Back again to compete in this year’s Valley Star Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway is Langley Speedway’s Late Model star Matt Waltz.

The Newport News, Virginia native and Old Dominion University graduate has competed in several Late Model events at Martinsville with his most notable performance in 2013, turning a few heads after winning his heat race giving him the the third spot to start the race.

Even more heads were turned when Waltz led well over 50 circuits before a right front tire cut down and slamming into the wall negating the effort to a 20th place finish. But, with that performance had many around the garage and in the stands asking just who was that guy in Matt Waltz.

Last year’s performance in the MCDU 300 did not yield laps lead at the front of the field but a solid, mistake free run earned Waltz a respectable seventh place finish giving the young talent the view on both sides of the coin.

One of being really good leading laps and the other of being decent, keeping the nose clean. Matt Waltz is ready for this years race and though racing on a limited schedule in 2015, it would be hard not to think to hear of Matt Waltz’s name mentioned probably some if not often at Martinsville this year.

This season has seen Waltz compete in a handful of CARS Series races, several entries at his home track of Langley Speedway which yielded a race win and a start in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Richmond International Raceway driving for Derrike Cope Racing in which potential plans may see Waltz competing in that series again sometime soon.

But right now and until then, its all about winning the Valley Credit Union 300, a chance at a $27,000 pay day and Martinsville Speedway’s most prestigious Grandfather Clock. Matt Waltz shared some of his time and spoke about this once a year, great race at Martinsville Speedway.

“It’s the biggest race in Late Model Stock Cars”, said Waltz. “In the Late Model racing world, I feel like it would put me on the map, its got that Daytona 500 feel for me ya know. Its like that for all our Late Model Stock car guys. We’ve done everything we possibly could to make sure were prepared to perform the best we can and I have a really positive outlook especially after Wednesday’s practice.”

Next, Waltz shares his opinion on what it takes to win at Martinsville.

“You gotta be up front, you gotta be in that top five,” expressed Waltz. “You gotta figure on that late race caution, everyone is going to be going hard but its still hard to say. To win this race you got to be good, you just cant be a top ten car. At the end, you know the top two cars could take each other out and you have to be there at the end to make it happen.”

We then talked about whether or not if doing away with the ten to go competition caution towards the end was good for the competition and for the race.

“The ten to go guaranteed a wreck before the checkers where this years style race doesn’t but there’s still a possibility,” Waltz commented. “ I really do like the fact that they taken it out, it gives us all a chance to save a bit of money from tearing up our cars hopefully. That’s very important in Late Model Stock Car racing cause you got to really spend the money that the top teams are spending just to keep up.

“I think it’s a good thing that they took it out to give us a chance and not spend so much money for the overall good of the sport. You know, they gotta try it at least maybe for a few years to see if it works and see if its good for the race itself and if not, maybe go back to it. Just cant thank enough for what they’re doing at Martinsville by looking out for us and listening to the race teams, we really appreciate that”.

No doubt that Clay Campbell and everyone at Martinville Speedway is doing a really great job hosting each year the Whelen All American Late Models biggest event on a racetrack that challenges both car and driver from start to finish.

Race day also challenges the minds both mentally and emotionally, making each lap critical in the race. Thousands of decisions will be made by these drivers and race teams where one mistake can easily end your day. It’s a once a year, ready or not race and only one will have what it takes to win it. For Matt Waltz, he feels that him and his race team is ready, focused and prepared to win the 2015 Valley Star Credit Union 300.