Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 4, 1993                   TAG: 9307040144
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

THOMAS HOLDS OFF RUMLEY FOR 5TH VICTORY AT NRVS

Johnny Rumley had to take the low road.

And Thomas crossed the finished line one second before Rumley in the 100-lap Late Model feature Saturday night at New River Valley Speedway.

"As long as I stayed in my groove, he couldn't pass me," said Thomas, who led all 100 laps of the double points race en route to his fifth victory of the season. "But I couldn't put the car down low. I had to stay high.

"And when I was high, it forced him [Rumley] to go low. That left my engine free [coming out of the turns], while his was bound up."

Thomas started from the pole of the Marathon Oil-Jordan Oil-Goody's 200 and opened a lead of just over one second in the first 20 laps. But in the next 10 laps, Rumley, who started from the outside of the first row, made a run at Thomas.

Rumley nearly pulled even with Thomas coming out of turns 2 and 4 for about eight laps, only to have Thomas pull away down the straightaway.

The scene was repeated several times during the race, most notably around lap 80. But each time the story was the same - Thomas' Ford Thunderbird stayed in front of Rumley's Chevrolet Lumina.

"The Fords and Chryslers have an advantage coming out of the shoot that's worth about two car lengths," Rumley said. "I wore the tires out trying to get underneath him. I did all I could.

"If I could have gotten past him, I might have been able to stay out in front. But getting past Ronnie any time is not easy."

Jeff Agnew, the 1992 track champion, finished third. Points leader Paul Radford was fourth, and Rodney "Six Pack" Cundiff finished fifth.

In other races at the track Saturday night:

Points leader Kenny Montgomery passed pole-sitter Mark Akers coming out of turn 2 on the 27th lap and the driver from Parrott went on to his sixth victory in the 35-lap Limited Sportsman race.

Charles Miles finished second, Bo Howell third and Akers fourth.

Scott Brawley of Lenoir, N.C., won his sixth race of the season as he easily outdistanced the field in a flag-to-flag victory in the 25-lap Modified Mini race. Points leader Charlie Smith took second, with Dale Sutphin third.

Points leader Tony Howell started from the pole and led all 25 laps of the Mini Stock race. It was the sixth victory for the Christiansburg driver. Jay McCray finished second.

Grump Wills of Bozoo, W.Va., continued his dominance of the Pure Stock division by holding off Tommy Allie in the 25-lap race. It was the ninth victory in 10 starts for the division's points leader.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING