Smith and Waltz Continue Battle While Collecting Wins

HAMPTON, VA :: Kerosene was poured on an already hot rivalry at Langley Speedway on Saturday night between Nick Smith and Matt Waltz who both took home victories in twin Late Model features.

15 Late Models set the stage under cooler than normal temperatures at Langley Speedway. On the agenda were twin 75 lap events bearing a few questions of matters unresolved from two weeks ago between Nick Smith and Matt Waltz. Both were involved in a very early tussle were both drivers spun sending Waltz back to the rear and by virtue of a rough driving call made by the race director calling for Smith to start back there as well. Though Waltz favored far better than Smith did that week finishing fourth and winning the second event, was it fair to say that Langley Speedway has its first rivalry of 2014 in the Late Model Division?

While much attention was on Smith and Waltz, others were ready to strike and create a bit of thunder of their own as series points leader Greg Edwards was ready for battle. Edwards already has two wins of his own in 2014 while Brandon Gdovic, who sits third in the series was proving to be battle tested as well though so far winless, knows where Victory Lane is at Langley Speedway. Mark Wertz is off to a good start to his 2014 campaign though he’ll admit that they’re a bit off, a few tweaks here or there can spoil the party for the leaders going into tonight’s race action for sure.

Qualifying took place and just like two weeks ago, Matt Waltz claimed the pole award with a lap at 15.788 or 90.068 mph which was identical to his time before. Earning a share of the front row was Nick Smith just 78 thousandths of a second behind Waltz. Mark Wertz was the last of the sub 16 second lap qualifiers, boasted a strong lap to start third on the grid. Greg Edwards and rookie Connor Hall made up the fields five best. Other notables were Gdovic sixth, Brenden Queen seventh and Casey Wyatt ninth to mention a few. But with cooler temps in the air, would cooler heads prevail during the race?

On the line for our first feature was the Commanders Cup trophy in honor of Armed Forces Day at Langley Speedway. Matt Waltz was representing the Marines while Greg Edwards represented the Coast Guard. Brandon Gdovic had the Navy, Mark Wertz would represent the Air Force and Nick Smith represented the Army. Green flag racing was next and right away the battle began, Waltz had a mirror full of Nick Smith. Only a few laps in before Smith made his move to the inside of Waltz on lap six, the two would go side to side before Smith would get the advantage and take the lead. Then the race’s first and only caution took place on lap eight as JT Jackson went around with reported transmission failure and ending his first appearance of the year at Langley Speedway.

Back to green flag racing, Smith launched with Waltz in tow, once clear of the outside line, Waltz quickly chased down Smith. What looked as if Smith left the door open, Waltz helped himself on through reclaiming the lead once again but in just a matter of a few laps, Smith regained that lead right back. Further back saw Greg Edwards positioning himself in third and Casey Wyatt showing the five spot and making up ground. Several laps now into this run, Nick Smith and Matt Waltz distanced themselves from the rest of the field. Waltz on numerous occasions would get underneath of Smith but could not complete the pass. White flag waves and Waltz would get one last shot to get around Smith, what happened next you would have had to been there to believe.

Final lap going into turn 3, Smith made the case that Waltz was going to have to move him if he was going to get by. With the bottom race line blocked by Smith, Waltz would do the bump and run sending Smith sideways up the hill. Smith never recovered but like a scene from the Fast and Furious saw Smith drifting all the way from the apex of turn 3 and never lifting through turn 4 all the way to the checkered flag to miraculously win the race. As for Matt Waltz, the contact with Smith went spinning around in turn 4 but in a perfectly executed 360 degree spin, burped the throttle once just to get back in second gear and still managed to cross the line in second place. The one two finish will easily go down as one of the best finishes in the 64 year history at Langley Speedway.

Greg Edwards, Mark Wertz and Casey Wyatt rounded out the five best but this race was all about Nick Smith and the exciting finish.

“I knew it was coming, it was going to have to happen”, stated Smith. “All I could do was hang on to it and you know me, I don’t lift and we won, that’s how we roll around here,” from a very thrilled Nick Smith.

But this night was far from over as this time, 14 Late Models took to the grid with the field set to how the finishing order was from the first race giving Nick Smith the pole. Green flag waves and from the outside pole, Matt Waltz clears Smith and takes the lead. With Smith glued to the bumper of Waltz, lap 8 goes upon the board and the races only caution flag waved for the blown tire of Duane Shreeves ride ending his evening of racing.

Back to green flag racing and Waltz secures the point but Smith is refusing to allow Waltz to get away. Several laps into this green flag run saw Smith finally able to get a nose under the leader but that was as far Smith would get. Greg Edwards made some great adjustments after the first event and mounted a challenge for Smith’s second place position. As that took place, the leader was finally able to create some distance and at one point, experienced a eight length lead. Edwards would eventually work around Smith to take the two spot in the field but this race was all about Matt Waltz who would go on to win his third race of 2014.

After the race, Matt Waltz reflected on the evenings events.

“Well we tried to do the bump and run it just didn’t work out. It was nice racing clean with him (Nick Smith) and were both doing what we have to do to win races,” explained Waltz. “Thought we would free the car up for the second race, we were tight in the first race. I felt like the right rear burned up early but they (Smith and Edwards) got to racing but luckily we were able to hang on to it for 75 and we were able to get away.”

Late Model racing continues in 2 weeks as a scheduled 150 feature which might be of interest for anyone prepping for Langley Speedway’s most prestigious event in the Hampton Heat 200.