THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 26, 1994 TAG: 9408260749
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
What at first seemed like a sick joke, has turned into a simple case of mistaken identity.
Last weekend Langley Grand Stock driver Roger Bress dedicated his victory to Tommy Ellis. Those on hand immediately thought of the Grand National driver from Richmond, but nobody knew why Bress had made the dedication.
Later an unidentified man came to the press box and told race announcer Buddy Long that Bress made the dedication because Ellis had been shot in the head and killed.
That started the phone ringing at Ellis' house, and while he was pleased to say he is alive, he was more than a little upset at what he thought was someone's idea of a sick joke.
It was Ellis himself who speculated that there might be another Tommy Ellis. He was right.
Seventeen-year-old Thomas Nathan Ellis, a good friend of Bress, died from a gunshot wound on Wednesday, August 17th. Norfolk police have charged 18-year-old Shelton Ellis with involuntary manslaughter.
GN RIDE FOR JOHNSON: Defending Langley Late Model champion Eddie Johnson has secured a full-time Grand National ride for the 1995 season.
Johnson, of Ashland, Va., said a couple of weeks ago that he had plans to run in the Grand National race at Richmond next month as well as at Martinsville and at Charlotte, but at that time final plans for next season hadn't been made.
``The money it takes to move up is unbelievable,'' Johnson said. ``But we're working on it and something will come together.''
This week those plans were secured with team-owner Coleman Young. They wouldn't say who will be the sponsor of the Richmond-based team.
Johnson made his first Grand National appearance at South Boston Speedway in July, but mechanical troubles made it a less than memorable outing.
AT SOUTHAMPTON: Southampton Speedway was the sight of one of the strangest races of the season last weekend.
Smithfield's Richard Holmes appeared to be on his way to his fifth victory of the season in the Limited Stock race. However, at some point during the race the track scoreboard got one lap ahead of the official score sheet and the white flag was thrown a lap too soon.
Holmes backed off the accelerator after crossing the finish line for what he thought was the final time. He dropped back to fifth before he realized that everyone had started to race again and Johnny West of South Mills, N.C., took the checkered flag. After the race, track officials decided to award first place money and points to Holmes as well as West.
Holmes and West are second and third in points, 30 and 40 points respectively in arrears of Tony Edwards of Franklin.
VA. MOTORSPORTS PARK: James Sessoms is back on top in the Super Pro points standings after spending a week in third place.
Sessoms has been swapping the lead with James Holmes all season. But last week Holmes and Mike Moore, who is third in the standings, were eliminated in the first round of racing. Sessoms eventually lost to Mark Alvey after two rounds but earned enough points to take a 100-point lead over Holmes. by CNB