Langley Speedway (Virginia)

:"For Langley Speedway, closed racetrack in British Columbia, Canada, see Langley Speedway (British Columbia)."

Motorsport venue
Name = Langley Speedway


Location = Hampton, Virginia
Opened = 1964
Owner = Lou (Gotti) Gioia
Events = Capacity = 7,000
Layout1 = Oval
Length_km = .5
Length_mi = 0.395
Banking = Turns: Approximately 8 degrees
Straightaways:- minimal banking

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.

Configuration

It is a paved short track which is currently the site of several NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events. The track currently hosts 8 divisions, including Late Model, Legends cars, modified's, and wolf trucks.

Alumni

Although NASCAR's main divisions have 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 - NEXTEL Cup regular (1997 mini stock track champion)

* Woody Howard - current All-Pro series regular and Joe Gibbs Racing developmental driver (2000 Late Model Rookie of the Year).

* Phil Warren - The winninest driver at Langley Speedway in its premier division Late Model a 7-time track champion (1986,1988,1994,1995,1997,2000,2001) and also the 1995 Nascar Mid-Atlantic Champion. In which Elliot Sadler finished second in the region that same year.

* 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.

* Ricky Rudd - Was known to run laps at the track while testing with his father Al Rudd

NASCAR Cup History

The track held 9 events at the track from 1964 to 1970. The track was dirt at the time. David Pearson has the most wins with three wins. 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 winners

* 05/15/64 Ned Jarrett

* 05/14/65 Ned Jarrett

* 05/07/66 Richard Petty

* 05/20/67 Richard Petty

* 05/18/68 David Pearson

* 08/24/68 David Pearson

* 05/17/69 David Pearson

* 05/18/70 Bobby Isaac

* 11/22/70 Bobby Allison

NASCAR Busch Series events

There were 14 NASCAR Busch Series events held at the track between 1982 and 1988. The track was paved at the time. Two drivers dominated: Jack Ingram won 4 events, and Tommy Ellis won 5 events.

NASCAR Busch Series winners

05/08/82 Jack Ingram (NASCAR)

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

tatistics

On August 28, 2004 Dale Lemonds was killed in an INEX Legends car race at the track. He was the only driver known to be killed while racing at the speedway, although in 1980 one spectator was killed while watching a race [ [http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=3643 Motorsport Memorial ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.langley-speedway.com/ Speedway Official Site]
* [http://www.racing-reference.info/tracks?id=148 NASCAR Grand National (now NEXTEL Cup) history at racing-reference.info]
* [http://www.racing-reference.info/rquery?id=alexami01&trk=172&series=B NASCAR Busch Series history at racing-reference.info]