Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 10, 1994 TAG: 9407220051
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
And after he won the Late Model Stock Car feature of the Q99-WSLC/Tombstone Pizza 200, Ritch was glad he did.
``I can't say enough about this pit crew,'' said the High Point, N.C., driver who won his third race of the season at the track. ``I thought we should go with something different. But we ended up doing what Joe [Jefferson], the crew chief wanted. And I'm glad we did.''
So instead of his Chevrolet Lumina becoming loose as the 100-lap race entered its latter stages, Ritch's car was just right because of a tighter-than-usual setup at the start.
As Jeff Agnew and Tony McGuire battled for the lead, Ritch sat in third place and gained ground. When McGuire passed Agnew on lap 61, Ritch followed one lap latter.
Then, Ritch moved past McGuire on lap 69 and went on for to win by more than five seconds.
``This car just came in as the race went on,'' Ritch said. ``That's the way you want a race car to be - fast at the end.''
McGuire of Roanoke and Agnew of Floyd remained in second and third place, respectively, both in Chevrolets.
``It was getting to be loose,'' McGuire said. ``The track has started to get slick. It's been hot the last couple of weeks and it seems like the oil has started getting into the pavement.''Roanoke's Tim McGuire, driving a Chevrolet, held off Bassett's Ray Young, who was in an Oldsmobile, for fourth place.
The top five cars were the only ones in the field of 18 that finished on the lead lap in the caution-free race.
Mechanical problems knocked out five cars before the race's end.
Rock Harris of Yadkinville, N.C., started from the pole and led all the way in the 35-lap Limited Sportman feature. Harris finished three seconds in front of runner-up Mark Akers. Tam Tophan finished third, and Charlie Miles recovered from an early-race spin to take fourth.
Tommy Allie of Christiansburg made it 6-for-6 with a victory in the caution-free 25-lap Pure Stock race. Aaron Deplazes and Ronnie Vaught were second and third, respectively.
Gene Duncan of Radford worked his way through the field and took the lead on lap 20 and went on to win the 25-lap Mini Stock race. Robert Cox held off Jay McCray for second place.
Jimmy Hinkley of Christiansburg outdueled Tony Howell in the 25-lap Modified Mini Stock race. It was Hinkley's second victory of the season. Dale Sutphin was third.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB