Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 21, 1995 TAG: 9508220033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Agnew overtook pole sitter Ray Young on lap 53 and cruised to victory in the 150-lap Late Model race at the Craftsman Tools 250 at New River Valley Speedway.
After going winless in the season's first three months, Agnew has reeled off five consecutive victories. In his previous two races, Agnew had won by disqualification and last-lap heroics, but there would be no drama in victory No.5. After taking the lead, the Floyd County resident was never challenged.
``Oh boy, it was super,'' said Agnew of the way his car ran. ``I have to give the crew credit. When the car is like it was tonight all I have to do is drive it.''
With the victory, Agnew extended his lead in the chase for the track championship to 22 points over the second-place driver Ray Young. Young finished Saturday's race in second place to stay in the hunt.
``It isn't always going to go this way,'' Agnew said. ``Right now, all the luck is going our way. We are on a streak, but that could turn around next week.''
Convincing Young that Agnew's luck is going to change anytime soon would be a difficult proposition. The Bassett driver has finished second in the last four races.
``My car was a little off tonight,'' Young said. ``But Jeff was awfully strong. We are just waiting for Jeff to have some bad luck [in order to make up ground in the points race], but it doesn't look like he is going to have any.''
Mike Porter finished third but was unable to mount a serious challenge against Young.
``We ran good,'' said Porter, who normally races at Lonesome Pine in Coeburn. ``We just got beat on the engine tonight, but we are getting better. We need to learn this track better.''
Boones Mill's Rodney Cundiff finished fourth in the race, which had only six drivers on the lead lap at its conclusion.
In other races:
nRonnie Davis seized the lead on lap four and waltzed to victory in the 50-lap Mid-Atlantic Modified race, his third victory of the season.
Davis was first in qualifying, but started fourth when the top four cars were inverted. The MAM points leader easily marched through the field. Brett Hamilton, who led the first three laps, finished second. Mark Schools was third.
Tam Topham led all 35 laps in capturing the Limited Sportsman race, his third victory in a row. Points leader Hank Turman of Indian Valley finished second and Rocky Mount's Bruce Brown was third.
Pole sitter Mark Akers was black-flagged after a first-lap incident and dropped out of the race instead of going to the rear of the field.
Christiansburg's Tommy Allie took the lead on lap five and coasted to victory in the 25-lap Pure Stock Race. The victory was Allie's sixth of the season. Randy Taylor of Madison passed Christiansburg's Randall Custer on the final lap to finish second.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB