Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 15, 1993 TAG: 9308160009
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The caution periods allowed the tires on Thomas' Ford Thunderbird to cool and allowed the Christiansburg driver to make a run.
Thomas took the lead from Paul Radford on the final restart and went on to win the Late Model Stock feature in the Miller Genuine Draft/J-93 FM 200. It was Thomas' third victory of the season.
The caution periods added 16 laps to the scheduled 100-lap event.
"If it hadn't been for the cautions, I finished in second place," said Thomas, who started 14th after his qualifying run was disallowed because his car was too low to the ground. "The caution flags gave us the win."
The late-race cautions began with the battle for fourth place among Frankie Pennington, Tink Reedy and Jeff Agnew. The trio tangled in turn 1 on lap 99, sending Reedy and Agnew to the pits.
During the restart on lap 102, Michael Ritch and Scott Hill spun in turn 1. That brought out the caution flag that changed everything.
First, Pennington's Ford Thunderbird leaked oil around the track, necessitating a stoppage to dry the surface.
Then, Radford ran over some debris and the right front tire on his car began to lose air.
"I knew when the red flag came out it was all over but the crying," Thomas said. "My car was absolutely awesome on cold tires. When that red flag came out, I got on the radio and told my crew that we'd got ourselves a race. But still, it was the caution flags that gave it to us."
Radford's flat tire not only helped Thomas, it allowed Kenny Prillaman and Dick Godwin to pass Radford for second and third place, respectively. But Prillaman later was disqualified because his engine was set back too far.
"We ran over something during that last caution," said Radford, who had to settle for fourth after leading for 68 laps. "We'd have been all right if it hadn't been for that. But I can't complain. That's the first flat tire we've had all year. That's racing."
After Saturday's action, Radford leads Thomas 420-396 in the points standings with four races left. Agnew repaired his car after the accident on lap 99 in time to finish fifth.
In other races:
Rock Harris of Yadkinsville, N.C., took the lead for good on the seventh lap and went on to win the caution-free, 35-lap Limited Sportsman race by almost five seconds over Charles Miles. Points-leader Kenny Montgomery finished third.
Wayne Cassavaugh of Lenoir, N.C., slipped past Dale Sutphin on the ninth lap and went on to easily win the 25-lap Modified Minis race. It was the second consecutive victory for Cassavaugh. Suthpin was second, and points-leader Charlie Smith finished third. Driver Allen Willard was treated and released from Radford Community Hospital for burns on his face and hands. Willard was taken from the track after his car caught fire on lap 16 of the 25-lap race.
Tony Howell of Christiansburg led from start to finish in the 25-lap Mini Stock race. It was the ninth victory of the season for Howell, the division's points leader. Jay McCray fought his way to second place, but could not mount a serious challenge for the lead in the final laps.
Davis "Ducky" Phillips of Plum Creek passed Tommy Allie going into the first turn on the 23rd lap and held on to win the 25-lap Pure Stock race. It was Phillips' second victory in three weeks.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB