Story by: Mason Dunn ~ [email protected]

Hampton, VA(March 4, 2011) — After clinching their second Late Model Stock track championship at Langley Speedway it came as a surprise to most when rumors began to swirl about a potential split between driver C.E. Falk and legendary crew chief Phil Warren. The surprise turned to shock for most when the rumors were confirmed to be true.

The decision to split was made under good terms by both sides after spending multiple seasons together amassing two championships and 23 wins including big race wins in the Hampton Heat 200 at Langley and the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Southside Speedway in 2010.

“We each felt we’ve accomplished all that we can together at this level,” said C.E. Falk in a recent phone interview. “Phil was approached with a new opportunity and it was one he wanted to take and I can understand it.”

Falk is looking forward to another title run in 2011 as he chases down Elton Sawyer’s mark of three Late Model Stock track championships in a row with new crew chief Dwaine Skinnell. Many will recognize Skinnell’s name from his time in the UARA with series regular Scott Turlington and that time touring is part of what made him an appealing choice to Falk.

“He definitely brings a wealth of knowledge on a variety of tracks to the table,” said Falk of his new crew chief. “He may not know a whole lot about Langley right now, but once we combine his fresh prespective with all the notes we’ve gathered over the last couple of years we should become a strong combo here at the EF Motorsports stable.”

When asked if the addition of a crew chief with UARA experience meant the possible appearance at a UARA race or two Falk noted, “Not going to say no, but not going to say yes at the same time, sponsors want us focused on Langley and a third title so that’s the main focus but who knows what might come up as the season rolls on.”

Phil Warren won’t be going away quietly either, in fact he’ll still be looking for his third straight track championship at Langley Speedway except this time with a new driver behind the wheel. Well, not necessarily new to Virginia Late Model Stocks or to Warren as he and his new driver Doug Godsey used to race against each other in the 90’s. This season Warren will return to Langley Speedway with Godsey and the #05 Late Model Stock primed to compete for the title as Warren has been cranking on the cars at his Norfolk home for much of the last two months.

“This is going to be an interesting season for sure and a challenge to take this team and get it performing like I want it to and performing like Doug (Godsey) wants it to,” said Warren in a recent phone interview. “The last two seasons definitely were a great ride and me and C.E. had a lot of success, but I’m looking forward to this challenge and seeing how the season goes.”

Now while the focus for the new Godsey/Warren partnership will be Langley, with the recent temporary closing of Southside the pair have decided to shift the attention they were going to put to Friday nights in Richmond over to a combination of races at either Caraway or South Boston.

“We were going to run both Langley and Southside but now with Southside looking closed we’re going to do some traveling either at Caraway or South Boston,” said Warren. “Maybe you’ll see us at one of those tracks here on opening weekend, maybe not, we’ll see what happens.”

With the new pairings set to go head to head at the flat track in Hampton, Virginia it should definitely make for another storyline to watch in another interesting season for the NASCAR Late Model Stocks. These two powerful driver-crew chief combinations pairing off not only against each other but against some of the other well known teams at Langley including Paul DeBolt, Danny and Greg Edwards, Mark Wertz as well as potential new teams coming into the fray it should be a season to watch at Langley Speedway.