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News

C.E. Falk wins twice, opens huge Late Model lead at Langley Speedway

6/2/2013

C.E. Falk seems to have put to rest the notion that he'll be tightly challenged in his quest for a fourth Langley Speedway Late Model Division title in five seasons. Leading by only two points coming into Saturday's twin 75-lappers, Falk swept both and put a football field between himself and any would-be challenger in the standings.

Matt Waltz swept the field in twin 75s in the division's previous outing and trailed by just two points in the standings entering Saturday's race. But he blew an engine six laps in to finish 19th in the first race, then was 15th in the second race driving a back-up car lent to him by Falk.

Falk was fortunate to win the first 75. Nick Smith led 69 laps and was four car lengths ahead of Falk on the final lap when engine trouble in the form of a broken camshaft sidelined him for the night.

Falk passed Smith in Turn 2 and rode to the final-lap victory with Casey Wyatt second. Despite a broken front-left shock valve, Falk led all 75 laps in winning the second race, with defending track champ Greg Edwards second.

"That first race was just pure luck, because Nick definitely had the fastest car," Falk said. "Toward the end of it we were on the radio talking about what we had to do to make the car better and try to win the second race.

"You have to be prepared and if we hadn't been in second place (when Smith's engine failed) we wouldn't have won it. Sometimes they just fall into your lap."

Falk exited the night with a 25-point lead on Edwards, who was seventh in the first race. That's better than a full race margin in the points at one point per place and an average starting field of about 20 cars.

However, with four races in the next two weeks, Falk isn't taking anything for granted.

"All we have to do is get knocked out of one race each week and these other guys are right back in it," Falk said. "This is the most intense field of competition since I've been here."

Connor Hall liked winning his first Legends Cars race at Langley so much he came back and did it again. Hall, a 16-year-old Hampton Roads Academy sophomore in his second season of racing, led from start to finish in the 25-lapper to beat former division champion Brad Hancock by a half straightaway.

Hancock won their tightly contested duel on opening night, but Hall, the Rookie of the Year in 2012, won their next outing for his first victory on Langley's 4/10-of-a-mile oval. Hall qualified on the pole Saturday and was never challenged.

"The first night (Hancock) had the opportunity to block, and it's hard to get by a guy who's mirror driving," Hall said. "Once we get in clean air and run to our full potential we can pull away from the field, although I believe we could win with this car if we started fourth or fifth.

"It's an amazing feeling to win at Langley in a Legends car, because that's a difficult thing to do."

Jimmy Humblet started from the pole and won his first Modified 50-lapper of the season. He led all 50 laps but, after a lap 36 caution, had to fight off a late bid by perennial division champion Shawn Balluzzo.

Article Credit: Daily Press