Langley Speedway (Virginia)

Langley Speedway

Langley Speedway
Location	3165 North Armistead Avenue Hampton, Virginia 23666
Capacity	9,000 est.
Opened	1950
Former names	Langley Raceway (1953–1964) Langley Field Speedway (1965–1988) Dude Ranch Speedway (1989–2001) Langley Speedway (2002–2015, 2017–present)
Major events	NASCAR K&N Pro Series East: Visit Hampton VA 150 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 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

Langley Speedway is a race track located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. 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 six degrees of banking in the corners and four degrees of banking on the straights. ^[1] In November 1970, it became the site of the last NASCAR Grand National Series race before the series was renamed the Winston Cup. The track is located in front of NASA's Langley Research Center on Commander Sheppherd Boulevard.

The track is NASCAR sanctioned and participates in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, which determines a national champion for the NASCAR sanctioned local tracks. The track hosts 11 divisions that 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.

Langley also hosts the Hampton Roads Kart Club races on most Sundays during the season, and Wacky Wednesday which allows anyone with a helmet and a street legal car to participate in the time attack, burnout competition, and 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, Virginia. The race was run according to the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Rule Book and high ranking NASCAR Whelen All American Series officials were brought in to ensure all cars strictly fit the technical regulations. The race was separated into two halves; the first 100 laps are divided from the second 100 laps by a 10-minute break which allowed 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 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 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 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. 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 of 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 five. The first half of the race featured some early excitement with 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 rotate tires, add fuel, and make adjustments. Falk held the lead through lap 100 and claimed a $100 bonus for being the half way leader. During the break Puryear was interviewed about the on track contact with 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 one 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 four. 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 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 were less than 10 laps to which meant the cars lined up in single file for the restart instead of the double file restarts used in the first 190 laps. DeBolt attempted to close in on 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.

Hampton Heat 200 winners[]

Hampton Heat 200
Year	Driver	Car No.	Car owner	Starting field
2020	Brenden Queen	03	Andre Grier	26
2019	Connor Hall	77	Earle Hall	23
2018	Philip Morris	01	Forrest Reynolds	31
2017	Bobby McCarty	22	Barry Nelson	31
2015	Lee Pulliam	5	Eddie Kiker	33
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 events. Some of the better known graduates include:

• Denny Hamlin – 2016 Daytona 500 winner and Cup Series regular (1997 mini stock track champion)
• – 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.
• – The winningest driver at Langley Speedway in its premier division, the late models, as well as a seven-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.
• – Winningest driver overall at Langley Speedway with 106 victories and five championships.^[4]
• Joe Falk – Cup Series team owner was the 1976 Winston Racing track champion at Langley Speedway, and finished second in the Virginia State NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division.
• – 1986 regional champion, second in the national standings.
• C.E. Falk - Son of former NASCAR competitor Eddie Falk and nephew of current team owner Joe Falk

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 owner Wayne Wyatt.^[5] Lemonds' 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 deceased husband. 64-year-old veteran driver Shawn Balluzzo died in a crash at Langley Speedway on Turn 2 the night of July 11, 2020. Balluzzo was the winningest driver in the history of the track, having amassed 11 Modified championships at the speedway. In 1980, one spectator was killed while watching a race.^[6]

NASCAR Grand National history[]

There were 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[]

Date	Winner
May 15, 1964	Ned Jarrett
May 14, 1965	Ned Jarrett
May 7, 1966	Richard Petty
May 20, 1967	Richard Petty
May 18, 1968	David Pearson
August 24, 1968	David Pearson
May 17, 1969	David Pearson
May 18, 1970	Bobby Isaac
November 22, 1970	Bobby Allison

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[]

Date	Winner
May 8, 1982	Jack Ingram
August 7, 1982	Tommy Ellis
May 7, 1983	Jack Ingram
August 6, 1983	Jack Ingram
May 5, 1984	Sam Ard
August 11, 1984	Jack Ingram
May 4, 1985	Tommy Ellis
August 3, 1985	Tommy Ellis
May 3, 1986	Tommy Houston
August 2, 1986	L.D. Ottinger
May 2, 1987	Mike Alexander
August 9, 1987	Larry Pollard
April 30, 1988	Tommy Ellis
July 30, 1988	Tommy Ellis

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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2018	Danny Edwards Jr.	26	325	2	10	14
2017	Matt Waltz	2	305
2015	Greg Edwards	97		7
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 and 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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2018	Paul Lubno Sr.	14	282	8	11	11
2017	Tommy Sweeney	11	339	6
2015	Mark Frye	29
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
1995	Roger Bress			18
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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2018		48	308	8	12	12
2017	Shawn Balluzzo	48	366	9
2015	Shawn Balluzzo	48
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	Shawn Balluzzo	48	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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2018	Tommy Jackson Jr	87	258	9	10	10
2017	Spencer Saunders	7		2
2015	Chris Hildebrand	71
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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2020	Landon Abbott	70	194	1	8	8
2019	Dale Parro	15	329	2
2018	Dale Nichols	8	226	0	6	10
2017	Landon Abbott	70	301	3	13	13
2015	Renno Marchetti IV	01	310	10	12	12
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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2018	Austin Davis	3	266	1	10	11
2017	Michael Waters	36	285	10
2015	Jesse Jones IV	5
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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2018	Jacob Carr	88	186	3	5	8
2017	Chase McAdams	62	241	5
2015	Chase McAdams	62
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	Name	Car number	Points	Wins	Top 5	Top 10
2020	Jared Clarke	28	208	8	8	8
2019	Jared Clarke	28	232	0
2018	Travis Wall	44	274	3	11	11
2017	Adam Florian	98		6
2015	Landon Florian	98
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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2019	Colby Vance	44		5	12
2018	Ronald Klein	95	203	0	6	7
2017	Tyler Baker	27
2015	Richard Quinn	31
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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2018	Aaron Leach	45	276	6	11	11
2017	Brandon Lorah	49	232	1
2015	Charlie-Ray Lorah	59
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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2019	Ryley Music	47	348	7
2018	Layton Harrison	43	241	5	9	10
2017	Jacob Putman	3		2
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 champions (defunct division)[]

Langley Speedway limited sportsman champions
Year	Driver	Car No.	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 No.	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 No.	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 No.	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 No.	Points	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s
2000	Dwight Wolf

References[]

External links[]

• Langley Speedway Official Site
• Langley Speedway archive at racing-reference.info
• Article about Langley Speedway by Paul Schaefer
• 2007 Championship Article
• Article on the 2009 Hampton Heat 200

Coordinates: 37°5′11″N 76°23′12″W / 37.08639°N 76.38667°W / 37.08639; -76.38667