THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9606300251
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: 55 lines
For the first 65 circuits of Saturday's 100-lap Late Model Stock feature at Langley Speedway, Mike Buffkin was content to watch Danny Edwards Jr. and Phil Warren battle for first place.
Then Buffkin slipped by both of them on the inside on lap 66 and held off Warren for his fourth victory of the season.
Edwards, who started on the pole, and Warren traded the lead several times and spent most of the first half of the race side-by-side before Buffkin took over.
``I could've run with them early on, but there just wasn't a reason to,'' said Buffkin, the division's points leader. ``I just stayed there myself until about halfway. The other guys just fell off a little more than I did at the end.''
Warren, Greg Edwards, Jody McCormick and Buddy Malish rounded out the top five. Danny Edwards fell from second to the rear of the field on lap 76, when he spun out in turn 3. He ended up 15th.
Warren, who had finished 10th, fifth and 12th in the previous three races, said he changed his strategy Saturday.
``I was riding back, trying to save my tires (in the previous three races) and got into trouble,'' said Warren, the defending track champion. ``Tonight I tried something different - staying in front.''
Greg Edwards, who started fifth, gained his second straight top-three finish.
``Danny and Phil battling back and forth left the door wide open for everybody,'' Greg Edwards said. ``(Buffkin) was the closest to having a good car tonight. Nobody's car's been perfect.''
Albert Falk and Mike Gwaltney were knocked out of the race on lap 4, when Gwaltney spun out in turn 1 and Falk slammed into his left side, bringing out the first of six caution flags.
Shawn Balluzzo, who had won the previous two races, pitted during a caution on lap 46 and ended up eighth.
In other races Saturday night:
Rhett Bussler led from start to finish for his second victory of the season in the 40-lap Grand Stock feature. Bussler, who won last week but was disqualified after a post-race inspection, held off Rick Hester and Jimmy Kenney following a restart on lap 37 of the race, which was marred by five caution flags.
In the 25-lap Limited Stock feature, points leader Paul Lubno took over on lap 12 and dodged three cautions in the final seven circuits for his third win of the season. Jerry Scott finished second, followed by Kelly Carson.
Chris Phelps took the lead on the opening lap and led the rest of the way for his second straight victory in the Mini Stock feature. Points leader Glenn Smith II was second and Jeff Falk third in the 25-lapper.
In the 25-lap Pure Stock feature, Chesapeake's Sam Zoellner passed Kenny Phares after a restart on lap seven and held on for his fourth victory of the season. Phares and Woody Vance finished second and third.
In the 25-lap Legends race, Suffolk's Jimmy Adams held off Jason Rudd by one car length for the victory. Dale Lemonds was third. by CNB