LateModelStock.com - News

USAR Visits New River Valley

Diane Brinkley 
NRVS Writer 

RADFORD- The Hooters Pro Stock series brought unique action to the New River Valley Speedway tonight in the Kroger 250 presented by Pepsi. The New River Valley Mini Stocks and NASCAR Late Model Stocks divisions also ran tonight.

The Hooters Pro Cup drivers ran a clean race. The first caution, for a spin in turn two, came on lap 63. Turn four, however caught the most drivers, being the site of five of the 10 total cautions.

During the closing laps of the race Jay Fogleman (8) and Jeff Agnew (73) battled hard for first place. After several laps of trading the position as well as paint, Agnew managed to get ahead of Fogleman. Shortly after the change in position the two got involved in an incident in turn four, causing the caution to fly one last time on lap 246. Agnew suffered major damage to the car and finished 11th. Fogleman finished 13th after obtaining two flat tires during his incident with Agnew.

Bobby Gill (5) picked up the lead at the final caution and held onto it to take the win, for the second year in a row. Gill was followed by Mart Nesbitt (30) and rookie Tony Robertson (23), in second and third, respectively. Steve Christian (16) finished fourth and rounding out the top five was Hal Goodson in the number 45.

The night ended with the NASCR Late Model race. Turn four was a rough spot for the drivers in this race as well. Four of the six cautions occurred in this turn.

The exit of turn two, in the beginning of the backstretch was the site of the night's biggest pile-up. During the final restart, Rick Carrico (18) got into the back of Lee Blaker (32) causing Blaker to hit the back wall. Both cars suffered damage, Blaker's car was towed off the track forcing Blaker to call it an early night and he finished the race in 26th. Carrico was able to continue running in the race and finished 16th.

When the field came out of turn two they found themselves looking for a place to go. Atleast eight cars were unable to avoid the incident. While a few braked hard and spun, others such as Chad Harris (02) found themselves with no way out and added to the pile up. Harris slid into Blaker and received front end damage. Harris finished the night in 7th.

Phillip Morris (01) went on to win the race, his ninth win of the season, and said, "We didn't have the best car tonight, the 96 (Wade Day) was a lot better, we just held onto it.

Second place finisher, Wade Day (96), battled for position with Morris for over half the race. Day overtook Morris once, but couldn't manage to stay out in front of him.

Day said, "I think we were really better then Philip Morris on the long runs, we just couldn't catch him."

In his fifth run at the speedway, Gilbert King, in the number 89 took home his second third place finish this season. King said, "We didn't have a third place car, but we got lucky."

Tonight's Hooters Pro Cup race will be broadcast on Speedvision, Thursday night at 9p.m. Next week all of the regular divisions are back in action for the Hill Insurance Agency/CAT Rental Store 200. In addition, the UCARS and Southern Vintage Modifieds will be each be running 25 lap races. The racing action begins at 7pm.