THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 9, 1996 TAG: 9608090653
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BRIAN J. FRENCH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 76 lines
AREA RACING NOTES
Have you driven a Ford lately? In the Late Model Stock division at Langley Speedway, the answer is almost always no.
Fact is, for years Langley has been exclusively Chevrolet country. Due to the cost of car parts and a general lack of interest in Late Model racing, Ford is rarely, if ever, represented on a regular basis come Saturday night.
That changed to a certain extent in July, when Lamb and Robinson introduced a Ford Thunderbird to the Late Model division. The car, driven by Tucker Boyd, is the only Ford in the division amidst a sea of Chevrolet Monte Carlos.
``I have always been a Ford fan,'' said team owner Jim Mosley Sr., ``and I root for Fords on Saturdays and Sundays (when the Busch Grand National and Winston Cup series run). I've always wanted a chance to run a Ford at Langley, and now I'm getting it.
Ford introduced a new engine block with SVO heads, which Mosley Sr. says produces more horsepower than did blocks previously offered by Ford and evens the playing field between Ford and Chevy.
And Mosley Sr. - whose son, Jim Mosley Jr., is the crew chief - should know. His team owns both a Ford and a Chevrolet.
Whether there are any more Fords heading towards Langley - or any other short track - is unknown. Ford has shown a greater desire to participate in what Mosley Sr. calls ``Saturday night racing,'' but their parts are still more expensive than Chevrolet parts, especially for the block.
``You can go to any junkyard and pick up a Chevy block,'' Mosley Sr. said.
And whereas anyone can pick up sheetmetal for a Chevy, Mosley Sr. had to buy his Ford sheetmetal from Townsend, which also produced the frame.
Boyd drove the Ford to a 14th-place finish Saturday and is 27th in the points race in limited action.
HESTER RETURNS: Langley Grand Stock driver Rick Hester returned to the track last Saturday, three weeks past the day he suffered a mild heart attack after finishing a race.
It started well enough for Hester; the last qualifier in the time trials, he took the outside pole for the 40-lap race.
But Hester didn't even make it through the first lap. Going into turn 1, Hester quickly fell back and went to the pits under a caution. The culprit: transmission problems. He finished 13th.
One other note: On the bottom of Hester's doors are painted the words ``Smokin' Rick''. In his comeback race from the heart attack, it read ``Non-Smokin' Rick.''
RACING CHAPLAINS: Auto racers have earned a reputation for being rowdy, loud, and oftentimes profane. One of the upcoming races at Southampton Speedway will likely break through that perception.
The season's second ``Chaplain's Challenge'' is scheduled at the Capron dirt track Aug. 31. The race features area pastors in a 10-lap shootout using Pure Stock vehicles.
The first race was held June 1, and according to track spokesman Jim Randall, it ``went over pretty well'' with fans. The inaugural winner was the Rev. Mike Harrell of Millfield Baptist Church, who came from the back of the field to win. AT A GLANCE
LANGLEY SPEEDWAY
Schedule: Gates open at 1 p.m., qualifying begins at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m. - Late Model Stock (100 laps), Grand Stock (25), Limited Stock (25), Mini Stock (25), Pure Stock (25) and Legends (25). Tickets: $12 adults, $10 military personnel with ID and senior citizens, $3 children 6-12, free for children under 6.
Notable: Saturday's program is ``Photo Night;'' people with cameras are allowed to go to the track before the races begin and take photos of their favorite drivers. A raffle and donation drive benefiting Scott Blinson's upcoming lung transplant will also take place.
SOUTHAMPTON SPEEDWAY
Schedule: Gates open at 4 p.m., qualifying begins at 5:45 and racing begins at 7 - 4-Cylinder Modified (25), Super Stock (20), Limited Sportsman (25), Late Model Stock (30), Super Late Model (35) and Pure Stock (20).
Tickets: $10 adults, $4 children 6-12, under 6 free.
Notable: Saturday's program is Scout Night, and admission is free for Scouts in uniform. by CNB