"The credit for the success really goes to my crew," Harris said. "They've really bent over backward to give me what I ask for. It's all starting to come together now because I feel like my driving has finally caught up to the car. Early in the season, they had the car running really well, I just needed to get used to it and the track. I'm glad it's working out well because those guys deserve this."
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON STAFF For Chad Harris, respect has comeby CNBthrough the weekly grind of proving oneself on the .416-mile Radford
oval. KEYWORDS: AUTO RACING