Story by: Andy Marquis ~ [email protected]
Virginia Beach, VA(January 28, 2012) – Last time CE Falk unloaded his car for his first race of the season, he ended the race in victory lane. Falk hopes to end his 2013 season opener the same way, except this time, with a victory in the Inaugural UNOH Battle at the Beach in Daytona.
Winning big races isn’t new to Falk. Falk is a former winner of the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, the Hampton Heat 200, and the Danville Toyota 300. Falk is a three time Langley Speedway track champion who has shown the ability to win on a variety of different tracks.
“We’re bringing my late model stock car there that won at four tracks last year, including Langley Speedway and the Virginia Triple Crown,” Falk said. “It’s been a good car and a good piece so we’re hoping to be competitive going down with something that we know.”
Falk won races at Southern National, Langley, South Boston and Motor Mile in 2012; however his quest to win a fourth straight championship at Langley Speedway was derailed. He then won the Virginia Triple Crown with a top-ten finish in the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville. His success outside of Langley gives him confidence entering Daytona this year.
The current configuration at Langley Speedway, along with the layouts at other tracks Falk has competed at, gives Falk reason to be comfortable with the car entering Daytona.
“We’re going to be getting a lot of practice,” Falk stated. “We’re going to make the car where it is adjustable. We have a good baseline of what we want to go with. We’ll just have to see. We’re racing on a Goodyear, which we normally don’t run. I haven’t run Goodyear on a local short track since ‘09.
“Some guys that run Kingsport and Hickory might have an edge but it’s just a tire. Our car responds pretty well to just about everything. It should be a fun track. It’s based on tracks like Charlotte and Atlanta which we ran in Legends cars. Driving up on access roads and on to the banking is stuff we’re good at.”
Falk’s main goal at Daytona is the same as everyone else, standing alone as the victor at the World Center of Speed.
“We’re definitely going to try to get a win,” Falk said. “I don’t go to races unless we can get a win. It’s a race, it’s Daytona. It makes you more amped up to win. If not, we’ll put on a show. We’re going to make it interesting. We want to win the inaugural race and to be one of the first winners of Speedweeks.
“It’s a huge accomplishment. People dream of racing Daytona and we get to go there with our cars. We don’t have to build a quarter-million dollar Nationwide car. I mean, it’s Daytona. Just to go with our car is pretty cool.”
Preparations have been in place for Falk since November.
“To be back in the cars, I’ve been preparing since the end of the year,” Falk said. “I’m really looking forward to being back in the car. Driving is the easy part for me. It’s making sure bills get paid and parts get ready to go. To go race in February is awesome. It’s nice to get a jump on the season…. it’s great to be on the big stage, I love to be on the big stage so it will be nice to go to Daytona and compete for the win.”
It’s not the first time Falk’s been to Daytona, but it will be the first time Falk has ever raced at the World Center of Speed.
“I’ve been to Daytona (as a spectator) numerous times. I watched Denny Hamlin win the (Sprint Unlimited) and Dale Jarrett win the 500 for the second time. Daytona is a big place. My Dad ran Daytona for years in the Busch Series. It’s a big place for motorsports. Going to Richmond for the first time was pretty big but Daytona is hallowed ground. It’s a tremendous experience I’ll never forget but it’s still a race and a race to be won so that’s what we’re focused on.”
The 150-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Model feature in the UNOH Battle at the Beach will be on February 18th. RACE22.com will have coverage of the event and coverage leading up to the UNOH Battle at the Beach.
