THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 21, 1995 TAG: 9507210641
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Phil Warren has been bumpers and fenders ahead of everyone in the Mid Atlantic Region of NASCAR's Winston Racing Series division since the season began in April. Finally, Warren's brilliant record, which includes a region-high 13 victories, is being reflected in the Mid Atlantic championship standings, where he has moved on top for the first time.
Warren took the lead last weekafter his 20th race. A driver's 20th race is important because before that number, the measuring stick in the championship standings is more quantity than quality.
The standings are based on a driver's best 20 finishes, so after 20 races, drivers no longer accumulate points from every race. A driver can only improve his position by replacing bad finishes with good finishes.
But drivers get all the points they can accumulate during their first 20 starts. So those who run two or three times a week are able to build points quicker than those who run once or twice a week.
Through the first half of the season, Warren was out-distanced by drivers who competed in more races than he did.
NASCAR came up with the ``top 20'' formula by searching for a close-to-equable way to determine the championship.
At one time, the title was determined simply by the number of points a driver amassed during the season, which favored those drivers near tracks where they could run three or four times a week.
Of course, there is no fair way to do it because the level of competition is not the same at all tracks. Getting 13 wins at Langley Speedway, where Warren races regularly, is more difficult than getting them at most other tracks.
If Warren wins the Mid Atlantic title, he would be in contention for the national title, which has an even more complex system for determining the winner.
``It is a complicated system, and really not fair because of the difference in competition among the regions,'' Langley promoter Wayne Wyatt says.
``I would like to see NASCAR have a race involving all the regional winners. Right now it is too much like college football, where you don't have a legitimate way to determine the championship.''
SOUTH BOSTON: Tickets are on sale for the Red Carpet Lease 150, a 300-lap Busch Grand National race scheduled for South Boston Speedway on July 29. General admission tickets are $25, and reserved tickets are $30. For information, call the speedway at (804) 572-1013.
Daylong activities are planned for the track's only Grand National event of the season.
Practice will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, followed by qualifying at 2 p.m. An autograph session, including Winston Cup drivers Mark Martin and Brett Bodine, is scheduled for 3 p.m. The race will begin at 5 p.m.
AT THE TRACKS: Southampton Speedway in Capron will host the Mid Atlantic Modified tour's first dirt-track appearance of the season Saturday night. The 50-lap event will serve as a qualifying race for the Virginia Lottery State Fair Stock Car championship race on Sept. 23 at Richmond International Raceway. Feature races also are scheduled for Southampton's regular five divisions. Gates open at 4 p.m., with time trials at 5:50 and racing at 7.
A pair of 75-lap Late Model Stock features top the schedule at Langley Speedway on Saturday night. Pure Stock, Mini Stock, Grand Stock and Limited Stock features also will be run. Qualifying begins at 5 p.m. and racing at 7. by CNB