HAMPTON, VA :: Just because there’s cooler weather and the changing of the seasons doesn’t mean the racing around Langley Speedway has cooled off. It was championship weekend and going into the final two races, though well in hand, it was still up for grabs. Greg Edwards was on top of the standings with a comfortable sixteen point lead over Matt Waltz but don’t tell Edwards that. Waltz had been on fire as of late, sporting four consecutive wins and chipping away at that lead point by point. What we knew was that Matt Waltz was coming, what we didn’t know was if Edwards was going to put up much of a fight.
Action began with the afternoon time trials and answering the bell with the fast lap was Greg Edwards at 16.034 sec or 88.867 mph. With a quick lap of his own was Brenden Queen who was just twenty three thousandths of a second from his first career pole. Clicking off fast laps to make up the five best was Nick Smith, Matt Waltz and Mark Wertz. Other notables were the likes of Brandon Gdovic, Casey Wyatt and Connor Hall just outside of the top five. It was go time for 19 Late Models and the green flag waved with Edwards showing the way. Needing just a lap to secure the point, Queen, Waltz, Smith and Wertz settled in single in pursuit of the leader. Several laps into the race and Edwards began to put some distance on Queen and looking to get as far away from the field as he could.
Mark Wertz would take the four spot from Smith but otherwise a very tame start to the evenings racing. No doubt that Greg Edwards was making a statement as he began to catch the tail end of the field around lap nineteen. At this point, Brandon Gdovic made his way into the top five and Waltz began to pursue Queen for second. Once the pass was made, Waltz was in need of a caution and got it as Evan Horne would go around over in turn three. Lap 64 restart and it was Edwards with the holeshot along with the lead. In a display of car and driver, Edwards would go on and win the first of twin 75s on the evening’s schedule. Waltz, Wertz, Tyler Ankrum who started from the 11th spot finished fourth as Queen rounded out the five best.
The second race feature started in how they finished the first one giving Greg Edwards the pole and needing a 17th or better finish to win his fourth Langley Speedway track championship. Green flag would wave and once again showing the might of his hot rod was Edwards, easily held off the challenge from Waltz. Ankrum made a few early moves on Wertz giving up the third spot in the field as the racing got going. But what everyone had eyes on was what has been a season long battle between Edwards and Waltz. Several laps into the race feature and the leader was starting to get away. Then by the halfway, Waltz drove up a half a groove and was clicking off two tenths a lap on the leader.
Later stages of the race now and by this time, Waltz was on the bumper of Edwards. On back, Gdovic worked his way back into the top five and Tyler Ankrum may be the fastest car on the track in third. Before Waltz would wear out the bumper of the leader, Edwards looked to give room underneath and lap fifty four had a new leader. With Waltz out in front, you would figure Edwards would concede and not risk the potential championship. Not so as Edwards regrouped and was on the bumper of Matt Waltz in an all or nothing chance. The leader battled, holding off the charge several times but, all the while, here came Ankrum. But with just five laps to go, Edwards drove it in deep making his car stick and reclaiming the lead.
Waltz would reset and go back after the leader but on this night, it was all Greg Edwards as he would go on to win giving him the night and the Langley Speedway Late Model track championship. Tyler Ankrum, Matt Waltz and Mark Wertz were the top five of the feature.
