Story by: Mark Rogers, Jr. ~ [email protected]

Hampton, VA(April 11, 2012) — Langley Speedway and its 2012 Whelen All American Late Model season are underway. The first feature which hosted 16 Late Models with 2 being S&P’s, took to the 4/10’s mile oval for 100 laps of racing. Little did fans know that not only would they be treated to a thrilling race, but there ticket came with a post race altercation for free! Coming into the 2012 season at Langley Speedway and already on a wild wave of momentum, all eyes were on the 3 time in a row Langley Champion CE Falk.

Falk has already in 2012 picked up wins at South Boston and Motormile Speedways in just a span of 3 weeks. Already, many have written off the rest of the competition and given CE Falk a 4th straight title but even the current champ is not buying it. Greg Edwards, a 2 time Langley Champion himself and in recent years been Falk’s biggest threat was more then ready to begin the 2012 season. Landing solid sponsorship and a fresh start to a new season is exactly what Greg needed.

Just as CE Falk has been the class of the field for the last 3 years, so has Greg being 2nd best. No doubt, 2012 is going to be a good one for them both and the fans are in for a treat at Langley Speedway. Action got underway with Greg Edwards posting the fast lap and earning his first pole of the season. Local racer Nick Smith brought himself a fast piece and qualified 2nd for the feature.

Other track favorites such as Danny Edwards Jr would start 5th but even Danny wasn’t pleased about the way his afternoon was going. It’s not until 7th on the grid that you would finally find CE Falk in a qualifying start he soon would rather forget. While many were in disbelief that Falk would start in the position that he was in, others were excited for Greg Edwards and the start to his 2012 season. Green flag flew for the pole sitter and along came 15 other rockets. Quickly, Greg Edwards cleared the field and settled in as the leader. Nick Smith didn’t get the jump he needed and fell in behind Edwards and pulled Mark Wertz along with Danny Edwards and CE Falk.

As the rest of the field began to settle single file, Greg Edwards began to check out but then the first caution flag flew for Casey Wyatt and Brandon Gdovic. Seems neither had any damage and both would go on after a brief visit to the pits. Back to green and in no time Greg Edwards flexed his muscle once again and lead the field into turn 1. But by lap 15 and showing some muscle of his own, CE Falk cleared Wertz for 3rd and that’s were Falk will have to settle on in.

Greg Edwards would show the way for many laps and built himself at least an 8 car length lead over Nick Smith who kept Falk at about the same still riding along in third. Even when Edwards started to navigate through lap traffic, Smith couldn’t catch the break and close in on the leader. Closing in on halfway, Smith begins to chip away at the impressive machine of Greg Edwards and thanks to an expiring motor from Jeremy Grogg, what was left of that lead will disappear as on lap 47 were under caution.

The caution couldn’t have come at a better time for the others but Greg Edwards clearly was going to be the man to beat tonight. Halfway now, its all Greg Edwards at the line and on a mission. On the ensuing restart, CE Falk was able to beat Nick Smith for 2nd and would try his hand at running down Edwards. Smith would fall in line for 3rd and as that was happening, Greg Edwards was getting away! It was not until the yellow flag for the spinning car of JT Jackson on lap 61, would Falk even be close to Greg Edwards’s effort.

Clearly the man to beat at this point was Greg Edwards and was certainly better on long runs. CE Falk who is absolute on restarts and strong on short runs is going to make for one heck of a restart. In fact, it was one heck of a restart as both beat and banged before Falk was able to get position. By lap 63, CE Falk is the new leader and lurking behind following Falk’s very line was Greg Edwards.

Not too far behind and staying close was Nick Smith, then it was Mark Wertz holding strong in a back up car in 4th. Making his move and racing a disciplined race was Wesley Falk breaking into the top 5. All eyes were on the leaders and CE Falk would maintain the lead but never could get away from rival Greg Edwards. No doubt, the table was set for an exciting finish to this 100 lap race. Apparently, Greg Edwards had enough at looking at the back of CE Falk’s rear bumper and tucked underneath of Falk to take the lead. For several laps the 2 would go back and forth with this time Greg Edwards giving just a tap to CE for the lead. As everything began to settle between the 2 the caution waves on lap 88 for Duane Shreeves who is pointing the wrong way over in turn 2. This was the last thing the leader wanted to see was the caution flag wave.

Big restart and likely the last time CE Falk would have a shot at the leader. The green flag waves and its Edwards who gets the great jump off the line. Falk would chase the leader around the back stretch and dives hard into turn 3 and makes up the ground from the restart. But this time it’s Falk who gets a strong run off turn 4 and gets into the back of Greg Edwards bringing out the caution. CE Falk and nearly the entire field were fortunate to get around the spinning car of Greg Edwards who suffered moderate damage and was able to continue. But for Falk, as mentioned earlier in the drivers meeting and as directed by the new race director Jimmy Walker. Any driver who brings out the caution is going to go to the rear of the field. CE Falk was black flagged for aggressive driving and to the rear he goes.

While all this was going on, biding his time and taking care of his piece sat another Falk…Wesley Falk. Brother and teammate to the 2011 champ, Wesley Falk was able to sneak through and come away with the lead. Though 2 more cautions would come out before the checkered flag flew, still Wesley Falk had to hold off a hard charging Brandon Gdovic and Danny Edwards Jr for the next 11 laps. As the laps whined down, CE Falk was able to continue his charge and broke back into the top 5. Greg Edwards was not so fortunate. But for Wesley Falk, patience, discipline and good fortunes won the day along with the 100 lap race at Langley Speedway.

After the race, reports and eye witness accounts allege an altercation occurred with car owner James Long, (Greg Edwards), and CE Falk. Details and accounts of any such incident are sketchy at this time. Langley Speedway officials were very aware of the issue and said any punishments would be handed out and announced on Monday. Also a note of interest, Lynn Carroll, who is the director of weekly racing for Nascar, was in attendance of the season opener at Langley Speedway.

Results:
#1 Wesley Falk
#2 Brandon Gdovic
#3 Danny Edwards Jr
#4 CE Falk
#5 Casey Wyatt
#6 Terry Carroll
#7 Duane Shreeves
#8 Shayne Lockhart
#9 Greg Edwards
#10 JT Jackson
#11 Jeff Shiflett
#12 Nick Smith
#13 Mark Wertz
#14 Jeremy Grogg
#15 Robbie Babb
#16 Sam Hunt