THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996 TAG: 9606090198
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: 54 lines
Jody McCormick, whose patience and determination had resulted in four second-place finishes this season, finally got his first Late Model Stock victory at Langley Speedway on a warm Saturday night.
McCormick started sixth in the competitive 25-car field and waited for the dust to settle before making his move to the front.
He took the lead on the 66th lap and calmly held back a host of challengers in the stretch.
``This is a great feeling,'' McCormick said after taking a customary victory lap at his hometown track.
``We had run so well, I knew it was only a matter of time before we got a victory.''
McCormick was content to watch three drivers - pole sitter Greg Edwards, Doug Godsey, and Mike Buffkin, swap the lead six times in the first 63 laps before taking control.
Edwards, who led the first 33 laps, blamed a nail in his left rear tire for his retreat from the point.
Godsey and Buffkin both apparently wore out their tires during their exciting duels for the lead.
Norfolk's Phil Warren, the winner of the last two races, stayed in contention for 56 laps before his Chevrolet got too loose to handle.
``I was just riding and the car got too loose,'' said Warren, who spun in first turn late in the race.
McCormick said he was just riding too, letting the race come to him.
McCormick said at about Lap 60 he began opening up the throttle to move to the front.
Balluzzo finished second for the second straight lead.
He dropped almost to the end of the field in the early laps after the gear shifter fell off.
``I drove the whole race in fourth (gear),'' said Balluzzo, whose charge throught the field began with about 40 laps remaining.
In other races:
Rhett Bussler of Norfolk made winning his first Grand Stock feature of the season look easy as he drove most of the way with only his left hand on the steering wheel.
Bussler, with his right hand resting on a roll bar, eased under pole sitter Jim Kenney on the 34th lap to take the lead.
He led the remaining six laps without a challenge. Kenney was second, followed by points leader John Hicks.
Jerry Scott drove to his sixth victory in a 25-lap Limited Stock feature.
Points leader Paul Lubno finished second to retain a 2-point lead over Scott in the championship standings.
Kelly Carson, who started on the pole, was third.
Tyler McCray led all 25 laps to win the Mini Stock feature. It was his second victory of the season.
Sam Zoellner took over the Pure Stock points lead by driving to his second victory of the season in a 25-lap feature. by CNB