Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 16, 1993 TAG: 9312150129
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: SALEM LENGTH: Medium
Unofficially, the gala attended by 450 drivers, crew members, track officials and fans turned into Paul Radford Tribute Night.
Everything from the music played whenever the 62-year-old Ferrum Flash stepped up to the stage to accept yet another award to the centerpiece on the dance floor honored the track's Late Model Stock Car champion in some way.
The music was "Rocking Chair" by George Jones. That song has become symbolic of the man who has been driving race cars for 42 years.
The centerpiece was a 1950s-era Ford which Radford raced in his younger days.
"We won a lot of races in that car, we once won 10 straight" Radford said to the crowd. "It had a strong motor in it so we could run fast. I certainly wasn't expecting this."
Radford and car owner Clarence Pickeral of Martinsville each received a painting of the orange-and-white No. 26 Chevrolet Lumina Radford drove to the Late Model title.
Also, Radford was presented with a portrait done by Tim Lintecum, the track artist, when was honored as the most popular Late Model driver.
Radford and the other track champions - Kenny Montgomery of Parrott in Limited Sportsman, Charlie Smith of Dublin in Modified Mini Stock, Tony Howell of Christiansburg in Mini Stock, and Tommy Allie of Christiansburg in Pure stock - each received a championship ring, a jacket and a picture collage. Radford received a championship wine bucket; the others a silver plate.
The second- and third-place finishers in each division also received plates. Fourth- through 10th-place finishers got plaques. And the top 10 drivers in each class received a check from the post-season prize fund of more than $25,000.
\ OTHER AWARDS: The Rookies of the Year were Ray Young in Late Model, Charlie Miles in Limited Sportsman, Donald Combs in Modified Mini Stock, Kevin Light in Mini Stock and Robbie Cundiff in Pure Stock.
Ronnie Thomas in Late Model, Montgomery in Limited Sportsman, Scott Brawley in Modified Mini Stock, Howell in Mini Stock and Grump Wills in Pure Stock were honored for having the most wins and poles in their respective divisions.
Besides Radford, the most popular drivers were Montgomery (Limited), Brawley (Modified Mini Stock), Howell (Mini Stock) and Allie (Pure Stock).
Mechanics Lawrence "Ed" Cline, Dave Wikle and Victor Albert received Golden Wrench Awards, as voted on by the pit crews at the track. Cline worked on Johnny Rumley's Late Model car. Wikle and Albert worked on cars in Limited Sportsman - Wikle for Montgomery and Albert for Kevin Sweeney.
The best appearing cars were Frankie Pennington and Thomas in Late Model, Miles in Limited, Smith in Modified Mini Stock, Light in Mini Stock and Aaron Deplazes in Pure Stock.
The best appearing crews worked for Thomas in Late Model, Ronnie Byrd in Limited, Smith in Modified Mini Stock, Light in Mini Stock and Ronnie Vaught in Pure Stock.
\ PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW: Karen Sifford, who started working at the speedway halfway through its first season, has left the track. She took over as director of marketing for Martinsville Speedway on Dec. 1.
"It's a big step up," said Sifford, who started as a secretary at what was then Pulaski County Speedway in 1988 and left as the assistant general manager. "They have files filled with resumes of people wanting jobs. It's a tremendous honor to get it. It's going to be a challenge. I'll have my hands full."
\ HOLIDAY ROASTING: Montgomery: "I'm not to good at this stuff. I watched Ronnie Thomas last year but I'm not going to take as long as him."
Radford on Rumley: "I hardly knew who Johnny Rumley was without the beard and the long hair. I didn't recognize him. He looks good."
Rumley, later: "I took about five minutes thinking about how I could get back at Paul. But I figured I would need a shot gun and machine gun to get out of here. So I'll let him have his due."
M.J. Dougherty cover sports for the Roanoke Times & World-News' New River Valley bureau.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB