THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 4, 1995 TAG: 9508020179
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
FOR THE SECOND TIME, Portsmouth's Charlie Bryant Jr. appears headed for Rookie of the Year honors at Langley Speedway.
In 1991, Bryant won rookie honors in the Thunderbolt Division, a strictly stock category.
A year ago, Bryant won the Limited Stock championship and decided it was time to move up to Langley's top competition, the Late Model Stock Division.
The 26-year-old Bryant, who is single and works at Charlie Falk Auto, now appears headed to the rookie crown once again. In fact, he's pushing veteran Phil Warren for the Late Model Stock points title.
Bryant moved into second place in the points race two Saturdays ago when he won his first race. Last Saturday, he finished third as Warren, NASCAR's Mid-Atlantic Late Model Stock points leader, posted his 15th victory of the season in a 100-lap race.
In 21 races, Bryant has nine finishes in the top five and 16 in the top 10.
The races at Langley continue until Oct. 21, and Bryant expects to be there every Saturday night.
``Trying to maintain second place and getting Rookie of the Year are realistic goals this year,'' said Bryant, who first developed his love for racing while driving junk cars with friends through mud sites on weekends as a youngster.
``With all his experience, Warren is supposed to be winning,'' added Bryant. ``But the day is coming when we will be in his shoes.''
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Bryant usually has a plural description of his achievements.
``It's like a football team,'' he said. ``It takes all of us pulling together to make a winner. And, if you're missing any spokes, the car doesn't roll quite right.''
George Hartsell is Bryant's crew chief. Eddy Pardue is the handling specialist and Charlie High is the engine builder. Pit crew members are Jeff Holcomb, Todd Kitchin, Mike Smith, Paul Strange, John Muscarella, Darren Potter, Rich Lovelace and Jim Madigen.
Perhaps his happiest moment on the speedway came when Bryant won the 75-lap feature race at Langley on July 22.
He dedicated that victory to his grandfather, Fred Britton.
The 72-year-old Britton did all the maintenance on Bryant's car when he first began racing. A retired Naval Shipyard mechanic, Britton still is available to make a part when one isn't available. He also watches his grandson race a couple of times each month.
``When I first started, he said he wanted to be around to see me run late models,'' recalled Charlie. ``That was a dream for me, too. Well, it's happened. And that's why that first late model win was so special. I wouldn't be where I am without my granddad.''
It's also impossible to be competitive without adequate sponsorship, pointed out Bryant. His sponsors include Fox 33 WTVZ, Little Joe's Auto, Portsmouth Tool and Dye, Pre-Owned Auto Sales, Churchland Auto Beauty, Johnson's Trucks and Churchland Lawn Service.
``The finances in racing are unreal,'' pointed out Bryant. ``That's why we are concentrating on being competitive and doing as well as we can at Langley.
``Hopefully, the future will allow us to travel with this car. Maybe in a year or two we can get into one of the big races at Richmond or Myrtle Beach.'' ILLUSTRATION: ``Trying to maintain second place and getting Rookie of the Year
are realistic goals this year,'' says Charlie Bryant Jr., who moved
up last year to Langley's Late Model Stock Division.
by CNB