Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 25, 1994 TAG: 9405260061
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. Dougherty
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The new NASCAR rules on carburetors are a major reason why Late ModelO drivers Rodney "Six-Pack" Cundiff and Orvil Reedy have moved to FCS from New River Valley Speedway. And Frankie Pennington has even made an appearance in this Thunderbird there.
But Cundiff, who embarked on a long winning streak after his first race, and Reedy, have other reasons as well. Both have strong track records at FCS, and their sponsors' wishes and convenience were also factors.
Cundiff lives in Boones Mill, just a few miles from the speedway, and has been racing at Franklin County since 1979. "I just don't see how a Ford can win at New River," Cundiff said. Since FCS is not a NASCAR-sanctioned track, it does not enforce all NASCAR regulations. A crowd favorite, Cundiff attributes part of his popularity to his make of car.
Reedy was the Late Model track champion at FCS in 1984. The Daleville resident started racing at Callaway in 1971 when he bought a car from ``Squeak'' McGuire, father of current racers Tim and Tony McGuire. And Reedy's sponsors this season, Wise Potato Chips and Vinton Motors, have raced in Callaway for many years.
Ironically, the differences in carburetion rules between tracks worked in New River's favor with Darrell Holman. The Late Model/Limited Sportsman driver can use the larger-on-top carburetor on his Ford in the Limited Class at NRVS, something he could not do this year at Lonesome Pine International Raceway in Coeburn.
"It's about the same drive for us," said Holman, who lives in Abingdon. "It's an hour to Coeburn and and 1:15 to here [New River]. But the entire drive to here is interstate so it's easier driving."
Meanwhile, new challenges and the desire for new scenery have brought the McGuire brothers of Roanoke to New River Valley Speedway full time after alternating between the two tracks last year.
Tim McGuire wants to change the fact he hasn't won a race at NRVS since 1988.
"I couldn't do well in the points at either track," said Tim, who is second in the points standings. "We decided to pick one. We won there [Franklin County] but we didn't win here [New River]. So we wanted to come back here and try to win a race." For Tony, the rule-making body that has caused some Ford drivers to flee New River is his main reason for racing there.
"You've got [promoter Ronnie] Snoddy and the NASCAR officials," said Tony, who won his first NASCAR race earlier this year. "It a nicer place to race. And they go by the [NASCAR] rules. No changing them halfway through a race."
Two other former FCS regulars are also at New River this year. Dicky Wilson of Salem teamed up with car owner Emory Collins to take the place of Clay Highberger, who retired to become crew chief for Ray Young.
Rick Sigmon of Rocky Mount stepped into the Wicker Basket car owned by by Ned and Sylvia Turner and driven by several competitors last year, including Carl Daidan who is racing this year at Franklin County.
The two did make a cameo appearance at Franklin County the week weather got the better of New River and finished in the top six.
Stacy Compton continues to alternate between South Boston Speedway and New River to fulfill sponsorship commitments. However, the switches don't seem to be affecting the driver from Hurt much this year as he won for the first time since 1992 at South Boston and been very strong at NRVS.
A couple of other familiar faces at NRVS have been seen quite regularly at Lonesome Pine in the early goings. Mike Porter of Princeton, W.Va. has won several times at LPIR since coming to New River the second race of the season, having his qualifying run disallowed and then deciding not to compete.
Kelly Denton of Bristol has had some good runs at Lonesome Pine. But the bad luck that plagued him early this year at New River has revisited him on occasion as he returned to LPIR where he competed the first half of last season.
Then there is the case of Grundy's Randy Ratliff. He started the season at New River, went back to Lonesome Pine where he ran for most of the 1993 season, then showed up at NRVS the week the race was rained out.
"I don't want to get in any points race," he said. "I just want to go out and have some fun and hopefully win some races."
Ratliff plans to use the Oldsmobile he drove at NRVS late last year at Lonesome Pine. When he visits New River, Ratliff said, he will drive the Chevrolet that was Young's ride last season.
LONGER EQUALS MORE EXCITING: The Pure Stocks, Limited Sportsmans and Late Models have all had their first longer-than-usual race of the year. And patience has been an importnat virture. For the driver who was leading at what normally would have been the final lap has not won any of the longer races.
In the 50-lap Pure Stock race, Davis "Ducky" Phillips led through much of the early part of the race. But a spin with challenger Robbie Cundiff opened the door for Mike "Monk" Marion.
"If this was a 25-lapper, I would have finished ninth," said Marion.
In the 50-lap race for the Limiteds, Charlie Miles recovered from a first-lap spin and was in position to take advantage of a slip by Mark Akers coming out of turn 2 with eight laps left.
"I was patient and I knew I had the extra laps," said Miles, who
And in the Late Model 200, Tink Reedy's car improved as the race went on, enabling him to catch pole-sitter Jeff Agnew.
RADIO RACING: For talk about racing, there are two weekly 30-minute call-ind shows about NRVS.
Kool Country (that's WBNK (100.7 FM) and WNRV (990 AM) have "New River Valley Race Weekly" on Tuesday nights at 6:30, just before NASCAR Live, with M.J. Dougherty as the host. The number to call in with questions is 382-1887. The show also airs on WFNR (710 am).
CD Country (that's WRIQ (101.7 fm) has "New River Valley Speedway Report" on Thursdays at 5:45 p.m. The host is Brian O'Donnell. The number to call in with questions in 639-2461. The show is also on WRAD (1460 am).
NRVS ON TV: Tim McGuire does the race report every Monday during the 5 p.m. news on WSLS Channel 10. The driver brings the perspective of a man who has been behind the wheel of a race car to the interviews and highlights of the previous week's racing at New River Valley Speedway.
THIS WEEK AT NRVS:: For the first time in several weeks, it's a normal night for racing action with the Budweiser 200.
Of course, normal means over 200 laps of racing action with the 100-lap Late Model Stock Car feature, the 35-lap Limited Sportsman race and 25-lappers for the Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks and Modified Minis.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under.|
M.J. Dougherty covers racing and community sports for the New River Current.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB