9/15/2013
Ce Falk
Greg Edwards wins as C.E. Falk closes out fourth Late Model title at Langley Speedway
HAMPTON — Langley Speedway's Late Model Division ended its season with Greg Edwards and C.E. Falk starring in their version of "Trading Places."
Edwards won the division-closing 125-lapper with a surge that mirrored his strong finish to the season, while sixth-place finisher Falk celebrated his fourth Late Model title in five seasons.
That was sort of a role reversal from 2012, when Edwards won his third division championship to end a season in which Falk won often. Falk failed to win the '12 division title because of three disqualifications, so he was understandably happy to move into third on the all-time championships list — behind Phil Warren (7) and Danny Edwards Jr. (5) — in spite of the recent drought in wins.
"To be up there in the history books at Langley Speedway. … As an 8-year-old driving go-karts on Sundays I never thought I'd be there," said Falk, who shared the title with sponsor Hampton Roads Toyota Dealers for the fourth time. "I'm really proud of my team for getting me here. It's a lot of hard work."
For Edwards the hard work the past two seasons has been finding the combination of speed and handling to contend for victories each week, rather than top twos, threes and fours. He seems to have found it and is poised again to compete on a weekly basis with Falk, Nick Smith and Matt Waltz.
"We've had a fast car for the last month-and-a-half," Edwards said. "Charlie High's found something in the engine program and the guys have found something in the car.
"We were fast all night and I just bided my time."
Biding his time on Saturday meant patiently running in third most of the first 96 laps, when Smith and then Waltz ran on the point. Waltz and Smith were 1-2 when they banged into each other and drifted high shortly after a lap 96 restart.
Edwards took advantage of the scuffle and passed them on the inside. He rode away to his third victory of the season by three car-lengths, with Waltz second, Casey Wyatt third, Smith fourth and Dean Shiflett fifth.
"I decided not to push it and just ride, because these kids are aggressive," forty-something Edwards said of twenty-somethings Waltz and Smith. "I thought something might happen and on one of the restarts the 77 (Smith) went to the top.
"I was lucky enough they touched, and I drove by them and was able to drive away."
Grand Stock points leader Ricky Derrick led every lap, winning the division 40-lapper by a car-length over Robbie Parker, who is second in the standings. Robbie Davis continued his dominance in the Super Truck Division, beating fastest-qualifier Chase McAdams to win for the ninth time this season.
Tim Wilson led the final 12 laps to win for the fourth time this season in the UCAR Division. Jason Michaud finished two car-lengths back, with Richard Ellis, Justin Fuller and pole-sitter Jesse Jones IV rounding out the top five in the 25-lap race.
Article Credit: Daily Press
Submitted By: Charles Falk
