ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, June 24, 1996 TAG: 9606240166
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CALLAWAY
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
All of the sudden, Jimmy Mullins is taking control of the points race at Franklin County Speedway.
Mullins, from Collinsville, took the lead at the midway point and did not look back in capturing the Associated Electronics 300 Late Model race on Saturday night.
The first several laps set the tone for the rest of the 100-lap feature. Chris Hatchett spun into the wall early in the race as the 16-car field was anxious to change positions.
Hatchett, a 19-year-old Late Model rookie, had trouble again later as Malcolm Fink bumped him, sending him into the wall, effectively ending his night but not his spirit.
``I don't mind the bad luck tonight, but I'll be back next week to blow some doors off,'' Hatchett said.
Orvil Reedy, who sat on the pole for the race, finished second after riding Mullins' bumper for most of the race.
Bobby Radford finished third and Dudley Lawhorne, who was second in the points battle going into Saturday night's race, was fourth.
In other races:
Mike Dudley took advantage of Skip Bennington's bad luck to win the Limited Sportsman race.
Bennington, who started on the pole, had a flat tire, which ended his chances of winning.
The race was marred by an incident between Leon Dalton and Doug McBride. Midway through the race, the two got tangled and Dalton was sent spinning into the infield.
Dalton recovered and proceeded to ram into McBride, sending him spinning. Dalton was given a stop-and-go penalty which put him a lap down and out of contention.
Mike Elkins edged out Chad Smith by a car length to finish in second place.
Roanoke's Kevin Ransome took the lead on the very first lap and led the rest of the way to win the Pure Stock race.
Jay Peery was involved in a major accident in the race. Peery was trying to block Mike Looney from passing when Looney tapped him, sending him into the wall. The car was destroyed, but Perry was not injured.
Gary Joyce of Collinsville took advantage of a spinout by Mike Hall to take the lead and victory in the Mini Stock race.
Hall had taken the lead on lap four from pole-sitter Gary Clifton. Lewis Wagner finished second and Scott Spradlin came in third.
Steve Cannaday of Martinsville won the Rookie race with Bob Cregger coming in second. Harland Dalton was third. In other racing action, Tracy Scott won the AnyCar division.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB