THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506040171
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEVIN DOEPP, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
For the first 40 laps it looked as if Norfolk's Phil Warren would avenge last week's loss to Eddie Johnson in the Late Model Stock feature at Langley Raceway.
Johnson had other ideas. He took the lead on lap 41 and never looked back Saturday night en route to his second victory in a row.
Warren and Johnson ran a good, tight race. While Warren was leading, Johnson was right on his back.
A somewhat dejected Warren, who was the pole-sitter for the 100-lap race, talked about his battle with Johnson afterward.
``He had the best car and I give him all of the credit,'' Warren said. ``He ran into me two or three times when he passed me and almost put me into the wall. I didn't think that he needed to do that.
``I gave him all of the room he needed (to pass). My car hasn't been handling too well the past few weeks, either.''
Johnson denied that he had tried to run Warren out of the race.
``If you look at the videotape of the race, you will see that my car was on the inside of his on the bottom of the track,'' the Ashland, Va., driver said. ``I didn't turn right into him. I'm sorry if he feels that way.''
Johnson gave his car a lot of credit.
``I can't say I had him covered, we just had a good tire setup this week,'' Johnson said. ``There is always tough competition here.''
Ashton Lewis Jr. and Bugs Hairfield waged a spirited battle for third place. Lewis held third until lap 99, when Hairfield took to the inside and passed him.
``We put a new motor in the car this week,'' Hairfield said. ``I thought it would be a good one, but I am going to put the old one back in next week.''
Lewis ended up seventh.
In Saturday's other races:
Pole-sitter Trevor Falls overtook Kevin Harrison on lap 12 of the 25-lap Mini-Stock race to post his first victory of the season.
Tod Carson led from pole to checkered flag to win a caution-free Limited Stock race. Points leader Kevin Adams was second in the 25-lapper.
Series points leader Roger Bress led all 40 laps to win the Grand Stock event, finishing 10 car lengths ahead of John Hicks.
Kevin Wagner won the Pure Stock race, shortened to 16 laps by rain.
Dale Lemonds took the checkered flag in the inaugural 25-lap Legends race. by CNB