- 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 bankingLangley Speedway is a
race track located in Hampton,Virginia , in theUnited States . In November 1970, it became the site of the last Grand National race before the series was renamed Winston Cup (nowSprint Cup ). The track is located in front ofNASA '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, includingLate 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 theNASCAR family with several young drivers cutting their teeth on this track every year in the manyLate 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 andJoe 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 whichElliot 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 RuddNASCAR 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 endingTidewater 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 toWinston Cup .Bobby Allison won the race, whileBobby 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, andTommy 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]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.