Langley Speedway (Virginia)

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For Langley Speedway, closed racetrack in British Columbia, Canada, see Langley Speedway (British Columbia).
Langley Speedway
LangleyLogo2010 Edited Small.png
Location 3165 N. Armistead Ave. Hampton, Virginia 23666
Capacity 9,000 est.
Operator Bill Mullis
Opened 1950
Former names Langley Raceway
Langley Field Speedway
Dude Ranch Speedway
Major events NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Hampton Heat 200 (Late Models)
Oval
Surface Asphalt
Length 0.395 mi (0.636 km)
Banking Turns: 6 degrees
Straightaways: 4 degrees 200px

Langley Speedway is a race track located in Hampton, Virginia, in the United States. In November 1970, it became the site of the last Grand National race before the series was renamed Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup). The track is located in front of NASA's Langley wind tunnel on Armistead Avenue. Langley Speedway is a paved short track measuring 0.395 miles in length, it is one of the flattest tracks in the region with only 6 degrees of banking in the corners and 4 degrees on the straights.[1] The track is NASCAR sanctioned and participates in the Whelen All-American Series, which determines a national champion for the NASCAR sanctioned local tracks. The track currently hosts 11 divisions which alternate running during their Saturday night program: Late Models, Grand Stock, Modifieds, Legends cars, Super Street, UCAR, Pro Six, Super Trucks, HRKC Pro Winged Champ Karts, and Enduros.

Pre race ceremonies for the regular Saturday night events begin at approximately 7:00 PM with the first race of the night beginning about 15 minutes later. Ticket prices are $12 for regular events, but a bit higher for special events.

Langley also hosts the Hampton Roads Kart Club races on most Sundays during the season, and Wild and Wacky Wednesday which allows anyone with a helmet and a street legal car to participate in the Time Attack, Burnout competition, and/or One on One Drag Races on most Wednesday nights during the season.

Special events

Hampton Heat 200

Overview: The Hampton Heat 200 is a 200-lap race for the Crossroads Fuel Late Model Stock Car division with a large purse provided by the City of Hampton. The race is run according to the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car rule book and high ranking NASCAR Whelen All American Series Officials are brought in to ensure all cars strictly fit the technical regulations. The race is separated into two halves; the first 100 laps are divided from the second 100 laps by a 10-minute break which allows teams to put more fuel in the car, make setup changes, and rotate the tires. However, they are not allowed to change tires during the break. Contrary to typical Late Model races at Langley, they do count caution laps during this race.

2008: Run on July 12, 2008, the inaugural running of the race featured a field of 25 cars with drivers from Virginia and North Carolina. Danny Edwards Jr. won the pole for the event during the Friday qualifying session with a 16.049-second lap. C.E. Falk III and Danny Edwards Jr. raced for the lead in the early stages of the race, but Edwards took control of the race and led to the halfway mark. There were a number of early incidents that led to a few drivers dropping out before the halfway point, but the second half ran green most of the way. Midway through the second half Nick Smith started to show his speed and passed Danny Edwards Jr. for the lead; he extended that to a dominating lead in the late stages of the race. Driving James Long's number 21 car, Nick Smith picked up the $15,000 check for winning the event.[2]

2009: Run on July 11, 2009, the 2009 race saw more cars than the previous year at 27. Nick Smith scored the pole for the race earlier in the day with a 16.346-second lap, merely 0.005 seconds ahead of the second-place car of C.E. Falk III. Smith, now driving for Dave Atkinson, was riding a wave of momentum as the defending race winner and from winning the Bailey's 200 Late Model race at South Boston Speedway the week before. Smith led the race until lap 22 when C.E. Falk III took the lead and held it through the halfway break. Smith's race ended on lap 134 when he and Danny Edwards Jr. made contact going into turn one while racing for third. Danny Edwards Jr. continued on, but Smith spun collecting the 27 car of Greg Edwards. Falk held the lead until lap 183 when Woody Howard took the lead and held it to the checkered flag. Howard netted the $10,000 winner's check in the number 21 car owned by James Long, putting the same car owner in victory lane as the year before, but with a different driver.[3]

2010: Run on July 10, 2010, the 2010 edition of Langley Speedway's richest race began under ominous conditions with short lived showers stopping practice a couple times early in the afternoon. However, the skies eventually cleared before qualifying began, which saw 23 entrants set times. Former Hampton Heat winner Nick Smith had returned with yet another car owner to attempt the race, but suffered a mechanical failure on his first qualifying lap and did not race. Paul DeBolt set the fastest time of 16.140 seconds, ahead of C.E. Falk, Greg Edwards, Stacy Puryear, and Woody Howard who filled out the top 5. The first half of the race featured some early excitement with C.E. Falk shoving DeBolt out of the way on lap 13 to take the lead. As well as a heated battle between Stacy Puryear and Mark Wertz that had a lot of bumping and close calls. The first half of the race went caution free until lap 100 when the caution was displayed for the half way break which allowed teams to swap tires, add fuel, and make adjustments. C.E. Falk held the lead through lap 100 and claimed a $100 bonus for being the half way leader award winner. During the break Stacy Puryear was interviewed about the on track contact with Mark Wertz which revealed a bit of a pay back may have been in order. The race resumed with all drivers in the same positions they were in at lap 100 and immediately was back under the caution flag as a pile up in turn 1 damaged the cars of Dean Shiflett and Eddie Johnson, and forced Duane Shreeves out of the race. Once resuming the race it was not long before the caution came out again when Puryear and Wertz bumped again, resulting in Wertz spinning in turn 4. Wertz drove up alongside Puryear under caution to voice his displeasure, but nothing more occurred between the two during the remainder of the race. The race continued on another long green flag run during which C.E. Falk began to show his dominance, pulling out to a big lead. The dynamic of the race changed quickly with only a few laps to go when Rick Gdovic went for a spin on the backstretch bringing out the final caution of the race. There was less than 10 laps to which meant the cars would line up in single file for the restart instead of the double file restarts used in the first 190 laps. Paul DeBolt attempted to close in on C.E. Falk on the restart but Falk got a better restart and was not strongly challenged in the final sprint to the checkers. Falk picked up the $10,000 winner's check and demonstrated much relief in victory lane at claiming victory in the race that had eluded him in the previous two years.


Hampton Heat 200 Winners

Hampton Heat 200
Year Driver Car # Car Owner Starting Field
2014 C.E. Falk III 40 Eddie Falk 37
2013 Peyton Sellers 99 H.C. Sellers 30
2012 Matt Bowling 88 H.C. Sellers 23
2011 C.E. Falk III 40 Eddie Falk 22
2010 C.E. Falk III 40 Eddie Falk 22
2009 Woody Howard 21 James Long 27
2008 Nick Smith 21 James Long 25

Notable drivers

Although NASCAR's premier division has not raced at the track since 1970 it continues to play an integral part in the NASCAR family with several young drivers cutting their teeth on this track every year in the many Late Model and events. Some of the better known graduates include:

  • Denny Hamlin - NASCAR Sprint Cup regular (1997 mini stock track champion)
  • Woody Howard - 2000 Late Model Rookie of the Year, 2001 Legends Champion, 2005 Pro Cup Series Rookie of the Year and Pro Cup race winner, winner of the 2009 Hampton Heat 200.
  • Phil Warren - The winningest driver at Langley Speedway in its premier division, the Late Models, as well as a 7-time track champion (1986,1988,1994,1995,1997,2000,2001). Also the 1995 NASCAR Mid-Atlantic Champion, in which Elliott Sadler finished second in the region that same year. He is currently the Crew Chief and test driver for CE Falk.
  • Paul Lubno Sr. - Winningest driver overall at Langley Speedway with 105 victories and five championships.[4]
  • Joe Falk - Former NASCAR Nextel Cup owner was the 1976 Winston Racing Track Champion at Langley Speedway, and finished 2nd in the Virginia State NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division.
  • Bubba Adams - 1986 Regional Champion, 2nd in National Standings.

Tragedy

On August 28, 2004 Dale Lemonds was killed in an INEX Legends car race at the track. Three days prior he had signed an agreement to purchase the track from the (then) owner Wayne Wyatt.[5] Dale's wife Sandy honored the agreement and followed through with purchasing the track. She later renamed victory lane to "Dale Lemonds Victory Lane" in honor of her late husband. Dale was the only driver known to be killed while racing at the speedway, although in 1980 one spectator was killed while watching a race.[6]

NASCAR Grand National History

There have been nine NASCAR Grand National events at Langley from 1964 to 1970. The track surface was dirt at the time. David Pearson has the most Grand National victories at Langley with three. The November 1970 season ending Tidewater 300 made its way into a unique place in the history of NASCAR. It was the final Grand National race before the series title was changed to Winston Cup. Bobby Allison won the race, while Bobby Isaac won the Championship.

NASCAR Grand National race winners

  • 05/14/65 Ned Jarrett
  • 05/20/67 Richard Petty
  • 08/24/68 David Pearson
  • 05/17/69 David Pearson

NASCAR Busch Series events

There were 14 NASCAR Busch Series events held at the track between 1982 and 1988. The track had been paved with asphalt since the last Grand National race was held there in 1970. Two drivers dominated the Busch Series events: Jack Ingram claimed four victories, and Tommy Ellis won five.

NASCAR Busch Series race winners

05/08/82 Jack Ingram

08/07/82 Tommy Ellis

05/07/83 Jack Ingram

08/06/83 Jack Ingram

05/05/84 Sam Ard

08/11/84 Jack Ingram

05/04/85 Tommy Ellis

08/03/85 Tommy Ellis

05/03/86 Tommy Houston

08/02/86 L.D. Ottinger

05/02/87 Mike Alexander

08/09/87 Larry Pollard

04/30/88 Tommy Ellis

07/30/88 Tommy Ellis

See also: List of NASCAR race tracks

Langley Speedway Track Champions

There is very little publicly available information on past champions and race winners, however much of the following information has been gleaned from archived newspaper articles and as a result there is a lot of missing information.

  • (R) indicates a rookie driver

Late Model Champions

Langley Speedway Late Model Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2014 Greg Edwards 97 543 8
2013 C.E. Falk III 40 495
2012 Greg Edwards 97 382 2 14 16
2011 C.E. Falk III 40 790 12 16 16
2010 C.E. Falk III 40 982 9 17 21
2009 C.E. Falk III 40 886 11 17 18
2008 Danny Edwards Jr. 26
2007 Danny Edwards Jr. 26 9
2006 Greg Edwards 27
2005 Tommy Cherry 21
2004 Mark Wertz 40
2003 Mark Wertz 40 880 13 17 18
2002 Jammie Goode
2001 Phil Warren 16 9
2000 Phil Warren 16 6
1999 Danny Edwards Jr. 26
1998 Greg Edwards
1997 Phil Warren 47 4
1996 Mike Buffkin 84 9
1995 Phil Warren 47 19
1994 Phil Warren 47 5
1993 Eddie Johnson
1992 Danny Edwards Jr.
1991 Roger Sawyer
1990 Chip Hudson
1989 Danny Edwards Jr.
1988 Phil Warren 47
1987 Roger Sawyer 20
1986 Phil Warren 47 600 8 21 22
1985 Elton Sawyer 42 696 9 22 24
1984 Elton Sawyer 42 602 12 19 19
1983 Elton Sawyer 42 680 12 23 24
1982 Bubba Adams 9 8 18 20
1981 Charlie Doyle
1977 Billy Smith
1976 Joe Falk
1975 Tommy Ellis
1974 Bob Smith
1973 Sonny Hutchins
1971 Al Grinnan/Lennie Pond
1970 Al Grinnan
1969 Ray Hendrick/Sonny Hutchins
1967 Bruce Warren 41
1966 Bruce Warren 41
1965 Lennie Pond
1964 Bruce Warren 41
1963 Bruce Warren 41

Grand Stock Champions

Langley Speedway Pure Stock/Grand Stock Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2014 Mark Frye 29 6
2013 Ricky Derrick 8 267 1
2012 Ricky Derrick 8 338 7 11 14
2011 Ricky Derrick 8 624 3 13 13
2010 Ricky Derrick 8 626 2 9 13
2009 Ricky Derrick 8 624 3 13 13
2008 Paul Lubno Sr. 14
2007 Paul Lubno Sr. 14 532 2
2006 Dean Shiflett 06
2005 Dean Shiflett 06
2004 David Gray 43 9
2003 Elton Nurmi Jr. 91 772 2 15 17
2002 Markus Mitchell
2001 Mark Wertz
1999 Jerry Scott 51 2
1998 Trevor Falls
1997 Paul Lubno Sr.
1996 John Hicks
1994 Roger Bress
1993 Danny Ray Baker
1992 Danny Ray Baker 650 15
1991 Danny Ray Baker
1990 Jimmy Humblet
1989 Charlie Daniels
1988 Buddy Dozier
1987 Buddy Hyatt
1986 Tony Steele 51
1985 Roger Bress 640 15 21 22
1984 Mitch Sarvis 88 546 10 18 19
1983 Butch Lassiter 75 506 1 17 24

Modified Division Champions

Langley Speedway Modified Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2014 Shawn Balluzzo 48 6
2013 Robbie Babb 44 411
2012 Shawn Balluzzo 48 403 11 15 16
2011 Shawn Balluzzo 48 912 7 19 19
2010 Thomas Stinson 4 618 4 12 12
2009 Shawn Balluzzo 48 582 5 12 12
2008 Joe Scarbrough 30/93
2007 Shawn Balluzzo 57 476 3
2006 Shawn Balluzzo

Legends Division Champions

Langley Speedway Legends Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2014 Brandon Gdovic 46 216 0
2013 Spencer Saunders 7 224 2
2012 Nick Smith 97 182 7 7 7
2011 Brad Hancock 17 458 3 9 10
2010 Joe Hendricks Jr. 30 572 4 10 13
2009 Steve Keesee 0 558 3 11 12
2008 Donald McLaughlin Jr. 21
2007 Ryan Crites 00 528 3
2006 Cameron Patrick
2005 Nick Smith
2003 Nick Smith 12 388 4 7 8
2002 Donald McLaughlin Jr.
2001 Woody Howard
2000 Max Smith 2
1999 Dale Lemonds 11
1998 Gary Terwilliger 25
1997 Dale Lemonds 11

Super Street Champions

Langley Speedway Super Street Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2014 Sammy Gaita III 24 320 5 12 13
2013 Sean Calway 12 280 4
2012 Renno Marchetti IV 01 285 7 8 12
2011 Ryan Nester 87 530 0 8 12
2010 Randy Sample 24 636 10 11 12
2009 Randy Sample 24 598 1 12 13
2008 Jessica Wood 3
2007 Steve Dill 3 554 6
2006 Tommy Sweeney 11
2005 Steve Dill 3
2004 Kenny Wood
2003 Ryan Nester 87 398 6 8 8
2002 Ritchie German

UCAR Champions

Langley Speedway UCAR Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2014 Justin Fuller 03 357 8
2013 Tim Wilson 71 279 4
2012 Bill Eaker 22 281 3 10 11
2011 Landon Florian 14 590 9 11 12
2010 Michael Joyner 20 580 1 11 12
2009 Randy Prillaman 26 690 3 13 15
2008 Renno Marchetti IV 01
2007 Kevin Alves 84 622 7
2006 Randy Prillaman
2005 Craig Firman
2003 Trip Anderson 13 520 5 10 11
2002 Scott Roser

Super/Mini Truck Champions

Langley Speedway Super/Mini Truck Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2014 Chase McAdams 62 192 4
2013 Robbie Davis 17 282 9
2012 Robbie Davis 17 275 6 10 11
2011 Tommy Nixon 8 630 7 12 13
2010 Robbie Davis 17 712 10 13 13
2009 Tommy Nixon 8 574 4 12 12
2008 Robbie Davis 17 4
2007 Craig Firman 5 500 6
2006 Justin Ballo 55
2005 Hugo Belfiore 15
2004 Neil Sipe
2003 Brian Loving 33 474 4 7 8
2002 Brian Waltrip
2001 Charlie Barclay
2000 D.J. Valente 18
1999 Anthony Warren
1998 Doug Warren
1997 Doug Warren
1996 Sean Hess 5

Pro Six Champions

Langley Speedway Pro Six Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2014 Bobby Hall 26 3
2013 Landon Florian 98 276 5
2012 Landon Florian (R) 98 243 3 9 10
2011 Doug Warren 51 552 7 9 12
2010 Matt Mullins 54 470 2 9 10
2009 Casey Sipe 14 544 8 11 11
2008 Casey Sipe 14

Enduro Champions

Langley Speedway Enduro Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2014 Dave Wedding 7 202 4
2013 Derrick Boggess 18 175 1
2012 Alex Floroff 17 178 4 7 7
2011 Danny Harrell 95 288 2 6 6
2010 Danny Harrell 95 292 3 5 5
2009 Mike Ganoe 82 268 4 4 6

HRKC Champ Kart Champions

Langley Speedway HRKC Champ Kart Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2014 Charlie-Ray Lorah 59 1
2013 Jeffrey Johnson 30 260 2
2012 Charlie Ray Lorah 59 206 6 9 10
2011 Chris O'Brien 99 384 2 6 11
2010 Bill Dailey 00
2009 David Phelps 46 508 2 11 12
2008 Dannie Wyatt 8 478 6

Bandolero Champions

Langley Speedway Bandolero Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2015 Zach Lightfoot 7 218 5
2014 Zach Lightfoot 7 162 2
2013 Madyson Mulligan 07 204 4
2012 Ryleigh Lemonds (R) 11 154 4 6 6
2011 Macy Causey 33 292 4 7 7

Limited Sportsman (defunct division)

Langley Speedway Limited Sportsman Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
1978 Diane Teel
1977 Howard Crews

Pure Stock Champions (defunct division)

Langley Speedway Pure Stock Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2001 Brad Causey 00 10 15
2000 Jimmy Overton 7
1999 Danny Harrell 95
1997 Robbie Paul
1996 Sam Zoellner 22 7
1995 Cory Fogleman 7
1994 Jerry Scott 51 12
1982 Ronnie Miano 99 9

Mini Stock Champions (defunct division)

Langley Speedway Mini Stock Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
1998 Mark Bowles
1997 Denny Hamlin 5
1996 Joe Lupton
1994 Kevin Harrison 25
1993 Tonya Miller
1992 Tonya Miller 5
1991 Jim Ewing
1990 John Pisarski
1989 Jim Ewing
1988 Joe Ferebee
1987 Buddy Malish
1986 Buddy Malish
1985 Lester Wilson 03 562 18 21 21

Wolf Truck Champions (defunct division)

Langley Speedway Wolf Truck Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2008 (Pro) Jeff Sampson 8
2008 (Semi-Pro) Eric Schaffer 3
2007 Jeff Sampson 8 684 10
2006 Jill Brinson

Baby Grand Champions (defunct division)

Langley Speedway Baby Grand Champions
Year Driver Car # Points Wins Top 5s Top 10s
2000 Dwight Wolf

References

  1. ↑ USARacing Pro Cup Media Guide August 22, 2009 edition
  2. ↑ MyLaps.com data 7/12/08: http://www.mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=878340
  3. ↑ MyLaps.com data 7/11/2009: http://www.mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1219046
  4. ↑ http://articles.dailypress.com/2009-04-10/sports/0904090260_1_big-legends-race-usar-pro-cup-series-langley-speedway
  5. ↑ McClatchy - Tribune Business News. August 29, 2009. Marty O'Brien. "Langley Speedway's Legends race honors memories of leaders" Washington.
  6. ↑ Motorsport Memorial

External links

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