Hampton, VA (9-28-19) After taking the last weekend off in support of our friends at Richmond Raceway, right back at it was the continuation of the 2019 race season at Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway. With eleven different race divisions featured, many of the season long championships were still left undetermined. As championships play out, many still sought the trip to Dale Lemonds Victory Lane while a few just might be looking to settle a few scores too. The evening featured the ERA Real Estate Champ Karts, Bojangles UCar’s and action from the Harris Truck Shop Super Trucks. The always entertaining Parts Barn Enduros were on the schedule as were the Old Skool Video Games Super Streets. Then in twin race features, the Taylor Waste Services Late Models were back in action. This week’s write up is dedicated in memory to fellow racer, mentor and dear friend to so many, Champ Kart series competitor Jake Harberts. Here’s a recap of the race action and who came out on top in Dale Lemonds Victory Lane.
ERA Real Estate Champ Karts 20 Laps: Hunter Waltrip collected the Champ Kart series pole with a lap of 23.008 seconds. Chris Bechtel would start one spot better in second over series points leader Aaron Leach in third. Then it was Matthew Leach and Jeremiah Strandberg rounding out the five best in qualifying. Green flag waved and headed into turn one was the twenty car field. Leading the first lap would be Aaron Leach but by lap three the freight train tandem of Hunter Waltrip and Chris Bechtel came barreling through to take the lead. Aaron Leach would show third followed by Matthew Leach as the bumper banging ensues. Finally, cars three for fifth join the leaders all nose to tail and separated from the rest of the grid. Halfway, there’s much more of the same as Hunter Waltrip shows the way. But then lap traffic plays a role allotting Waltrip, Bechtel and Aaron Leach to settle the feature for themselves. Last lap, Waltrip looks to make his kart five cars wide to protect his spot and gets it done, he’ll go on to win the Champ Kart feature by 0.069 seconds. Waltrip had these words, “It’s not all about being safe, even though my teammate was right behind me, the league is so competitive. I was out front the whole time freaking out but it’s so surreal cause we’ve been battling gremlins all season long. We’ve gotten some poles but could keep it out there, we’ve invested in some new torque wrenches in case y’all were asking about that one time. This one is for Jake Harberts, honestly, appreciate you all coming out. This has been hard for the whole club, especially the guys that were close to him, it just really means a lot because I can’t imagine having to go through something like that”.
Race Results:
- #17 Hunter Waltrip; 20
- #67 Chris Bechtel; 20
- #45 Aaron Leach; 20
- #59 Charlie Ray Lorah; 20
- #51 Matthew Leach; 20
- #39 Mattisen Morrill; 20
- #3 Jeremiah Strandberg; 20
- #30 Jeffrey Johnson; 20
- #80 Jacob Harberts; 20
- #78 Harry Leach; 20
- #97 Tim Waltrip; 20
- #10 Danny Millard; 20
- #28 Garry Osborne; 20
- #26 Robert Pellek; 20
- #16 Davey Millard; 20
- #02 Jordon Woods; 20
- #15 Cheyanne Strandberg; 19
- #06 Steven Griggs; 19
- #01 Jesse Call; 19
- #2 Mark Edwards; 19
- #12 Adam Hopper; 18
- #23 Bradley Gower; 17
Taylor Waste Services Late Models Twin 70’s: Greg Edwards, the Late Model series points leader claimed the pole clicking off a 15.755 second lap. Connor Hall picked up the second starting spot in row one followed by Danny Edwards, Nick Sanchez and Brenden Queen. With the green flag in full display, the thirteen car field motored into turn one and from the outside pole, Connor Hall leads lap one. Greg Edwards falls in line in second as Danny Edwards occupies third. Then its Nick Sanchez along with Brenden Queen the early top five. Good fight for fourth as Queen wanted it but Sanchez holds him off. Laps later, Casey Wyatt takes fifth but back at the front, Connor Hall enjoyed his four car length lead. Troubles for Justin Carroll on the backstretch to bring out the first caution. After quick clean up, Hall gets the jump and secured his lead on point. Greg Edwards tucks in behind the leader to maintain second and this time around, he’s not letting the leader get away. Good job to Thomas Marks who started eleventh, who soon made his way to fifth as the halfway drew near. Halfway went up on the board and so did the caution as Casey Wyatt came to a stop in turn four. Back to the green, Connor Hall again with the great jump to hold on to the lead. Greg Edwards slips just a bit but keeps his second position in the grid but not before another caution involving Craig Eastep. The green once again waves and once again, Hall gets the jump. Good battle for fourth as Queen and Sanchez battle with the spot going to Queen. Chalk up Danny Edwards who motors by Greg Edwards for second but the battle comes at a cost as Hall’s lead was now seven lengths. Late laps, another Edwards brother battle for second took place allowing Connor Hall to start looking for the checkered flag. Danny Edwards would get second but the spot that paid the most was taken by Connor Hall. Hall wins the Late Model feature by 0.910 second, Hall had these words, “That was a tough one, I’m pretty worn out. Been battling the flu all week, really worn out which I’m ashamed to say after just seventy laps. We’ve been struggling a bit with the balance of our cars since the Hampton Heat. Found two errors with the car that we fixed after the last practice. Very fortunate to get back into Victory Lane”.
In the Late Model second feature, the mandatory eight car invert was applied to the grid per NASCAR rules handing Michael Hardin the pole. Starting second was Casey Wyatt as race one winner Connor Hall had to start eight as the green flag waved. So, its Michael Hardin who leads lap one as Casey Wyatt made sure he earned it. Then its Brenden Queen joining in and battling for second with Wyatt. Queen would soon take the spot as Nick Sanchez wanted third. Sneaking through also was Connor Hall who had to patiently wait for his opportunities to pass with an obvious fast race car. Meanwhile as the jockeying for positions continued, Michael Hardin had built up a half a straightaway length lead to make Hall’s intentions of sweeping the evening interesting. Danny Edwards finally started to make ground showing fourth as Hall, Sanchez and Danny Edwards were tracking down the leader. Laps later, Nick Sanchez makes the move around Hall for second as Danny Edwards wants to get by as well. Closing in quickly by two tenths each lap, Nick Sanchez is hooked up and poised to lead. Just shy of the halfway, Hardin doesn’t make much fuss of Sanchez’s run and the race now had a new leader in Nick Sanchez. Soon after did Danny Edwards take second as Michael Hardin was falling back rapidly. Regrouping after a horrible start to the race, Greg Edwards made his way into the top five. But back at the front, Danny Edwards was closing in on Sanchez ever so slightly. Later stages of the event, the charge of Danny Edwards began to fizzle out as the race leader began to get away. Final laps now, Nick Sanchez drove a beauty and would go on to win by 0.976 seconds. Sanchez in Victory Lane, “The car was amazing, the crew did an awesome job with all their adjustments. We pieced our way through traffic the way we needed to and we brought home the win. You try to do all you can and hope the rest falls in place and this is a helluva way to cap off the rest of the year”.
Race Results #1:
- #77 Connor Hall; 70
- #26 Danny Edwards; 70
- #21 Greg Edwards; 70
- #98 Nick Sanchez; 70
- #03 Brenden Queen; 70
- #88 Thomas Marks; 70
- #29 Casey Wyatt; 70
- #7H Michael Hardin; 70
- #7 Zach Lightfoot; 70
- #2 Craig Eastep; 70
- #9 Rodney Boyd; 70
- #10 Maddy Mulligan; 70
- #91 Justin Carroll; 37
Race Results #2:
- #98 Nick Sanchez; 70
- #26 Danny Edwards; 70
- #21 Greg Edwards; 70
- #77 Connor Hall; 70
- #88 Thomas Marks; 70
- #7H Michael Hardin; 70
- #03 Brenden Queen; 70
- #7 Zach Lightfoot; 70
- #9 Rodney Boyd; 69
- #10 Maddy Mulligan; 69
- #2 Craig Eastep; 69
- #29 Casey Wyatt; 38
- #91 Justin Carroll; 25
Bojangles UCar’s 25 Laps:Series points leader Mike Farley was back on pole in UCar series action by posting his 19.233 second lap. Looking to collapse Farley’s points lead, Austin Davis would get the second position as the green flag waved to the grid. Leading lap one though would be Austin Davis after the pole sitter slips in turn four. Mike Farley quickly regroups and would soon take the race lead just four laps later in the run. On back, great racing between Cameron Ruggles and Jamie Hite for the third spot as Hite hold off the charge for now. Back at the front, Farley began to put distance on second place Davis as the race so far has been caution free. Halfway saw much the same as Farley had his ride on rails and would cruise on to victory by 0.913 seconds. Farley from Victory Lane, “A little more excitement one the first few laps than what I was hoping for. I was happy for Austin taking the lead and would be happy for the guy if he won. The best part about the season is the relationships and not necessarily the results. Getting to share this with my family, my girlfriend, my kids and team, a really banner rookie year for sure”.
Race Results:
- #11 Mike Farley; 25
- #3 Austin Davis; 25
- #03 Jamie Hite; 25
- #52 Cameron Ruggles; 25
Old Skool Video Games Super Streets 40 Laps: Likely the hottest race division in recent weeks has been the Super Streets and claiming the pole this week was Gordon Weeks. The pole time was recorded at 18.836 seconds as Colby Vance earned the two spot on the grid with his effort. Nick Sample, series points leader Dale Parro and Sean Calway were the five quickest in Super Street qualifying. With the green flag waving, it was Colby Vance who would lead lap one leaving the pole sitter in second. Then its Nick Sample, Chris Roberts and Sean Calway the early top five. Still early on in the feature, race leader Vance would build up an eight car length lead as Sample battled Weeks for second. Finally, Sample gets position by working his way around Weeks for second but meanwhile, Vance continues to drive away. Halfway saw Vance continue to lead as the beaten and banging commenced on back but it was Gordon Weeks who brought out the caution. Setting up the races first restart, the green once again waves as Colby Vance maintains the lead. Nick Sample would take second as Chris Roberts would show third in the grid. Making their way into the top five where Tommy Sweeney along with Thomas Gildea fourth and fifth. But then troubles for Sweeney whose motor expired to bring out the second caution. With twelve laps remaining, the green flag waves again and Colby Vance has been money on the starts. But then troubles for Gildea and Calway who get together in turn four to bring out yet another race caution. Back to the green and wouldn’t you know it, another race caution as this time Gordon Weeks goes around courtesy of Danny Harrell. Now eight laps left in the feature, Colby Vance will lead the field once again as Nick Sample searches for a way around the leader. Laps later, Vance is seen with a two car length lead and nothing Sample could do to close, Colby Vance wins the Super Street feature by 0.294 seconds. Colby Vance from Victory Lane, “Yeah, most of the race I was just trying to save it, we were fortunate to get a good enough lead on there. This class is full of cautions so but man, that was pretty fun but I gotta think all my guys for getting this car back together. We had a shop fire back in July, luckily, we didn’t lose the car and put it back together. Want to thank all the fans coming out here, all my guys, my sponsors and all the guys that help me. Man, it’s just awesome and it feels good”.
Race Results:
- #44 Colby Vance; 40
- #25 Nick Sample; 40
- #11 Chris Roberts; 40
- #15 Dale Parro; 40
- #14 Tillman Heuer; 40
- #20 Gordon Weeks; 40
- #95 Danny Harrell;40
- #12 Sean Calway; 40
- #54N Billy Newman; 40
- #28 Thomas Gildea; 31
- #53S Tommy Sweeney; 28
- #23 Raymond Haymond; 12
Harris Truck Shops Super Trucks 25 Laps: Leading the Super Truck series points was Rick Poust who showed no signs of letting up as he would claim the pole in the afternoon time trials. The quick lap around the .397 mile oval was in at 19.111 seconds as Chase McAdams took second, Ryan Huff, Chris Munger and Shannon Lester were the top five. With the green high the air, pole sitter Rick Poust shows them into turn one but by turn three, it was Chase McAdams with the early race lead. Poust however would regroup to show second as Ryan Huff ran third, Chris Munger fourth and Shannon Lester in fifth. Several laps into the race would the leader build up a six truck length lead over Poust who remained in second. Coming to the halfway, McAdams was driving away and continuing to put distance on Rick Poust. But then the races first caution when Shannon Lester’s engine let go erasing the lead of Chase McAdams. After clean up concluded, the racing resumed and Chase McAdams get the great jump. But before the lap completes, Chris Munger goes around for the second caution. With the green flag in the air, Chase McAdams would continue to show the way. Final lap and Poust would give it his all but hooked up enroute to the checkered flag, McAdams wins by 0.690 seconds. McAdams from Victory Lane, “Oh yeah, we got her set up for the night run, she’s a little finicky in qualifying always a little loose off. Can’t win them in qualifying and great truck, gotta thank my dad, Jimmy Huff and everybody, thank you all”.
Race Results:
- #2 Chase McAdams; 25
- #9 Rick Poust; 25
- #3 Ryan Huff; 25
- #2 Chris Munger; 25
- #38 Paige Caine; 25
- #65 Shannon Lester; 19
- #66 Wayne Lyons; 19
- #18 Austin Davis; 3
Parts Barn Enduros 30 Laps: Dwight Nikles would get the pole based on the earlier pill draw as Mike Kanary would join him making up the front row. Series points leader Chris Kane would start towards the rear in twenty third as Colby Vance, down by five points in chase of the leader would start fifteenth. The green flag waved and coming around to lead the first circuit was third place starter Alex Floroff but right there to harass the leader was Charlie Bryant. Side by side the two would go but then the red flag is displayed when Richard Quinn hits the outside wall hard. Back to the green, Charlie Bryant gets help from a lap car to take the lead from Alex Floroff. But looming in the back and picking them off one by one, Colby Vance is coming through. After starting fifteenth, Vance was in third and on the move but Floroff reclaims the race lead. At the halfway, its Colby Vance taking the lead courtesy of lap traffic but back would Alex Floroff come to be within a car length of the race leader. The race would come to a halt when Mikey Chinn found himself in the turn four ditch. Back to the racing, Colby Vance would continue to lead as Alex Floroff was losing ground to the leader. But suddenly lap traffic plays a role and Floroff takes the lead. Then in a twist of events, here comes Vance to retake the lead as with two laps to go, the red flag waves setting up a dash for the stripe. The green is back in the air and Floroff needed to make up seven lengths to get to Vance’s bumper. With no help from lap traffic, Colby Vance goes on to win an exciting Enduro feature by 1.645 seconds. Colby Vance from Victory Lane, “That was a helluva show that second race, got up through the field pretty quick as luckily Charlie and Alex were racing hard. It made it a little easier to catch up with them. I want to thank all my guys, all my sponsors anyways, we got the win. Think this is my fifth win in the Enduros, I think this might put us in the points lead”.
Race Results:
- #44 Colby Vance; 31
- #17 Alex Floroff; 31
- #88 Charlie Bryant; 31
- #0 Jimmy Adkins; 31
- #6 Christian Keller; 31
- #77 Hunter Kane; 31
- #99 Zach Kane; 31
- #24 Tim Vinson; 31
- #02 Michael Joyner; 30
- #25 Ryan Vinson; 30
- #13 Hayden Sheldon; 30
- #7 Dwight Nickles; 30
- #3 Mikey Chinn; 30
- #28 William Robinson; 30
- #12 Zach Herdlein; 30
- #03D Nicolas Deans; 30
- #19 Courtney Schubert; 29
- #53S Zac Stongle; 29
- #32 Vicky Connor; 29
- #11 Phil Nelson; 29
- #41 Richard Ellis; 28
- #4B Jake Bage; 28
- #18 Ben Wolff; 28
- #93 Andy Brennecke; 28
- #33 Mike Kanary; 27
- #16 Mel Vermillion; 24
- #47 Nate Lundin; 19
- #48 Chris Kane; 11
- #00 Robert Dezero; 6
- #30Q Richard Quinn; 4