Greg Edwards and brother Danny Edwards Jr through the years have made quite the name for themselves around Langley Speedway’s .395 mile oval.
Between the two, Danny has five Langley Late Model track championships (88,92,99,07,08) to Greg Edwards four Langley Late Model championships (98,06,12,14) respectfully. This race season the two Edwards brothers were at it again. Coming into the season finale, both shared six wins each and separated by ten points in the series championship in which Danny Edwards currently lead.
With each spot on the track worth one point, if Greg Edwards should win, Danny needed to finish tenth or better to secure the title. But for them both, one hundred and twenty fives laps had to be completed before any track championship would be decided at Langley Speedway.
For the other Langley regulars who have been mathematically eliminated, what better way to close out there season then nabbing up the win. Brenden Queen who was coming in third in the points would love to get his first Late Model win. Mark Wertz and Tyler Hughes were the two other previous race winners in the year hoping to pick up their second. Race veteran Terry Carroll has been on a surge as of late and making his way back to Langley Speedway was Nick Smith.
With winning now more so then ever is on each racers agenda, drama potentially tends to ensue. Eighteen Late Models took time in qualifying and earning the pole was Greg Edwards. With a hot lap clocked at 15.990 seconds or 88.931 mph, the lap bested Danny Edwards Jr efforts just sixty one thousandths off the pole time. Connor Hall sat third while Nick Smith would start fourth and Justin T Carroll would make up the races five fastest in the grid. Tyler Hughes, Mark Wertz, Terry Carroll, Brenden Queen and Langley regular Justin Carroll completed the top ten.
Green flag racing got underway and like a shot from a canon, Greg Edwards meant business as turn one was that was needed to secure the point. Danny Edwards Jr soon fell in tow along with Connor Hall, Nick Smith and Justin T Carroll just as they qualified.
Making moves early and showing muscle was Mark Wertz who started seventh was showing in the four spot before the races first caution on lap thirteen. Back to green flag racing, Greg Edwards would win the restart against Wertz who took the cone to Edwards outside. Soon after, the races second caution flag waved as Cody Carlton comes to a stop on the backstretch. Setting up a lap twenty five restart, once again Greg Edwards would lead the field into one and gaining full advantage of the spot coming out of turn two. On back, Wertz and Danny Edwards were in a heated side by side battle for second with Danny eventually getting the spot. Just as soon as things were getting settled into a long green flag run, the races third caution came over the field as Justin Carroll went hard into the turn four wall.
What has already been an eventful start to the race, green flag laps were what the leader Greg Edwards would love to see at this point. Racing resumed on lap forty two and once again, Greg Edwards made quick work to establish his lead. Danny Edwards and Mark Wertz were at it again deciding the two spot, meanwhile, Greg Edwards was getting away. Soon after, Connor Hall wanted some of Danny Edwards and earned the three spot negating the series points leader to fourth. Several green flag laps now into the run saw race leader Greg Edwards catch slower race traffic and enjoying nearly a half of straight away length lead on the competition.
But that’s when the caution flag flew again on lap ninety one of the event noting Macy Causey going around after getting into Casey Wyatt in turn two. Lap ninety seven restart and again, Greg Edwards is on point. Quickly the field falls in as Wertz, Hall Danny Edwards and Smith all gave chase to the leader.
Smith worked his way past Danny Edwards for fourth as did Terry Carroll and Tyler Hughes. When all was done, the series points leader soon found himself showing seventh and unknowing to all was whether Danny simply laid back or whether there’s a problem.
Back up front, it was all Greg Edwards at this point. But suddenly with just three laps remaining in the race, the caution flag waved. In a shower of sparks, series points leader Danny Edwards Jr ride blew a right front tire and would send him skating into the turn four wall.
After the agonizing visit to pit road to replace the tire, Danny Edwards Jr was listed as thirteenth and showing to be a lap down. Needing to finishing tenth or better should Greg Edwards win, a green white checker finish was all Danny Edwards Jr had to work with to gain the needed spots. In the first attempt at a GWC finish, Greg Edwards like he had all night nailed the restart and secured the lead doing away with Wertz by the time they came out of turn two. Then the caution comes out showing Michael Hardin with heavy damage after getting into the turn one wall thus setting up the second and final GWC finish.
Checking back on Danny Edwards Jr, because of the Michael Hardin, Tyler Hughes melee during the caution which forced both to retire from the race. Scoring monitor showed the series points leader in eleventh and needing just one more position to become a six time Langley champion. I
t a streak of good fortune if it can be said, Danny Edwards Jr would get the Lucky Dog allowing him to circle back around and starting at the longest line of the field. Noting the situation and task at hand, the tenth place car was just three spots ahead in front of some lapped cars as the field would bunch up for the last GWC to decide the race and the track championship.
Green flag waved for the final time and to no surprise, Greg Edwards did away with the challenge of Connor Hall to claim the lead. While Hall was left to battle with Mark Wertz and Terry Carroll. The brief battle was all Greg Edwards needed to keep Wertz at a distance in route to his seventh win on the season. Concerning the track championship, Danny Edwards Jr at the checkers was shown in ninth but soon after the news quickly spread that the series points leader may be in trouble.
The word from the tower soon came after and confirmed that Danny Edwards Jr had passed the three lapped cars along with the tenth place car on the restart before they all got to the start/finish line.
By definition of the rule, Danny Edwards Jr ninth place finish was nullified to eleventh placing the Edwards brothers in a dead tie in the series points. To break the tie, the track championship had to be determined based on series wins for the season. With Greg Edwards collecting his seventh win of the season to Danny Edwards Jr six wins. The 2015 Langley Speedway Late Model Championship was awarded to Greg Edwards and his Eagle 97 race team giving him his fifth track title.
In the Langley Speedway Late Model Rookie of the Year honors, fourteen year old female racer Macy Causey earned the award for her season long efforts. Deserving of recognition by his own right for his year long efforts was Late Model rookie competitor Cameron Bowen.
