Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 7, 1994 TAG: 9409090024
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. Dougherty
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Gone were the hazy, humid mid-80s of the Sunday afternoon race on Aug. 28.
A cold front had blown away all the haze Saturday - and the warmth that went along with it. Clouds blanketed the sky for most of the afternoon, finally breaking up as evening neared.
Those conditions combined to keep the temperature in the 60s.
For the spectators, it meant sweaters and jackets instead of shorts and shirtsleeves.
For the drivers, it meant a completely different racing surface.
"It's going to give me more confidence," said Late Model Stock Car points leader Jeff Agnew of Floyd going into Saturday night's race. "We set our car up looser than most, so we like it when the track is tight."
That usually means a fast track as well.
"The track is going to be sticky," said Roanoke's Tink Reedy. "I'd be surprised if we didn't see some faster times out there tonight. Just look what happened at Darlington."
At the qualifying Friday for the Southern 500, 14 drivers broke the track record at Darlington Speedway. Instead of the usual late-summer South Carolina swelter, they qualified on a relatively cool and crisp day.
Meanwhile, at NRVS, Tim McGuire won his first pole of the year Saturday with a lap of 16.56 seconds (90 mph), the fastest since June. Only one car in the field did not break 17 seconds.
Also, the cooler weather meant the drivers would stay that way as well.
"It's going to be cool in the cars later on tonight," said Chad Harris of Stuarts Draft. "This is racing weather."
LATE SEASON COMINGS AND GOINGS: As the regular racing season comes to a close, drivers show up - or don't show up - in unusual places.
In Late Model, Harris was in his Ford for the first time in months. The top contender for the division's Rookie of the Year honors, Harris had switched to a Chevrolet several months ago. But with that car being prepared for a practice session at Martinsville, the Ford was brought back.
Randy Ratliff of Grundy had his own No. 24 Oldsmobile instead of the No. 49 Olds of Kidd Tickle Racing at the track. Problems with the No. 49 have prompted the team to explore selling that car and going with Ratliff's instead. All is well with the alliance, though, as Ratliff's car arrived in the Tickle trailer.
The 14-car field was the smallest for the Late Models in the last two seasons. Among the missing were Michael Ritch of High Point, N.C. The five-time winner's Chevrolet is awaiting a new engine. Ritch was the only driver in the top 10 in points not at the race.
Meanwhile, in Limited Sportsman, 20 cars showed up for the 50-lap race. The extra-length event resulted in the division's second-largest turnout since May. Only the televised race at the end of July had a larger field.
One driver who was back was Christiansburg's Bo Howell, who hadn't made a Limited start since an accident in late May. Howell's Chevrolet Lumina was finally repaired, and the team planned on using the Limited race to "shake down'' the car before entering the Late Model fray. He raced a few laps, then started making adjustments on the car and finished 18th
Again last week, Rock Harris of Yadkinsville, N.C., was in the Ford Thunderbird previously driven by Robert Fin of Blacksburg. Harris' Pontiac Firebird was bring prepped for the big-money post-season race at North Wilkesboro, which he won last season. But it doesn't seem to matter what Harris drives, as he won his ninth Limited race.
Others making their first 1994 trip to NRVS included two North Carolinians: Jim Huff and Carlos Clifton. Huff usually races at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C.; Clifton at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem. Because of mechanical problems, neither was a factor: Huff finished 15th and Clifton 19th. Both probably were hoping for better results as their cars each bore "For Sale" signs.
In the Pure Stock division, Mike "Monk'' Marion was back. The Fairlawn driver made his first start since the 50-lapper in early August and only his third appearance since he wrecked and heavily damaged his Monte Carlo in June. Marion hopes to be able to finish the season to ensure himself of a top 10 finish in the division. Marion entered the race ninth in points, and his fifth-place finish was better than his closest pursuers.
CAN'T MISS THEM: Huff Petroleum made sure everyone knew who was sponsoring the race.
Banners under the scoreboard and on the inside wall on the front stretch are common, but Huff also put a dozen Chevron emblems on the fence in turns 1 and 2. And when you looked up, there was a miniature Chevron blimp.
The crew from Huff even thought of the place most race fans have to visit sometime during the evening. They put Chevron emblems on the walls of the restrooms.
A couple of drivers also benefited. Huff served as a sponsor for Ronnie Thomas of Christiansburg in the Late Model race and for Tam Tophan of Max Meadows in the Limited race. Each driver came home third.
THIS WEEK AT THE TRACK: For the second time in three weeks, there will be no racing Saturday at NRVS. That's so as not to compete with the Winston Cup Miller 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
But Friday and Sunday both will be busy at the track.
Friday is the last open practice of the regular season. Gates open at 3 p.m., and at 4, drivers in all divisions (including Enduro) will have a chance to test their equipment. Spectators will be admitted to the grandstand free.
Sunday is the RGM Erectors 250. Six racing events will fill the afternoon. The top attractions are two 75-lap Late Model features. Also on tap are a 35-lap Limited race and 25-lappers for the Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks and Modified Minis.
Besides the racing, Rick Mast will be at the track with his show car for pictures and autographs. The Rockbridge Baths resident captured the pole for the inaugural Brickyard 400 last month.
Gates open at 10 a.m. Practice begins at noon. Qualifying is at 1:30 p.m., and the green flag drops at 3.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB