HAMPTON, VA :: Late Model racing at Langley Speedway has certainly held its own and the 2014 race season was no exception.
While many other tracks take on and benefit heavily from the Limited Late Model division division for help in car counts, Langley Speedway Late Model race teams have a core group featuring several drivers with multiple track championships spanning well over the last 25 years. Between the likes of Danny Edwards, Jr., brother Greg Edwards, Mark Wertz and CE Falk, that group sports a huge wealth of championships totaling fourteen in all. Falk, who before the 2014 season began was the reigning Late Model track champion surprised the Late Model community in the Mid Atlantic by scaling back his racing program to a part time status which offered a better opportunity for a new Langley Speedway Late Model champion.
Ready to step in that role are the likes of veteran racers Nick Smith and Matt Waltz who both had multiple victories in 2013 poised to go big and win the championship. Others that would enter the 2014 series campaign were Casey Wyatt who was looking to make some noise of his own and Brenden Queen who was Langley’s 2013 Late Model Rookie of the Year. Season kicked off in the month of April showcasing two separate dates where Greg Edwards and Matt Waltz hit the win columns first. The two drivers easily distinguished themselves as the class of the field and treated fans to some door to door racing. Though there’s much respect between the two, both emphasized that the other would have to muscle they’re way by with the better car if they intended to win.
May brought on some pleasant evening temps but on the track, it got hot quick. Nick Smith scored his first victory surviving a last lap bump and run from Waltz that displayed some very expertise driving. Greg Edwards collected two more wins in the month of May dominating a one hundred and fifty lap event wire to wire. As for Waltz, he and Smith had a brief feud on the track but still collected two wins in the month as well. The month of June came and current points leader Greg Edwards had just a mere point or two over Waltz proving that winning races were everything in winning the championship. Having success at this point also were the drivers of Mark Wertz, Casey Wyatt, Brandon Gdovic who all had top-5s and showing well in the points.
June started with a bang as CE Falk returned to Langley Speedway and so did some race controversy between longtime rival Greg Edwards. Waltz would win the afternoon event but suffered a blow to the points chase when the same car had engine issues forcing him to a backup car for the second event. Edwards claimed the nightcap with the win after more banging with Falk and sizable points lead over Waltz. In the weeks to come, Waltz got his fifth and sixth win of the 2014 season and began closing the gap in points from the earlier engine failure. Greg Edwards however stayed poised by winning his fifth at the months end with just one week of racing before the big feature in Langley Speedway’s Hampton Heat 200.
Hotter than the July temps was the racing going on the track at Langley Speedway as Waltz collected wins seven and eight for the season in a prelude to the Hampton Heat 200. It also at this point narrowed down Greg Edwards points lead to just three digits going into Langley’s big event. Car counts were at its biggest for The Hampton Heat 200 as 37 hot rods would battle for its ten thousand dollar prize. While last year’s event marveled racing at its best, the 2014 Hampton Heat saw extreme mid race controversy and several caution flags. Because of Mother Nature’s rains along with some determined track officials and the thousands of eager fans, the Hampton Heat 200 didn’t start till 11:20 pm and finally ended at 1:30 am with CE Falk hoisting up high the $10,000 check. Falk’s victory also marked the races first repeat winner.
Matt Waltz took a huge hit in points courtesy of the halfway point of The Hampton Heat for entering pit road early as did race leader Nick Smith. Points leader Greg Edwards, who rarely ever breaks or has misfortunes of his own looked poised and set for a fourth track title. Edwards in the month of August did collect a needed win to his credit but in a fury, Waltz turned it on racking up five of the months six races bringing his total to twelve wins for the year. September had one lone race date left before a champion was to be decided featuring twin races meaning two more opportunities for misfortunes for Edwards and his race team to avoid. Waltz had chipped away at Edwards points lead which made it possible for Waltz to still have a shot at the championship should Edwards fall thanks to a good month in August.
But in the Late Model season finale at Langley Speedway not only did Greg Edwards avoid misfortunes; he turned in his best performance picking up both wins on the evening and winning his fourth track championship. Edwards collected eight wins in 2014 as Matt Waltz’s twelve wins was certainly deserving of the top honors. Nick Smith also won at the low banked oval in its 64th year of racing. Strong efforts from Mark Wertz earned him the three spot in the points standings and through he struggled to his demanding standards, Casey Wyatt was otherwise solid claiming fourth while Brenden Queen received fifth place honors in the season long points battle. Rookie of the Year honors went to Connor Hall who was consistent all year showing speed and finding himself several times qualifying up front in the top five.
