Story by: Mark Rogers, Jr. ~ [email protected]

Hampton, VA(June 11, 2012) — Early June at the tricky 4/10s mile oval at Langley Speedway starts getting hot and so does the racing for The Whelen All American Late Models. Twin 50 lap features highlighted a busy evening of racing around the track for the Late Models where 6 divisions total would take to the track. The significance, lots of waiting.

For a few, it’s a welcomed thing, for most, it can be aggravating. Heat and waiting around does strange things to racers sometimes. For those who can manage, the results can fair much better. Coming into tonight’s racing card was series point’s leader Greg Edwards who brings with him a 14 point lead over Casey Wyatt who has a 4 point lead over Wesley Falk. Both Casey and Wesley are looking to make big gains in tonight’s twin 50’s.

Also wanting to get there names in the conversation is 4th in points Mark Wertz. Though seeming to lack a ¼ turn somewhere on his car, Mark certainly has all the potential and as a 2 time champion at the track, could very well happen for him this week. One of the biggest gains one can make in racing is by winning, toss in last week’s winner Shayne Lockhart. What you got here at Langley Speedway is several racers daring the leader, Greg Edwards to make a mistake. So how what about CE Falk? Events from a couple of weeks ago have crushed the hopes of a 4th straight track championship and now its all old news. For CE Falk, it’s become about State and National titles, Langley Speedway is still a major player in CE Falk’s chances. Winning both features tonight helps tremendously as winning anywhere always does.

Making a start tonight or as quoted by Eddie Johnson,” On a fact finding mission”, was in preparation for the Hampton Heat 200 but was there to race as well. Many of you already know that Langley Speedway is host to the 2nd leg of the Virginia Triple Crown which carries an additional 5 grand to the winner. Eddie Johnson is just behind the first leg winner CE Falk so the Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway is big for veteran Eddie Johnson. The big race at Martinsville is the 3rd and final leg to decide the Virginia Triple Crown. With track temps around 120 degrees, pushing, plowing and occasionally complaints that it’s hot was the talk on pit road during practice. One hot rod that seem to be cool was the #97 Greg Edwards as again this week showed top speeds throughout all 3 practice sessions by at least 2 tenths over the field. But could it transfer over into qualifying and into the twin 50s?

Qualifying was underway and turning in quality laps was Mark Wertz along with CE Falk who both made up row 2 of the field. Shayne Lockhart who has been hot here as of late and Danny Edwards Jr made up row 3. But seemingly becoming the norm was Wesley Falk qualifying 2nd who has been very consistent but one better was Greg Edwards whose lap of 16.036 earned him tonight’s pole. Other notables were Casey Wyatt starting 7th and Eddie Johnson rolling off 9th. The first of two 50 lap features got underway with Greg Edwards showing the way, after a brief battle with Wes Falk, Mark Wertz was able to get by for 2nd. Several laps would go by and as things sorted themselves out from 3rd on back, Greg Edwards made it known he was checking on out. His lead by lap 10 had easily grown to 12 car lengths over the field.

Even as lap 20 was recorded, Greg Edwards was steadily pulling away but further back the action was heating up. Wes Falk was able to get back around Wertz for 2nd, CE Falk is now 3rd and moving on up, Lockhart maintained the 4th spot and back in 5th was Mark Wertz but just not as good as he was earlier. Halfway point in the race and its all Greg Edwards, clearly the #97 machine was stout until…lap 28. Misfortunes for Greg Edwards soon after midway as his car started to fall off and eventually spun to bring out the first caution of the race. A right rear loose wheel was the issue and found the series point’s leader in the rear with just a handful or more laps to earn a respectable finish. Assuming the lead was Wesley Falk but electing to line up behind him on this restart was brother CE Falk who is absolutely stout when racing goes green. But Wesley wasn’t having none of it and led the field thru turns 1 and 2 with CE Falk in tow.

It wasn’t until lap 40 that CE Falk was finally able to track down his determined brother to battle once again for the lead. That battle would last for 2 more circuits before the deed was done and CE Falk was the new leader. Making news and tracking down the leaders was Greg Edwards. After starting in the rear for an earlier spin, Edwards tracked down the lead cars like a bunch of starving hounds but by the time checkers flew, CE Falk crossed the strip 1st with Greg Edwards 2nd, Wes Falk ended 3rd, Lockhart 4th and Mark Wertz the top 5. Other top finishers saw Casey Wyatt 6th and with a broken shock mount, Danny Edwards Jr crosses in 7th. Southside Speedway veteran Eddie Johnson suffered engine troubles and had to settle for a disappointing 14th in the grid.

The second feature starts how they finished in the first meaning CE Falk gets pole and clean air. But first he must clear Greg Edwards who just couldn’t believe his team’s misfortunes and not being in victory lane. Green flag flies and the leaders go side by side around Langley Speedway for a lap before caution 1 flies for the spinning car of #77 Bruce Livingston. CE Falk was able to secure the lead as he crossed the strip by a nose for the next restart. Back underway now and CE Falk gets the jump and the lead over rival Greg Edwards. Lockhart, Wes Falk and Mark Wertz are the top 5. But as soon as the field scatters and goes single file, Greg Edwards wants the lead. After a brief battle, Edwards beats Falk underneath and has to let him go.

After 20 complete, Edwards encounters traffic and with some swift moves extends his lead over Falk by at least 6 lengths. CE Falk at this point appears to have a very loose car getting around lap traffic. Further back, Lockhart gathers up 3rd, Wertz now 4th and Wes Falk rolls 5th. Halfway is upon us and Greg Edwards is having his way on the field. But just as I mentioned earlier CE Falk is loose, Edwards is now wicked loose and Falk is closing. Several laps go by, CE Falk appears to have a bit better car and collapses the lead of Greg Edwards. On lap 36 the caution would come out for JT Jackson over in turns 1 and 2. Bunching the field back up and setting up an all exciting restart for the leaders. Does Edwards have enough right rear tire to hold the charge of CE Falk?

Lap 36 restart and fans are on there feet for this one. Green flag flies and Falk gets a great jump on Edwards. The momentum allows Falk to get underneath Edwards who gives room and the two will battle side by side on the backstretch for the lead. Falk now with the preferred line clears Edwards out of turn 4 and secures the spot on point. From that point on, it was all CE Falk would need to go on and pull off another win in the second feature at Langley Speedway. Greg Edwards would hold off a late charge from Shayne Lockhart for 2nd. Mark Wertz finished 4th in his race efforts and making yet another top 5 finish was Casey Wyatt. Other top finishers were Wesley Falk holding on to 6th and racing with stomach pains all day.

But the story after tonight’s twin 50s at Langley Speedway, how and when will the 2 time track champ Greg Edwards find his way to victory lane?