Story by: Mason Dunn/RACE22.com Reporter
Hampton, VA(July 27, 2009) — CE Falk claimed his seventh win of the 2009 season at Langley Speedway and did it in thrilling fashion making a late race pass for the lead on the 4/10 mile flat track.
Matt Waltz laid claim to his first career Whelen All-American Series pole Saturday afternoon for the 11th race of the Langley Speedway Crossroads Fuels Late Model season with a time of 16.416 beating out points leader CE Falk by a mere 0.020 seconds. Mark Wertz posted his best qualifying effort of the season earning the third starting position on the grid with Stacey Puryer, who was back for another go after an early exit from the Hampton Heat, and Doug Warren rounding out the top five of the 16 teams that posted times.
Matt Waltz made good use of his number one starting position to lead his first laps of his Late Model career, this being his second full season, before being overtaken by a very strong running Mark Wertz who has been showing great improvement week after week. Wertz made the pass on lap eight and looked to put some track between himself and the rest of the field but his efforts were delayed a lap later as the caution was displayed after a stack up in the middle of the pack resulted in Wes Falk and Casey Wyatt pointing the wrong way on the back stretch.
When the green came back out on lap nine Wertz went back to his plan and began to set sail as CE Falk began to launch his challenge upon the second place car of Matt Waltz. After four laps of constant challenging, Falk made the pass for second and set his sights on Wertz who had opened up lead of almost a straightaway while Falk was battling. The lead was erased soon after when the yellow flag was displayed for a second time on lap 26 when contact from the 1 of Kyle Waltz sent Terry Carroll’s 90 machine for a spin in between turns 1 and 2.
When the field went back green Wertz continued to show the way with Falk second, Waltz third, with Danny and Greg Edwards, who both started at the bottom of the top 10 up to fourth and fifth respectively. Wertz got a jump on CE Falk on the start opening up an immediate three car-length advantage. Danny Edwards made an immediate challenge on Matt Waltz for third and succeded on lap 31 and brother Greg followed on the very next circuit. At the cross flags Wertz had reopened his lead to a half a straightaway over Falk who had a similar advantage over third place Danny Edwards.
Wertz’s lead was once again killed by a caution flag on lap 56 when Kyle Waltz and Stacey Puryear made contact sending the 1 of Waltz spinning on the backstretch. On the restart, the top two stayed single-file as they had all night until lap 63 when Falk looked to make a bid for the lead but was unsuccessful as Wertz reopened a four car-length advantage. As the race went on the top three stayed within reach of each other and all ran a very similar line around the flat corners.
The fourth caution was displayed to the field on lap 80 as contact from Kyle Waltz sent Wes Falk spinning and making hard contact with the wall smashing the rear end of the #41 Chevy. On the restart, CE Falk made it very apparent where he wanted to be, out front. Falk first made a move to the outside of Wertz and then crossed over and made a look to the inside. Wertz fought off both challenges but definitely had nothing but Falk on the brain as Falk made several more challenges before the fifth and final caution on lap 85.
On the restart Falk knew it was his best chance to get the lead from Wertz and he did everything he could to get it. As they took the green Falk and Wertz made contact sending the 55 sideways as Falk backed off to let Wertz straighten up which almost allowed Danny Edwards to get past Falk for second place. One lap later Falk was back inside of Wertz and was able to make the pass through the middle of turns 1 and 2 on lap 88 and Wertz instantly looked to make the crossover move but it didn’t work as he wanted it to as Falk was able to pull a few lengths.
Danny Edwards began to make moves on Wertz for the runner-up position on lap 92 in a bid that lasted for three laps before Wertz won the battle but only after Falk was able to open up a sizeable lead. Falk earned his seventh win of the season by just under half a second over Wertz. The rest of the top five were Danny and Greg Edwards, third and fourth respectively, followed by Woody Howard in fifth. With the win, CE Falk gained another 37 NASCAR state and national points bringing his national total to 655 points. Meanwhile, in the Langley track points Falk was able to extend his points lead to 32 points over second place Danny Edwards while Woody Howard moved back into the top five in points.
Race #11 results
1) (40) CE Falk; 100
2) (55) Mark Wertz; 100
3) (26) Danny Edwards; 100
4) (27) Greg Edwards; 100
5) (21) Woody Howard; 100
6) (4) Matt Waltz; 100
7) (12) Doug Warren; 100
8) (01) Jeff Shiflett; 100
9) (1) Kyle Waltz; 100
10) (06) Dean Shiflett; 100
11) (90) Terry Carroll; 100
12) (44) Robbie Babb; 97
13) (17) John Staton; 93
14) (41) Wes Falk; 79
15) (34) Stacey Puryear; 61
16) (10) Casey Wyatt; 20
Points after race #11
1) (40) CE Falk, 532
2) (26) Danny Edwards, 500, (-32)
3) (27) Greg Edwards, 458, (-74)
4) (55) Mark Wertz, 456, (-76)
5) (21) Woody Howard, 380, (-152)
6) (01) Jeff Shiflett, 378, (-154)
7) (41) Wes Falk, 370, (-162)
8) (06) Dean Shiflett, 340, (-192)
9) (1) Kyle Waltz, 320, (-212)
10) (48) Shawn Balluzzo, 316, (-216)
11) (4) Matt Waltz, 304, (-228)
12) (90) Terry Carroll, 302, (-230)
Wins: CE Falk(7), Danny Edwards(2), Greg Edwards(1), Woody Howard(1)
