Staff report

Just as he did four times last season, Denny Hamlin drove to victory in Late Model Stock Car action Friday on opening night at for the 2004 Southampton Motor Speedway season. After fellow pole-sitter Timothy Peters took the lead early on, Hamlin raced to a four car-length victory by lap 10, while Phil Warren, Tommy Cherry, Mike Shearin, Mike Connor and C.E. Falk battled it out for third.

A caution-forced restart gave Peters back the lead on lap 24, and he and Hamlin warred for the next 16 laps, allowing Warren to slip into the mix. On lap 42, Warren pulled even with Hamlin for a lap, and Shearin took advantage, pulling up behind the three. On lap 48, Hamlin ducked under Peters on the backstretch and nosed back on top. By lap 52, his lead was back to three car-lengths, and Peters wasn’t able to catch back up.

The final standings were:

1. DENNY HAMLIN

2. TIMOTHY PETERS

3. PHIL WARREN

4. MIKE SHEARIN

5. TOMMY CHERRY

6. C.E. FALK

7. TRAVIS MILLER

8. MIKE CONNER

9. BOB SHREEVES

10. JUNIOR HARGRAVE

Ken Rountree had a slightly easier time of things in Limited Late Model action, leading from green to checkers in the win. Todd Van Guilder was competitive for the first half of the race, but he spun out on lap 21, and engine trouble forced him to make an early exit.

With Van Guilder out, Anthony Warren and Shawn Balluzzo moved up to second and third, but Rountree grabbed a two-length lead on the restart. With 10 laps to go, Warren got within a length, but Rountree maneuvered past a lapped car for the victory. Final standings for the race were:

1. KEN ROUNTREE

2. ANTHONY WARREN

3. SHAWN BALLUZZO

4. GARY WEEKS

5. JEFF SAMPSON

Bill Mullis went the same way in the U-Car race, starting on the pole and leading all the way to victory.

1. BILL MULLIS

2. GEORGE Van GUILDER

3. ROBERT RUSIYAN

4. ERIC BELL

5. HARRY Van GUILDER

After fighting off Ritchie German throughout the first 10 laps, John Boord took the lead in Super Streets and didn’t give it away, eventually winning by half a straightaway. Top four were:

1. JOHN BOORD

2. RITCHIE GERMAN

3. DALE PARRO

4. ROBERT LOVELL

Berryville’s Jason Miller made his own personal history in the Legends race, speeding to his first SMS victory. Cliff Daniels of Smithfield started third and charged at pole-sitter Miller, taking the lead at lap 6. Miller took the lead back at lap 9, and Daniels spun out. Suffolk’s Kerry Gilbert rushed from ninth to second, but Miller held on for a three-length victory.

1. JASON MILLER

2. KERRY GILBERT

3. DON McLAUGHLIN

4. MAX SMITH

5. C.E. FALK

Matt Midgett of Kitty Hawk also grabbed his first victory at the track, taking the Arena Cup race by a full straightaway. Jason Styron, in his first SMS start, was second in the caution-free race.

1. MATT MIDGETT

2. JASON STYRON

3. JASON STEWART

ROSS CLEMENTS

5. ROB WELLS

The next round of racing will be held on April 16, weather permitting.

Here are the unofficial results of Langley Speedway racing on April 10.

Super Mini Trucks

1. Neil Sipe

2. John Hollis

3. Brian Phelps

4. Donny Kessel

5. John McDonald II

6. David Bridwell Jr.

7. Irene Bechtel

8. Carl Livingston

9. Bobby Dean

Super 8 Motels Grand Stocks

1. Ryan Nester

2. Donnie Brown

3. Robert Ellis

4, Chris Roberts

5, David Gray

6. Brandon Hinson

7. Marc LaDoucer

8. Hank Karwoski

9. Greg Burgess

10. Barney Lincoln

First of the Twin 35 Late Model Sportsman

1. Butch High

2. Paul Lubno

3. Doug Warren

4. Paul DeBolt

5. Jimmy Adkins III

6. Jeff Shiftlet

7. Shawn Balluzzo

8. Billy Fisher

9. Rob Brake

10. Bobby Spivey