THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 18, 1994 TAG: 9407180170
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
While Roger Sawyer and Buddy Malish were creating fireworks on the track in the 100-lap Late Model Stock feature at Langley Raceway, Sawyer's crew grew increasingly concerned with those brewing in the sky.
With the halfway point gone and Malish clinging to the lead, Sawyer's crew chief got on the radio and told his driver to get back around Malish as quickly as he could because it looked like rain.
Sawyer, of Chesapeake, responded by reclaiming on lap 56 the lead he had lost on lap 49. Sawyer never looked back as he rolled to his third win of the season in Sunday night's makeup of Saturday's rainout.
Points leader Phil Warren of Norfolk was second and Malish, of Hampton, was third. Rookie Danny Ray Baker of Hampton and Shawn Balluzzo of Norfolk rounded out the top five.
Sawyer, who started on the pole with Malish on the outside, jumped to a healthy lead until Malish started showing strength in the corners.
``The car was really tight,'' Sawyer said. ``It was really pushing the right front tire and I was afraid I would mess up the right side if I pushed it into the corners too hard. The car was coming off the corners great. It was just getting into them. . . .''
That is where Malish, who still is seeking his first victory of '94, was able to make his move going into turn 1 on lap 49.
``Once I got by him, I had used up everything I had,'' Malish said.
On lap 55, Sawyer started to move under Malish down the backstretch. He completed the pass on lap 56 and chased the weather to the Victory Lane.
Sawyer's speedy pursuit of Malish helped heat up the right rear tire, which eventually helped the pushing problem right itself. That, coupled with a tough battle between Warren and Malish behind him, helped him pull away.
Warren overtook Malish on the outside on lap 61. Malish took the low line on lap 77 and the pair raced side-by-side for two laps before Malish relinquished the spot. He held on for third.
``We get closer and closer every week, it seems,'' Malish said. ``I guess we still a little more to do to get it dialed in just right.''
In Sunday's other races:
Mike McVaugh of Yorktown returned from a one-week layoff to claim his sixth win of the season in the 40-lap Grand Stock race. John Hicks of Hampton tried to beat McVaugh to the finish line down low but fell just short.
Points leader Kevin Adams of Newport News roared to his seventh victory of the season in the 25-lap Limited Stock event. Norfolk's Bobby Spivey was second.
Jim Adkins of Virginia Beach took the lead on lap 2 and held off Hampton's Trevor Falls to claim his second victory of the season in the 25-lap Mini-Stock race. The victory vaulted Adkins into the points lead, 10 ahead of Brian Loving, who has missed the last three races.
Jerry Scott of Hampton earned his eighth win of the season in the Pure Stock division, extending to 90 his points lead over Gene Smith of Newport News, who finished fifth.
Lou Cicconi was just three cars shy of lapping the field as he roared to victory in the ARDC Midget race. Bob Resco, Greg Stoehr and Phil Dimario, who crossed the line just ahead of Cicconi, were the only other cars on the lead lap. MEMO: Complete results/C4
by CNB