HAMPTON, VA :: Before a packed house of eager race fans who braved the chilly night air in search of a short track racing fix. Langley Speedway, in their 64th season, opened its gates in anticipation of picking up where they left off in 2013 to what many believed hosted the best local short track racing around. Once again, the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Models serves as the premier division of racing around Langley Speedway. The division last year that had five different winners, voted by RACE22.com to have the best race in 2013, (Hampton Heat 200) and spent nearly $250,000 on repaving the race track. The 2014 season opener was one that Langley Speedway along with its thousands of dedicated fans couldn’t wait any longer to begin.
Greg Edwards, a three time Langley Speedway Late Model champion couldn’t wait any longer either. After winning the 2013 season finale and having dominated that event, Edwards would love to carry that momentum into 2014. But not if Matt Waltz,(3 wins) and Nick Smith,(8 wins) had a say in it as a series championship are on the list of goals for both of these drivers. Also ready to make his way into the win columns is Casey Wyatt. Wyatt towards the end of his 2013 season found the speed he needed to shake up the top 3 spots last year and like the others couldn’t wait to get this race season going as well.
Action got underway in qualifying as 15 hot rods took time. Casey Wyatt almost missed the bell due to a broken rear end in practice that saw his team a few others rally behind him to get the car fixed. But like most of last year, Nick Smith sported the fastest lap earning him the pole for the 100 lap feature with a time at 15.719 seconds around the .396 mile oval. Matt Waltz, Greg Edwards, Casey Wyatt and K&N Pro Series East regular Brandon Gdovic made up the top five best. Other notables was Justin Carroll in his second full season, father Terry Carroll and Danny Edwards Jr in Mark Wertz’s back up car, all had fast laps in the field after qualifying.
Nick Smith led the field of 15 to the green flag and into turn one, securing that lead by the turn three. But Smith’s lead was brief as Matt Waltz would take advantage of a lane left opened by the leader and motor on by. Then came the races first and only caution, in fact, it also drew the red flag. Duane Shreeves, Jeremy Grogg and Robert Bruce were all involved; all three drivers checked out ok but were forced to retire from the race. Lap three restart and like a shot from a canon, Matt Waltz took off and quickly made short work of Smith who elected to be the first to test the outside lane. Quickly the field went single file and Waltz in just a few short laps, built a four car-length lead over Greg Edwards.
But soon that lead began to close as Edward’s march to the front ensued. By lap 19 in the event, knowing that Greg Edwards was much faster and once Edwards got underneath, Waltz had no choice but to let him go. And go is what Greg Edwards did as he never really had to look back after grabbing the lead. Though Waltz was able to stay close, Edwards was going to have to make a huge mistake to give up his race lead. By the time the Checker’s flew, Edwards who crossed the stripe first for the win had lapped every car in the field except Matt Waltz and Nick Smith. Further back, Brandon Gdovic and Casey Wyatt rounded out the top five.
“We didn’t test much and today in practice it felt really good, we just couldn’t put big numbers up in qualifying and I was happy that we qualified third,” Edwards said. “Soon as the race started with the combination we have in this car it just took off. It hugged the bottom all night long and had good drive off. I felt like it would be a matter of time and once when I got by him(Waltz), you know, he stayed with me and we really ran it as hard as I could run it for the hundred laps, it was a long green flag run. You know, the car stayed under us, man, I’m just glad to bring it home in Victory Lane.”
No doubt that with the strong run and race win by Greg Edwards, the rest of the Langley Speedway regulars will need to get back to work in search of speed. Both Matt Waltz and Nick Smith who lead laps in the race admitted so as well. Late Model race action at Langley Speedway picks back up once again on April 19th for another scheduled 100 lap event.
