THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 29, 1994 TAG: 9407290728
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
July's thunderstorms have created big headaches for stock car racing promoters at Langley Raceway in Hampton and Southampton Speedway in Capron.
Both tracks had races rained out last weekend. Langley beat the weather the previous week by shifting from Saturday to Sunday night, but Southampton has had its events rained out the last two weekends.
``What really hurts is that we were having our best financial season,'' Southampton manager Jule Matthews said.
The rainouts have idled competitive championship races in Southampton's two top divisions, Late Model Sportsman and Sportsman, and Matthews worries that may affect attendance once the skies clear.
``We have been having good crowds, but after a couple of weeks, the fans might get out of the habit of coming,'' he said.
Matthews considered postponing last Saturday's races to Sunday until he studied the forecast, which called for more rain.
Weather permitting, racing will return to Southampton on Saturday night with the Tri-Track Modified series making its fourth appearance. The Modifieds will compete in a pair of 20-lap races or a 40-lapper, depending on the number of entries.
The winner of the Modified race will earn a guaranteed starting position in the Virginia Lottery State Fair championship race Oct. 1 at Richmond International Raceway.
Other races include a 40-lap Late Model Sportsman feature, a 30-lap Sportsman feature, a 25-lap Mini Stock feature and a 20-lap Hobby feature.
The Limited Stock division is not racing this weekend.
Time trials begin at 5:45 p.m., and the first heat race at 7.
When Langley promoter Joe Baldacci was forced to call off his races last Saturday, some of the Late Model Stock drivers scrambled to Robersonville, N.C., where the weather was drier at East Crolina Motor Speedway.
Norfolk's Shawn Balluzzo won pole position and finished second to Tommy Cherry in the feature. Langley regulars Phil Warren and Roger Sawyer were third and fourth.
A 150-lap feature is scheduled Saturday night for the Late Model Stock division at Langley. Races also will be held in the four other divisions.
Time trials will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the first feature at 7. by CNB