It was Greg Edwards who highlighted last Saturday night’s races at Langley Speedway, boasting both wins in the twin 65 lap feature races. Before a great crowd along with seventeen NWAAS Late Models competitors, exciting race action was highly anticipated as some familiar faces makes their way back into town.
Lee Pulliam who has been very good at Langley Speedway was back after winning just 2 weeks earlier. Making his season debut at the track was 2012 Hampton Heat 200 winner Matt Bowling along with the 2009 Hampton Heat 200 winner Woody Howard. Matt Waltz was returning as well in help making what looked to be a preview of this year’s running of the Hampton Heat. Top it all off by a fairly heated up points battle going on in the division, no doubt that Langley Speedway was hosting some of the best in Late Model racing in the Mid Atlantic.
Action got underway as the afternoon time trials determined just who was good enough to start on the pole. Matt Waltz earned that spot posting a quick lap at 15.957 seconds or 89.114 mph. Danny Edwards Jr was just a mere twenty thousandths of a second of the lap time of the pole setter to round out the front row. Matt Bowling, Brenden Queen and Greg Edwards were the others who made up the grids five best. Back just a ways and worthy of keeping an eye on was Tyler Hughes in sixth, Lee Pulliam eighth and Mark Wertz would start ninth. Green flag waved and Waltz would show the way into turn one, on back a nice battle for second occurred with Bowling nabbing up the spot from Danny Edwards. Brenden Queen would be the early loser in the start of the race as the field begins to go single file showing sixth.
Back up front, Waltz was on a tear amassing an early lead as large as ten lengths in the early goings of the feature. Making moves and headed to the front was Greg Edwards just before the races first caution flag waved as Mike Weddell went around in turn two. Back to green flag racing and getting a strong restart was the leader Matt Waltz but soon his mirror was full of Greg Edwards. After a brief battle, Waltz had no choice but to yield to the faster ride of Greg Edwards. On back, Pulliam’s efforts finally was showing him as the fourth place ride and in a solid run of his own was Hughes showing fifth. After a strong qualifying effort, Danny Edwards Jr was seen slowing on the backstretch with reported mechanical issues and would not be a factor for the rest of the race. But the younger brother Greg Edwards would be a factor as he would cruise on to victory after his lap thirty four pass of then leader Matt Waltz who would also finished second. Bowling, Pulliam and Hughes completed the top five.
In the nightcap, the starting grid was determined in how they finished the first race handing the pole spot to Greg Edwards. Green flag waved as seventeen hot rods, just one shy of a full field took down the front stretch with Edwards securing the point by turn two. But then a lap four caution ensued as Tyler Hughes and Woody Howard got together exiting turn two. Hughes’ night was done but Howard was able to continue on. Green flag racing once again and it’s not long before Edwards secures the lead. This time Pulliam gets a good start and was showing second at the time. Couple laps into this green flag run and Bowling made his move on Pulliam. After some intense side by side racing, Bowling was able to muscle away the position for second but looking for the leader found him to be several car lengths away and in firm control of the lead.
On back, Matt Waltz was able to recover from a tire that went down before the drop of the green. Because of the approved tire change, Waltz would start at the rear but made his way into the top five by lap twenty. Halfway point in the race was clearly defined by the massive lead that Greg Edwards had as he was soon clipping off lap cars one by one. Though throughout the field, most cars were good but Edwards was quite a bit better and his lead showed it. With just a handful of laps remaining, not much doing for the others as a caution was needed to reset the field but the caution never came thus allowing Greg Edwards to have things his way in dominating fashion. Greg Edwards picks up his fourth and fifth wins of the season as Matt Bowling completed his night as the runner up in the feature. Danny Edwards Jr, Lee Pulliam and Matt Waltz completed out the five best.
Late Model race action at Langley Speedway picks back up on June 13th when twin 65s are once again on the schedule.
