HAMPTON, VA :: After hosting one of the best races in 2013 for the Late Model division at Langley Speedway in its Hampton Heat 200, Late Model race action resumed after a much needed weekend off to regroup and stage up for the final weeks of racing. CE Falk came into the nights races sporting a healthy points lead leaving the others dependent on some Falk misfortune if the series championship is to ever become interesting again. But for some, winning races is why they do, what they do anyways and two 75 lap features were up for grabs.
After heavy rains from the afternoon storms knocked out qualifying, the 14 car field was set according to season series point standings giving CE Falk the pole. Racing got underway and Falk quickly established himself as the race leader after a brief duel with Nick Smith. CE Falk’s lead was short lived as Matt Waltz would power by underneath on lap 10 of the event. Waltz’s lead fared better and longer then CE Falk’s before Nick Smith got his ride hooked up. Smith took the lead on lap 29 and that’s when the car lengths started counting on Matt Waltz and the rest of the field.
At this point in the race, Casey Wyatt was having one of his better performances, clearing Waltz and running a solid second. But with the leader driving away and this being a caution free race,Wyatt would never get the chance to see how his machine stacked against Nick Smith. Another solid performance was the effort of Greg Edwards who at one point fell back as far as 11th in the grid before the handling of his machine came around. But this race was all about Nick Smith yielding yet another dominating ride for his sixth win for the year. Casey Wyatt, Matt Waltz, Greg Edwards and CE Falk rounded out the 5 best in the first 75 lap feature.
The field was set for the second feature in how they finished the first giving Nick Smith the pole. Sharing the front row with Smith was Casey Wyatt who was excited about his finish earlier knew he was going to be good for this race. Green flag waved and into turn one went 14 Late Models led by Nick Smith. It wasn’t long before we had our first of many cautions in the race. Back to green flag racing and Smith secured the point. On lap four, here came Greg Edwards blowing by Smith just before the race’s second caution flag waved as Terry Carroll had slowed on the backstretch.
After the brief caution period, the race was back to green flag racing once again and Greg Edwards set sail as the race leader. Edwards, in just a handful of laps built up a sizeable lead and as dominant as Nick Smith was earlier in race one. But once again during this green flag run, Casey Wyatt had caught the second place runner Nick Smith and the battle for the spot was on. Wyatt, after a few turns, cleared Smith and claimed second in search of the leader. On lap 36, caution once again waves bunching back up the field with Wyatt waiting to see what he had for the leader Greg Edwards.
Racing resumed with Greg Edwards securing the lead leaving Casey Wyatt and Nick Smith to battle once again for second. Several laps, the beating and banging, door to door battle was on as neither driver was going to give. That was until lap 45 when both Smith and Wyatt, in a bloom of smoke, wrecked coming out of turn 4. Matt Waltz and CE Falk had the best view of that battle and both made their way to the spots Smith and Wyatt let go. They resumed once again and this race feature had Greg Edwards true to form. Showing off the dominance and crossing the strip first, Edwards was back in Victory Lane. Matt Waltz, CE Falk, Casey Wyatt and Jeff Oakley all with solid runs, rounded out the top 5 in the race.
