HAMPTON, VA :: Twin 64s highlighted the evening at Langley Speedway in the NWAAS Late Model division and, coming into the night’s events, was the hot wheel driven by Matt Waltz. After scoring his tenth win of the season in the prior week’s action, the young talent has been chipping away at the healthy points lead of veteran Late Model racer Greg Edwards. who has three track championships to his name at Langley Speedway. Sporting a 24 point lead, Edwards has yet to show that he’s just out there points racing as the side-by-side battles have been nothing less than fierce with Waltz. With just five remaining races left to the 2014 season, every position matters and every lap had better count.

Action began with the afternoon qualifying and taking time were 17 hot rods, just one short of a full field. Leading that group and claiming pole was Nick Smith with a fast lap of 16.047 sec or 88.615 mph. By a mere two thousandths of a second, Matt Waltz would share the front row as Greg Edwards, Brenden Queen and Terry Carroll made up the grids five best. Other notables were Brandon Gdovic (6th) and Michael Hardin (8th) in respectable efforts of their own. But throughout the field were others who have been making gains in recent weeks with the likes of Danny Edwards Jr, Connor Hall and Mark Wertz. All with nothing to lose and everything to gain, could the night have a new first time winner?

The green flag waved twin 64s and right from the go, pole sitter Nick Smith and Matt Waltz battled for the lead. Lap one was settled showing Smith on point but here came Waltz from the high side to take the lead. Several laps into the race, Smith paced Waltz’s every move and staying within a car length of the leader. The races first caution waved as Cameron Bowen goes around setting up a lap fourteen restart. Waltz elected to occupy the high side as the green waved once again over the track. The move allowed Waltz to make quick work of Smith to secure the point as Mark Wertz was making quick work of his own now showing fourth on the grid. Back up front, Smith began his assault on the leader and watching it all was Greg Edwards biding his time, pacing along.

Halfway into the race, Waltz would hold off the charge of Smith who then for a bit, had to mind Greg Edwards who was catching him for position. Also making his move was Michael Hardin, in his best performance, breaking into the top five. Waltz had built up a sizable lead before the race’s second and final caution waved as Bruce Livingston had troubles with just a handful of laps left in the race. Prior to the caution, Greg Edwards was able to motor around Nick Smith for second setting up another battle between Waltz and Edwards for the race win. Green flag came out again on lap sixty one and it was Waltz with the great restart who would go on to win the first race of the evening. Nick Smith, Greg Edwards, Mark Wertz and Brenden Queen completed the top five.

In the night cap was yet another sixty four lap feature and as usual, the starting grid was made up in how they finished the first race. But news quickly spread that the series points leader Greg Edwards was going to the rear due to a punctured right rear tire believed to occur while coming to pit road after the first race. With sixteen cars taking the grid, Greg Edwards’ work was cut out for him. After some brief controversy over the starting grid, the race began as Matt Waltz showed the way into turn one. When the field exited turn two, it was Waltz securing the point followed closely by Smith. Several laps in and Wertz had closed in on Smith for the second spot but Smith slams the door shut. After that brief battle, Waltz has gotten away with a very healthy lead.

Halfway into the race, Waltz was putting on an exhibition on the sixteen car field. The best battle on the track was for the fifth spot as Queen and Hardin battled before Michael Hardin would gain the spot for fourth. Meanwhile, Greg Edwards was coming and, by halfway, was showing seventh on the grid and in need of a caution. On lap forty eight, Edwards would catch a break for the spinning car of Cameron Bowen. On the lap 84 restart, Waltz once again secured the point from the high side groove. Quickly, the caution waved again as this time Evan Horne went around. On the enduring restart, Waltz again jumped out to the lead. Nick Smith, Mark Wertz and Brandon Gdovic all battled for position in the closing laps.

But Matt Waltz was not to be denied on this night winning both races rather convincingly. Nick Smith, Mark Wertz, Brandon Gdovic and Brenden Queen were the top five of the group. Greg Edwards, after starting from the rear, fell off late finishing seventh and will give up points to Waltz making the championship interesting again with three big race dates left on the schedule. Race action for the Late Model division will take a few weeks off and pick back up on September 13th for twin 64s.

Race Results

Race #1
1. #2 Matt Waltz
2. #11 Nick Smith
3. #97 Greg Edwards
4. #55 Mark Wertz
5. #03 Brenden Queen
6. #7 Michael Hardin
7. #77 Connor Hall
8. #92 Casey Wyatt
9. #90 Terry Carroll
10. #46 Brandon Gdovic
11. #23 Spencer Gallagher
12. #91 Justin Carroll
13. #6 Evan Horne
14. #77a Bruce Livingston
15. #38 Duane Shreeves
16. #19 Cameron Bowen
17. #26 Danny Edwards Jr.

Race #2
1. #2 Matt Waltz
2. #11 Nick Smith
3. #55 Mark Wertz
4. #46 Brandon Gdovic
5. #03 Brenden Queen
6. #7 Michael Hardin
7. #97 Greg Edwards
8. #26 Danny Edwards Jr
9. #77 Connor Hall
10. #23 Spencer Gallagher
11. #90 Terry Carroll
12. #91 Justin Carroll
13. #6 Evan Horne
14. #92 Casey Wyatt
15. #19 Cameron Bowen
16. #38 Duane Shreeves