Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 8, 1993 TAG: 9307080169
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
That's what will be happening at the end of the month at New River Valley Speedway.
The Hoechst Celanese 200 now will feature a pair of Late Model races.
"It's a makeup for the rainout," explained Ronnie Snoddy, one of the two new owners of the track. "And both are Mid-Atlantic [Region] points races. So those drivers [competing for the regional title] can get two races in in one night. Since they can get double the amount of points, they'd be almost crazy not to be here."
Each track is allowed to hold 22 Mid-Atlantic races. NRVS had 20 plus a rain date scheduled. Then the June 12 race was washed out, so the doubleheader became a possibility.
The first race of the twin bill will be just like any other Saturday. Drivers will qualify for their starting position like any other race.
Then the starting order for the second race will be based on the finishing order of the first race - except the top six positions will be inverted. Thus the sixth-place finisher will be on the pole for the second race, the winner will start on the outside of the third row, and the seventh-place driver will start seventh.
The track's four other divisions will also race that night.
\ MORE TRACK PLANS: Snoddy said he and fellow new owner John Frazier planned to be active in the operations of the track.
He added that after talking with fans and drivers, the two things both groups would like to see are longer races and more races.
\ THOMAS TO TURN IT ON: Ronnie Thomas qualified on the pole and won Marathon Oil-Jordon Oil-Goody's 200 to end a three-race dry spell. And after going 0-for-June, the Late Model leader in laps led (594), victories (five) and poles (four) thinks he still can go a little faster.
"We've had a problem with it since the car was in a minor accident three or four weeks ago," said Thomas, referring to his spin on June 5. "Since then, it's been about a tenth [of a second] slower in qualifying and a fifteenth [of a second] slower during the race. That's why we've been running second and third. We found a big chunk of that time tonight. But the car still has another tenth [of a second] in it. We've got to find it."
\ HOLIDAY BLUES: Only 15 cars started the Late Model race last Saturday. The field was by far the smallest of the season, and it was less than half as large as the entrants in the 200-lap race June 26.
"I expected it," said Lynn Carroll, the track's chief steward, about the low turnout. "We're usually down the week after a 200-lapper, and it's a holiday weekend. And having some cars wreck and some cars blow [engines] last week didn't help."
Many of the no-shows appeared to be the result of damage not yet repaired or commitments to other tracks.
Ironically, the other four divisions had the same size fields they've been averaging the past few weeks.
\ RAIN DELAY - PART IV: The sequel no one wanted to see came to NRVS last week - more rain. The drops started to fall about 7:30 last Saturday night, just after qualifying finished.
The passing sun-showers rained on the track off and on for about 20 minutes. It took until about 8:15 to get the track ready for racing.
Then 13 laps into the first race - the Mini Stocks - the rain returned. But the encore was brief, and the race only had to be halted for a few minutes until it could continue.
\ BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL UPDATE: Johnny Rumley plans to practice at Bristol Aug. 6. He hopes to drive in the Food City 250 at Bristol on Aug. 27 - an off-week for NRVS.
"That's the plan, if I don't wreck it in practice," Rumley said with a laugh.
Michael Ritch was scheduled to race in the Havoline 250 at the Milwaukee Mile, but couldn't get his car ready in time.
"We just didn't want to drive 20 hours and not be ready to race," said Ritch, who now plans on racing in the Kroger NASCAR 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 31.
\ THIS WEEK: It will be the Wicker Basket Outlet 200 Saturday night at New River Valley Speedway.
The race action will consist of the 100-lap Late Model feature, the 35-lap Limited Sportsman event and 25-lap races in the Modified Minis, Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks.
Gates open at 2 p.m. Practice begins at 4. Qualifying starts at 6:15. The green flag drops at 8.
Admission is $8 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under.
M.J. Dougherty cover sports for the Roanoke Times & World-News' New River Valley bureau.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB