THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 4, 1996 TAG: 9608040230
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BRIAN J. FRENCH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: 48 lines
What Michael Johnson is to the 200-meter dash, Greg Edwards is to Langley Speedway's Late Model division.
Edwards won for the third straight time Saturday night in the Late Model 100-lap feature. Edwards never trailed in the race and is riding a streak of 349 consecutive laps led in the series.
``This car has been as good this week as it has ever been,'' Edwards said.
That's an understatement. Edwards, who has paced every lap in Late Model competition since taking the lead in the second lap of the July 20 race, was never seriously challenged Saturday as he continued to close in on series leader Mike Buffkin, who finished fourth.
``I've been able to ride harder on my tires than the others,'' Edwards said. ``If anyone puts pressure on me, I can push my car harder.''
After the race, Edwards dedicated his win - his fifth of the year - to 14-year-old neighbor Michael Green, who died Friday from injuries suffered in an automobile accident July 26.
With Edwards and Jody McCormick, who came in second, wrapping up their finishes early, the focus of the fans shifted to the race for third, one which Mike Conner would win after starting the race in the back of the field.
``We're really happy tonight,'' said Conner, whose third-place finish ties his best for the season. ``Early in the race, the car wasn't very good, but I backed off and I was able to run my line all night after that.''
In other races Saturday:
Trevor Falls picked up his second straight win in Grand Stock, beating points leader John Hicks by four car lengths. The race was marked by a an accident on lap 21 that knocked pole-sitter Rhett Bussler out of contention. Bussler finished ninth.
Jerry Scott took advantage of a late break to stave off Paul Lubno to win his ninth Limited Stock race of the season. Lubno, the points leader, appeared to have passed Scott on the front straightaway on lap 24, but a caution brought out when Robert Baldwin spun put Scott back in the lead, and he held on to narrow the gap between himself and Lubno, which was six points going into the 25-lap race.
Dude Gibbs led wire-to-wire to win his third Pure Stock race of the year. Gary Ferber finished second.
Joe Lupton pulled past surprise pole-sitter Chris Phelps on the fourth lap and held him off in the waning moments of the 25-lap Mini Stock race to pick up his second straight win.
Jeff Callihan won the Mid-Atlantic Modified 50-lap feature. Callihan, 13th in the points standings, picked up his first win of the season. Points leader Bret Hamilton finished fourth. by CNB