Story by: Mark Rogers, Jr. ~ [email protected]
Hampton, VA(August 9, 2012) — Well surprise, surprise …. Phil Warren is back behind the wheel of a Late Model Stock Car at Langley Speedway.
One of the most celebrated and beloved champions ever at Langley Speedway, Warren, a seven-time champion will substitute for the injured, Mark Wertz, a 2 time Langley track champ himself. Warren will fit himself behind the wheel of the Dunkin Donuts #55 Chevrolet Impala this Saturday. It was several weeks ago that Wertz had an off track incident where he injured his ankle and was left scrambling to keep his racing season going and no way was it going to shut down what continues to be a good race season for the team.
But, as the rumors circulated of replacement drivers, Warren’s was a name that just kept coming up. The 7-time champion is currently doing crew chief duties for Late Model Stock Car driver, Doug Godsey. Godsey and Warren have been racing around the confines of Southern National Motorsports Park in Lucama, NC. Though short of a great season, Godsey and Warren are competitive and currently second in points only to Deac McCaskill with one win in the books. With an off weekend at SNMP, opportunity awaits for Phil Warren to once again wheel a Late Model in a return even he thought may never exist again.
No doubt its going to be an exciting return, but it’s not like Warren has been out of the seat a long time as he piloted a Modified last season and drove it for all its worth. Guaranteed he’ll do the same for Wertz as well, but he may have a little extra motivation on this ride. In case you have forgotten Warren is the former crew chief, mentor and long time friend of track dominator and three-time champion, CE Falk III. Warren is considered by many to be the one element to spawn off Falk’s racing success on Virginias short tracks that lead to 2 titles together at Langley Speedway in 2009 and 2010.
Other racers that will welcome back Warren includes 5-time track champion, Danny Edwards Jr. along with brother Greg Edwards who boasts 2 titles of his own and is leading the points race right now. Though Warren will surely down play his chances for a win, his competition this weekend won’t buy a single word of it. You don’t win 7 track titles to be known as just a nice guy, you don’t race and win often, like Warren has a 100 times in a career and have that gentlemen appeal. You don’t win Late Models biggest race at Martinsville without being a tough grid iron racer that if threatened can pass you gently blowing a kiss or can put the horns to your bumper and ruin your day.
So coming this weekend, this Saturday night at Langley Speedway, between 4 drivers a total of 17 track championships will battle it out, old school or new, friend or foe, man or mouse. It’s going to go down as Twin 50’s are on the schedule that has the potential to be an epic night of racing and could have history making implication’s at Langley Speedway.
RACE22.com once again is all over it, bringing you LIVE coverage throughout the day and night. Just follow @race22 on our Twitter feed with Five Star RaceCar Bodies bringing you the coverage starting at 4pm, just in time for qualifying. Does Phil Warren take the Langley regulars to school or do they show him what he’s been missing? Don’t miss it!
