HAMPTON, VA :: It’s that time one again, Langley Speedway’s premier racing event, the Hampton Heat 200. Dating back to its early beginnings in 2008, the high dollar ($10,000) prize has been luring some of the best Late Model competition in the area. To its modest car counts of years past, the event has steadily grown and so has the fanfare.
Last year alone, the grandstands, which can easily accommodate 6,000 folks comfortably, were elbow to elbow with eager fans. Car counts surpassed 30 and what was billed to be a lay back and ride race was nothing of the sorts. Typically, 200 lap races require discipline, tire management and positioning on the grid after the halfway break. For many, it’s just a ride and see what happens, but not last year. From the drop of the green to the checkered flag, positions one through twelve had a side by side battle and a change in position of every lap.
This year should be no different as rumors are heavy that the possibility of 40 cars may participate. Though talk of car counts seem to label and dictate the glory of the event. I stand on the fact that it’s the racing that makes the race and not a car count. Last year, Race22.com voted Langley Speedways Hampton Heat as the best race of 2013 for its intensity, door to door racing, lead changes, its controversial bump and runs along with a GWC for the finish. The race had it all and no one knew coming in just how good this race is going to be. What made this race great was not just great racing talent on the track but the track itself is very demanding and shows to mercy to the aggressor. Just six degrees of banking dares any competitor to try and drive it down hard as the turns are the longest of any track the NWAAS Late Models race on.
Last year also featured a brand new asphalt surface, the only track in the region to make the investment in some time. The new surface was easily a one groove track causing lots of contact but since then the race track has gone through a huge change. After a season and a decent winter on the new track, there has come to be a second groove. This has created some great door to door racing at Langley Speedway and is going to make this year’s Hampton Heat 200 hot as the month of July. Last year’s winner, Peyton Sellers, will be back to defend his title and keep it out of the hands of the Langley regulars. But it won’t be easy. This year a great points battle is going on at Langley Speedway where Greg Edwards and Matt Waltz are primed to take back this great event. Also, previous winners Nick Smith, Woody Howard and CE Falk will be in the field. The 2012 champion, Matt Bowling, returns meaning every year’s race winner is in the field for this year’s Hampton Heat.
Other notables that bear watching this weekend includes the Langley regulars of Casey Wyatt and Brenden Queen. In a part time role this year, K&N East racer Brandon Gdovic will take part at his home track in a prepared Late Model. Never count out Danny Edwards Jr or Mark Wertz who has a bit of extra self-motivation for this weekend’s race. Wertz, who has been affiliated with Dunkin Donuts for years, will face off against K&N East regular Gray Gaulding who has sponsorship with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.
There’s going to be many more in attendance and the story lines are starting to develop for this race. So, let’s get down to it and talk about who can win this race. Mind you, most writers in this business refuse to call out a name and predict a winner. We at Race22.com will do it in a heartbeat, because late Model racing is what we know best. Every once in a while we hit it but we will always come close and here is my prediction.
I like racers who have the momentum, are proven and driven to become the next Hampton Heat winner. Though the pride of home field advantage plays a role, never underestimate the race team that wants it just a little bit more then the next guy. I like Greg Edwards to win it this year; he’s such a smart, intelligent racer who does very well at managing his car in long races. For the so called dark horse pick and man I really hate that term, if he can qualify well, watch out for Casey Wyatt who sits now third in Langley season points. Though winless this year, their program is back on solid ground sporting fresh horsepower and a driver who also does well in big events with high lap counts. For the out of town racers and that’s another term I hate, I really liked the run Garrett Campbell had two weeks ago at Langley who was really there to prepare that same car for Kaz Grala. Campbell, in his first ever start at Langley Speedway, finished third in both twin 75 lap events. Although he didn’t take home the hardware that night, he took home some very good notes to prepare Grala for this big race.
I also like Matt Bowling’s chances as well. Bowling won this race two years ago by being at the right place at the right time. Watch Matt Bowling to perform well and become the second repeat winner of the race. So who was the first to ever to become a repeat winner? That would be four-time Langley track champion CE Falk and, though he is on a very limited schedule this year, Falk has laps around Langley Speedway and it should give him an edge as long as he keeps his nose clean and is there at the end. Notice though I said that I like the names mentioned above to win. But I haven’t mentioned yet just who is going to win the Hampton Heat. I believe Matt Waltz will take this year’s Hampton Heat 200 and I’ll tell you why. Waltz is big race tested, big race proven and big race without a win. Where’s the edge? Nobody has probably felt more frustration and heart break then Matt Waltz in big race events.
From last year’s dominant performance at Martinsville in which I named Waltz the races dark horse pick and this year’s DHS event at South Boston Speedway which I also picked Waltz to win, Waltz held off some of the Late Model racing’s very best, leading a ton of race laps at both events except the last one, the one that counts.
Its Waltz’s time now and with this big race event in his backyard along with the success of winning races at Langley this year alone makes Waltz a great pick to win. But much is going to happen, with $10,000 up for grabs; race car drivers do funny things that are not so funny to other drivers. You’re not going to want to miss this race either, Race22.com will have live Five Star Bodies Interactive Race Coverage with pics, video interviews and live as it happens updates of all the day’s action. Expect the Hampton Heat 200 as hot as ever at Langley Speedway.
