THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409230708
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
As the racing season comes to a close, all most of the division leaders have to do is start their engines to claim the title.
But pick any track in the area and you will find at least one fierce battle being fought for second place.
Norfolk's Phil Warren grabbed the Late Model Stock title, the third of his career, at Langley Raceway last weekend with a second place finish. Buddy Malish has a 100-point lead over Roger Sawyer for the runner-up spot.
Warren and Sawyer have won five races apiece this season. They are second to '93 LMS champion Eddie Johnson, who has won six races while running a limited schedule at Langley to pursue his Grand National campaign.
Roger Bress wrapped up the Grand Stock title last weekend as he won his eighth race, but John Hicks and Gordon Weeks Jr. are separated by just six points with two races left in the season.
Jerry Scott cruised to the Pure Stock title with 10 victories and a 126 point cushion over Gene Smith, who has Vince Pope just 26 points behind him.
Bret Hamilton, who won two races at Langley, claimed his third straight Tri-Track Modified title.
Only the Mini-Stock and Limited Stock titles remain a question mark. Rookie Jim Adkins will take just a eight-point edge over Kevin Harrison into Saturday's 25-lap Mini-Stock race. Last season's runner-up Cathy Mosier is just 22 points in arrears of Harrison. Kevin Adams is leading Charles Bryant Jr. by 18 points in the Limited Stock division.
SOUTHAMPTON: Chesapeake's Bert Culpepper needs to finish just eighth or better to claim the Late Model Sportsman crown as Southampton Speedway wraps up its season Saturday.
Culpepper has a 14-point lead over Mike Shearin of Emporia.
Vic Story will grab the Sportsman title when he starts his engine. But '93 champion Speck Edwards, who trails Story by 24 points has Chesapeake's Dan Peters only four points behind him.
The Limited Stock title was wrapped up by Tony Edwards last week, but the battle for second will come down to the wire. Johnny West carries just a four-point edge over Richard Holmes into Saturday's 25-lap race.
Kendall Barnes dominated the Mini-Stock division all season, but three drivers still have a shot at the second spot. David Fowler leads Jimmy Day by just two points with Niel Mitchell just 18 points down.
Mike Perry takes a 24-point lead over Irvin Stephens Jr. into the Hobby Stock division's twin 20 lap races. Perry's younger brother Chuck is just four points behind Stephens in third.
VA. MOTORSPORTS PARK: Only three points races are left as the Petersburg drag strip prepares to close out its inaugural season.
James Sessoms has a 660-points lead over James Holmes. Sessoms helped himself by rolling into the semi-finals of the Super Pro division last weekend before falling to Todd Atkinson.
Mike Moore is in third just 10 points behind Holmes and just two points ahead of Gary Nuckols.
Pro ET points leader Willard Hammond fell in the first round to Earl RaBorg, but was able to keep his lead when James Lovett, who is second in points, only made it to the second round.
The championship has been decided in the Sportsman division with Skip Morgan clinching the title with a victory last weekend. But Virginia Beach's Daniel Anspach and Howard Scott will battle for second.
Jay Batchelor took home a victory in the Pro Bike class last weekend and is closing in on the title. by CNB