THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 7, 1995 TAG: 9507070481
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
With 10 laps to go in the Late Model Stock race last Sunday at Southern National Speedway in Kenly, N.C., driver Shawn Balluzzo was in the mood to deal away anything if he could only pull off a victory.
``I'll give up this, I'll give up that . . . I'll quit this, I'll quit that,'' he kept muttering before seeing the checkered flag wave on the hood of his race car for the first time since 1989.
``It was fantastic,'' said the former Virginia Beach resident who recently relocated in Hampton.
``But I am going to have a very boring life if I give up everything that I said I would during those last 10 laps.''
Balluzzo, who races at Langley Speedway most Saturday nights, took the lead at Southern on lap 78 and led the rest of the way to win the 150-lap event. He pulled away to a half-lap lead at one point, but a rash of caution flags in the final 10 laps wiped out his advantage and made the stretch run closer than it should have been.
``I had been so close to winning several times this season only to have something go wrong,'' Balluzzo said. ``I didn't want that happening again.''
This time nothing went wrong, although Balluzzo started the race from the 13th position because of a poor qualifying run he blamed on inadequate tire preparation.
At Langley, Balluzzo usually runs four laps to scuff a set a new tires. The tires worked better with a 15-lap scuffing at the North Carolina track.
``I was faster than anyone after the tires got worn. Some of my race laps were faster than the pole speed,'' Balluzzo said.
Now that Balluzzo has ended his long dry spell, he will be back at Langley this Saturday night to pursue his next goal.
``I want to beat Phil (Warren),'' Balluzzo said, referring to the Norfolk driver who has rolled to 12 victories this season at Langley.
Balluzzo had to cancel plans to race on the Grand National series this season because he didn't have enough sponsorship. ``I had the chassis ready to go, but there was no money,'' he said. ``It takes $100,000 to run a couple of races, $500,000 for a season.''
Now that Balluzzo has a current victory to add to his resume, he is hoping potential sponsors will be more interested.
As for those promises Balluzzo made in the final 10 laps, he already has delivered on one - taking his crew out for steak dinners.
ERNIE'S COMING: Ernie Irvan, who is sitting out the Winston Cup season while recovering from an eye injury suffered in a wreck a year ago, will visit Langley Speedway on Aug. 23.
Promoter Wayne Wyatt said Irvan would be available for signing autographs.
AT THE TRACKS: A 100-lap NASCAR Late Model Stock race will be featured Saturday at Langley Speedway. Events also are scheduled in four other divisions. Qualifying begins at 5 p.m., racing at 7.
Southampton Speedway in Capron will have racing in its five weekly classes Saturday night. Qualifying begins at 5:45 p.m., racing at 7.
Dixieland Speedway in Elizabeth City will have racing in its five divisions Friday night, beginning at 8 p.m.
Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie will hold ET points races Saturday and Street Legal and High School races on Sunday. by CNB