THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 16, 1995 TAG: 9507160182
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Even Phil Warren was soaking wet with sweat Saturday night at Langley Speedway. And it wasn't only the 95-degree heat that finally melted a guy who has been as cool as an ice cube at the NASCAR-sanctioned oval.
Before breaking away to his 13th victory of the season, the Norfolk driver had to withstand a blistering challenge from Greg Edwards and a collision with a car speeding out of pit road.
At the end, though, Warren crossed the finish line about five car lengths ahead of Edwards, who had beaten him a week ago.
``It was unbelievably hot out there,'' Warren said.
One driver, Buddy Dozier of Virginia Beach, was treated for heat exhaustion after leaving his car.
The competition matched the heat wave, too.
Warren started on the pole but led only eight laps before Edwards passed him and built a small advantage. Edwards held firm until faltering on a restart following a caution period on lap 30. He drifted high in the third turn, giving Warren the opportunity to speed underneath him to regain the lead.
``My car was too loose to begin with, so I didn't challenge Greg too much when he passed me for the lead,'' Warren explained. ``I figured I would see what he had later on and challenge him then.''
Edwards' problem on the restart made it easier than Warren expected, though.
``I don't know what happened on the restart,'' Warren said. ``His car got high and I got around him.''
Warren and Edwards were still dueling for the lead on lap 83 when two cars spun in front of them as they hit the third turn. Both avoided involvement, but Warren got tagged by Joe Gaita on the other end of the track. Gaita had turned down pit road to avoid the accident.
Warren spun but was able to retain the lead because the incident happened under caution.
``It didn't hurt the car any, but it sure scared me,'' Warren said.
Warren pulled away on the restart to lead the final 17 laps without a challenge.
Edwards said he apparently ran over trash during the caution period and punctured his right rear tire.
``The car slowed, but I didn't know what happened until my crewmen found the hole after the race,'' Edwards said.
Bugs Hairfield, returning after skipping last week's race because of a dispute, finished third.
In other divisions:
Grand Stock driver John Hicks ended a season-long run of bad luck by getting his first victory in a 40-lap feature.
``I feel I should have won a couple of other races by now, but I've just had a lot of bad luck,'' Hicks said. ``But they say in racing you make your luck, so I guess I was lucky this time.''
In the Mini-Stock division, Kevin Harrison led all 25 laps and finished three seconds ahead of Jimmy Adkins, the points leader.
Tod Carson led from pole to checkered flag to win the 25-lap Limited Stock feature.
Pure Stock points leader Corey Fogeleman won a 25-lap feature in which Gary McQuillen escaped injury when his car flipped onto its roof in the third turn. ILLUSTRATION: LANGLEY RESULTS
Late Model Stock: 1. Phil Warren, 2. Greg Edwards, 3. Bugs
Hairfield, 4. Charlie Bryant Jr., 5. Buddy Malish, 6. Ashton Lewis
Jr., 7. Danny Edwards Jr., 8. John Livingston, 9. Mike Conner, 10.
Buddy Dozier, 11. Craig Eastep, 12. Danny Baker, 13. Jeremy
McCormick, 14. Fred Siebert, 15. Joe Gaita, 16. Doug Godsey, 17.
C.J. Johnson, 18. Mitch Sarvis, 19. Tommy Gibbs, 20. Christian
Barone, 21. Jimmy Humblet.
Grand Stock: 1. John Hicks, 2. Rick Hester, 3. Jimmy Kenney, 4.
Rhett Bussler, 5. Phil Hedgepeth.
Limited Stock: 1. Tod Carson, 2. Kevin Adams, 3. Kelly Carson, 4.
David Nichols, 5. Jason Christenburey.
Mini-Stock: 1. Kevin Harrison, 2. Jimmy Adkins, 3. Trevor Falls,
4. Bill Tippit, 5. Kevin Retinouer.
Pure Stock: 1. Corey Fogleman, 2. Gary Ferber, 3. Kenny Phares,
4. Billy Newman, 5. Rick Hurst.
by CNB