Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 31, 1994 TAG: 9404010012
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M. J. Dougherty
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
This year, for example, changes in the Late Model Stock Car division included such mundane items as prohibiting a shield on the air cleaner and requiring all the bolts in the oil pan to be visible.
hen there are the not-so-mundane rule changes. ike the new carburetor and air vent rules which have the non-GM drivers venting frustration.
The rules require the Fords and Chryslers to use the same size carburetor as the Chevys, Buicks, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles. Last year, the Fords and Chryslers, which also must use a six-pound heavier crank shaft, could use a carburetor that was larger on top and the same size on the bottom.
In conjunction with that, the elimination of the cowl air intake - the hole in the hood - has taken about 30 horsepower away from the non-GM cars.
How bad is it. The 34-car field for the Late Model portion of the Miller Genuine Draft 500 at Martinsville earlier this month had a grand total of one Ford and one Chrysler (NRVS regular Tink Reedy).
"You've never heard of a Chubby Arrington being low on horsepower," said Reedy at Martinsville, referring to his car owner. "This car is low on horsepower."
Seven non-GM products, six Fords and a Chrysler, were among the 32 cars that took the green flag at Martinsville last October.
The story was much the same at the first practice of the season at New River Valley Speedway.
Frankie Pennington tried to shift weight around in his Ford Thunderbird to get it to go faster. He estimated it was about two-tenths of a second slower than the GM products.
"We've worked all winter and it handles great," said Pennington. "But it just doesn't have any power. They [the rule changes] are killing us."
Meanwhile, Ronnie Thomas, the track's best known-Ford driver, is a Chrysler driver awaiting an engine.
"We'll do the best we can, said Thomas, who won 12 races last year. "And if it doesn't work out, we'll have to look at making a change."
Thomas added he could see the reasoning behind the rule change but thought NASCAR officials had gone too far in trying to handicap the non-GMs cars.
And Rodney "Six Pack" Cundiff is unsure whether he will race this season because the rules make his Ford uncompetitive.
Track steward Lynn Carroll acknowledged that the air intake being eliminated, along with the other changes, appeared to hurt the Fords and Chryslers more. He said track officials were looking into the situation to see what they could do even things out.
It should be pointed out that these particular rules cover all NASCAR Late Model Stock Cars and have been issued by the home office in Daytona, Fla.
DIRT DEVILS: Among the rookies in the Late Model division this season are a pair of former dirt trackers turning to asphalt for the first time.
"We're focusing on getting better every week; it's a new experience for all of us," said Calvin Davis of Bland.
Davis has won three Street Stock titles at Wythe Raceway. His Oldsmobile is owned by Kelly Kidd, who owned the car Robert Davis drove to the 1989 Mini Stock championship at NRVS.
"We came out yesterday [Friday] to practice and it took us half a day to get used to it," said Chad Harris of Waynesboro.
Harris finished second in the Late Model division at Waynesboro Speedway and won three races in the process. He started racing go-karts as a youth against the likes of Stacy Compton. The two have remained friends and Harris still seeks Compton's advice when he has racing questions.
SEEING DOUBLE: Former Dash Series driver Darrell Holman of Abingdon brings his Late Model and Limited Sportsman cars to New River this season.
Both will be painted yellow with black trim and numbers (No. 04).
About the only difference is that the Late Mode car is a Chevrolet while the Limited car is a Ford.
NEW FOES, OLD CARS: The No. 12 of Ronnie Thomas and the No. 99 of Johnny Rumley won 18 races last year.
This year, that rivalry will be renewed by two new drivers in the Limited Division.
Thomas sold his Ford Thunderbird to Rob Fain. And Tam Tophan of Wytheville is now driving Rumley's former ride.
AIRWAVES: "The Racing Report with TIM MCGUIRE" will return to WSLS Channel 10 again this season.
It will be seen every Monday during the 5 p.m. news broadcast. And since McGuire will be at NRVS full-time, all the reports will be from New River Valley Speedway.
THEY SAID IT: "If the car is as good of shape as the driver, we'll be all right" - Late Model driver Malcolm Fink of Roanoke. Fink has recovered from the heart attack he had during a 200-lap race last year which caused him to miss the last part of the season.
"I just hope the Mopar isn't a Slow-par," - Thomas about his switch to a Chrysler.
THIS WEEK'S RACING ACTION: The FM-94 Radio 200 kicks off the racing season Saturday night.
Scheduled are a 100-lap Late Model feature, a 35-lap Limited race and 25-lappers for the Modified Minis, Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks.
Admission is $10 for adults and $1 for children 12-and-under. Gates open at 2 p.m. Qualifying starts at 6:15. The green flag drops at 8 p.m.
Also this week, there will be an open practice on Friday afternoon at 4-8 p.m. Admission is free for spectators.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB