THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 5, 1996 TAG: 9607050245
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 47 lines
Langley Speedway has canceled its Family Fun Night series, which had been scheduled for every other Friday night.
Promoter Wayne Wyatt said the decision to discontinue the program, which featured Mid-Atlantic Modified Tour, MASCAR, and Super Mini-Truck racing, was not based on the absence of fun.
``The fans who came really seemed to enjoy the racing,'' Wyatt said. ``But because of other circumstances, we were not drawing enough fans to continue.''
Wyatt explained that most of the Modified drivers were from the Richmond area, and their fans did not have enough time to travel to the track after getting off work on Fridays to attend the races.
Wyatt said he hopes to work some Friday night events into the weekly Saturday night schedule. This Saturday's added attraction will be the second ``train race'' of the season, in which cars are chained together in teams.
TRAFFIC JAM: A record number 42 Late Model Stock cars have participated in races this season at Langley, and Wyatt says he won't be surprised if more than 30 show up for Saturday night's race because South Boston Speedway is not open this weekend.
Most tracks have fewer than 20 Late Model cars in their events, but Langley has averaged about 25.
So far, Wyatt has not limited the size of the fields.
``We have talked about what we would do if we get more than 30 cars, and my inclination would be to race them all,'' Wyatt said. ``Our regular drivers probably would not like it, but the fans would love it.''
EARLIER START: Southampton Speedway, near Capron, will begin opening the pit gates a half-hour earlier, at 3:30 p.m., this Saturday to give drivers more pre-race time on the track. Officials hope that will help improve the dirt surface for featured events.
From 4 to 4:20 p.m., drivers will be invited to participate in roll-ins. Class practices will begin at 4:30. Drivers who helped with the roll-in will be back on the track from 6:30 to 6:50, while others can come out during the final 10 minutes.
FAMILY TRADITION: Bert Culpepper III brought back fond memories at Southampton with his first victory at the track last Saturday.
Bert's father, a former Super Late Model champion, was one of the track's most popular competitors before being forced to retire for health reasons last year.
Other father-son combinations who have won races at the track include Greg and Billy Hubbard, Lynn and Jason Turner, and Pete Daughtry and his two sons David and Mike. by CNB