THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604280218
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Mike Buffkin came on strong in the second half of Langley Speedway's 100-lap Late Model Stock feature to win his first race of the season Saturday night.
Greg Edwards, who had won the previous two races in the division, started on the pole position but dropped back quickly under pressure from Phil Warren.
Defending Late Model series champ Warren took the lead from Edwards on the 15th lap and held it until the 73rd lap, when his Chevrolet began slipping in the turns, giving Buffkin the opportunity to move to the front.
``Phil seemed to go into the turn too hard and that let me get under him,'' Buffkin said. ``There was no way I was going to pass him on the outside.''
Buffkin led the final 27 laps despite being challenged in the stretch by Jody McCormack, who finished second for the third straight week.
John Staton got around Warren in the final two laps to finish third.
In other races:
One slip was all it took for Jerry Scott to lose his grip on the Limited Stock division. The slip provided the opportunity for Paul Lubno to complete a charge through the field to collect his first victory of the season.
Scott started on the pole position and easily led the opening 20 laps of the 25-lap feature before speeding through an invisible patch of oil in the third turn.
Scott's car spun through the fourth turn to bring out a caution flag and drop-kick him to the rear of the field.
Kelly Carson inherited the lead but lost it immediately when Lubno tagged him from behind on the restart. Lubno led the final five laps as Carson held to finish second. Scott finished ninth.
Mike Queen was flagged third but he was disqualified when his car failed postrace inspection.
In the 40-lap Grand Stock feature, John Hicks rolled to his second second straight uncontested victory.
Rhett Bussler, a Navy petty officer driving with a fractured right ankle, attempted to apply pressure on Hicks in the early laps but eventually fell off the pace and finished fourth. Kevin Goe finished second, followed by Tony Jolley.
Ronnie Davis of Ashland led all 50 laps to win the Mid-Atlantic Modified Tour feature that was marred by eight caution flags.
Mini Stock and Pure Stock drivers did not run. by CNB