Matt Waltz Sweeps Twins in Hampton Heat Prelude

HAMPTON, VA :: In what has been a seesaw battle at the top of the Late Model division at Langley Speedway, Matt Waltz picked up wins number seven and eight on the season, becoming the first to double down in the seasons twin races on Saturday night. The night’s wins couldn’t have come at a better time for the Newport News Virginia native as in two weeks, Langley Speedway’s most prestigious race and biggest payday draws near. Points leader Greg Edwards, who came in to Saturday night’s races with a five point lead, has been no stranger to Victory Lane himself. But with some nifty moves and creative driving, the night, along with the hardware, would belong to Matt Waltz.

Action started in afternoon qualifying as 18 Late Models took time with many participants from other tracks making a visit in preparation for The Hampton Heat 200 in two weeks. Defending Hampton Heat race winners Peyton Sellers (2013) and Matt Bowling (2012) were on hand from SOBO as was Michael Hardin (Southern National), Quinn Houff (Motor Mile), Garrett Campbell, who runs well everywhere, and 14-year-old Tyler Ankrum who has made appearances throughout the Mid-Atlantic. But it was one of Langley boys in Matt Waltz that had the fastest lap at 15.930 sec or 89.266 mph with Greg Edwards just a mere .064 hundredths of a second off the pole sitter worthy of a second place start on the grid.

Other notables were Matt Bowling qualifying third along with Nick Smith in fourth both powered by Ford Crates for the event which the track hasn’t seen in competition. Garrett Campbell would complete the five best with Brenden Queen, Casey Wyatt and Peyton Sellers well in the top ten. While much attention was given to the performance of the Ford crates for the accusations of having a more stout torque curve, it was the Chevy built motors that made up the front row including two of Langley Speedway’s very own. Green flag waved and from the outside row, Greg Edwards made quick work of Waltz to claim the early race lead. The race’s first caution waved on lap eight of the race as Jeremy Grogg went around.

Back to the green, Edwards once again was too much for Waltz who settled on in second but on back, Bowling, Queen and Campbell all battled for position. Finally, after logging in several laps, it was Edwards mounting a sizable lead with the best battle on the track is for fifth as Brenden Queen and Connor Hall go door to door for several laps. Halfway through the race, the leader encountered lap traffic and seemingly didn’t get the help he needed as Waltz does a much better job getting through. The battle for the lead continued and Waltz could make it work on the bottom of Edwards. But then the move of the race came on lap 58 where Waltz created a third groove way up high on the six degree banking and completed the pass for the lead.

The second and final caution came when Peyton Sellers spun setting up a lap sixty two restart giving Waltz choice on the double file cone restart. As the leader choose the outside, the move proved to be the right one as when green flag waved, Waltz made easy work to secure the point. Edwards would give chase for another half of lap before he backed off to conserve tires. Meanwhile, Waltz was long gone and took the first seventy five lap feature at Langley Speedway. Edwards, Campbell, Bowling and Queen made up the top five. In the evenings second seventy five lap feature, the finishing order of the first made up the starting grid giving Waltz the pole with Edwards once again to his outside.

With the option of choice for the pole sitter, it was Waltz who exercised his privilege and started to the outside front row forcing Edwards to the inside. Green flag waved to a field of 19 hot rods as Waltz once again used the high side to secure the point. Edwards would give chase mirroring Waltz’s line while after a brief battle with Benden Queen, Garrett Campbell began his march to the front as well. It wasn’t long before Edwards ran down the leader setting up another Waltz, Edwards battle for the lead. Waltz, who was content with his line and the second groove, forced the hand of Edwards to take the shorter way around the track. But it was the door of Waltz that Edwards could come close to taking the race lead.

Meanwhile, as the battle for lead went down, here came Campbell closing in on Edwards. Halfway now and Greg Edwards was left to concede becoming the race leader to protect his second place spot on the grid from Campbell, possibly thinking big picture in the highly contested points battle at Langley Speedway. Campbell, after his charge to catch the leaders, had just enough to make a few dashes on Edwards before giving way himself and settling into third for good. On back, Bowling and Queen were solid in their runs but back up front it was all Matt Waltz. Final turn for the leader and unchallenged was Matt Waltz when the checkered flag waved. Greg Edwards finished second while Garrett Campbell in his first ever appearance at Langley finished once again in third. Matt Bowling was solid finishing fourth and how about fourteen year old Tyler Ankrum in his first appearance also rounding out the races five best.

There was no doubt that with the huge talent pool, the twin 75s that evening had a Hampton Heat appeal to it. Once again, there were very impressive performances from the outside teams who competed. The questions on whether the Ford crates will work on the flat banked oval are still up in the air though Bowling and Ankrum made it work considering the few laps around the track they have on them. The last two years, it’s been outsiders that have won Langley Speedway’s Hampton Heat 200. While the track surface has changed drastically, the Sellers Racing team and the Garrett Campbell Motorsports teams carry home some great notes in preparation for the big race. For them, the twin 75s mean nothing, but could mean everything for the Hampton Heat 200 on July 26th.

Video Interviews

Race Results

Race 1

1. #2 Matt Waltz
2. #97 Greg Edwards
3. #12 Garrett Campbell
4. #83 Matt Bowling
5. #03 Brenden Queen
6. #77 Connor Hall
7. #26 Danny Edwards Jr
8. #92 Casey Wyatt
9. #58 Tyler Ankrum
10. #99 Peyton Sellers
11. #55 Mark Wertz
12. #38 Duane Shreeves
13. #18 Quinn Houff
14. #90 Terry Carroll
15. #7 Michael Hardin
16. #83 Jeremy Grogg
17. #77 Bruce Livingston
18. #6 Evan Horne
19. #11 Nick Smith
20. #91 Justin Carroll

Race 2

1. #2 Matt Waltz
2. #97 Greg Edwards
3. #12 Garrett Campbell
4. #83 Matt Bowling
5. #03 Brenden Queen
6. #77 Connor Hall
7. #26 Danny Edwards Jr
8. #92 Casey Wyatt
9. #58 Tyler Ankrum
10. #99 Peyton Sellers
11. #55 Mark Wertz
12. #38 Duane Shreeves
13. #18 Quinn Houff
14. #90 Terry Carroll
15. #7 Michael Hardin
16. #83 Jeremy Grogg
17. #77 Bruce Livingston
18. #6 Evan Horne
19. #11 Nick Smith
20. #91 Justin Carroll