THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 14, 1996 TAG: 9606140737
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 59 lines
Now that Jody McCormick has snared his first Late Model Stock victory at Langley Speedway, the most promising candidate to become the next new driver to break into victory lane is Richmond's Doug Godsey.
Indeed, while McCormick motored away from the field in the final 30 laps last week, Godsey was most responsible for making the event the most exciting of the season.
He surged into the lead three different times, forcing others to drive harder than they may have wanted, in the strongest performance of his three-year racing career.
It was the first time he ever had led a race at Langley, and it should have been the first time that he finished on the scoreboard, which shows the top four positions.
He literally got bumped back to 14th on the final turn of the race.
``I was on the board for 99 3/4 laps,'' Godsey recalled, ``and Craig Eastep just ran right in the back of me in the fourth turn.''
Godsey was in no mood to accept an apology from Eastep following the incident and he still doesn't sound ready to forgive and forget.
``What goes around comes around,'' he said. ``His (Eastep) day will come.''
For Godsey, it seems his days as a middle-of-the-pack runner may be over.
``We have got the car dialed in pretty good, and I haven't had any problems with the new tires we're using this season,'' Godsey said.
``Last Saturday it just seemed the car wanted to lead and I really didn't have to drive it that hard.''
Godsey, 29, races in a team with his father, Buck, a veteran short-track driver who once raced in NASCAR's Sportsman division against future Winston Cup stars Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip.
``It is fun racing together with my dad,'' Godsey said.
``Most of the time, he is not worried about where he will finish as long as he is in front of me.''
Based on last week's race, Buck might have to get used to finishing behind his son. So may a lot of others, too.
SHRINKING DIVISION: This may be the final season for the Grand Stock division at Langley.
Promoter Wayne Wyatt says he is considering meshing Grand Stock and Limited Stock teams into a new division next year.
Fields for the Grand Stock division have shrunk in recent years and are the smallest among Langley's five divisions this season.
GOOD SPORT: For a driver hungry to snatch his first victory of the season, Rhett Bussler displayed unusual patience and sportsmanship before winning last Saturday's Grand Stock feature.
Bussler was looking for an opportunity to get around leader Jim Kenney when they got together in the fourth turn. But instead of taking advantage, Bussler gave Kenney a chance to regain control.
Bussler later made a clean pass and continued on to the victory.
TIGHT RACES: Southampton Speedway near Capron is enjoying one of the most competitive seasons ever. The average differential between first and second in the point standings in the various weekly classes is only 6.83 points.
Super Late Model driver Greg Hubbard, with five victories, holds the largest lead - 14 points over defending champion Mike Shearin.
In the closest race, Bubba Flexon and Keith Cisco are tied for the lead in Pure Stock with 168 points each. by CNB