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For a near two-month stretch, C.E. Falk III was relegated to podium finishes at his home track of Langley Speedway, a frustrating stretch for a driver who is used to many trips to Victory Lane there.
Unlike the past few seasons, Falk hasn’t been a frequent visitor to South Boston Speedway, racing there sporadically as he focused on the points at his home track. But his few trips to SoBo have been what he's needed to get back to his winning ways.
Falk returned to SoBo Saturday night and picked up his second victory at the 0.4-mile oval this season, rallying from as far back as 12th in the second twin 75-lap race to end Lee Pulliam’s historic winning streak.
Falk claimed the $3,000 bounty with a strong final 30 laps, which ended Pulliam’s 10-race winning streak. Pulliam finished seventh in the second race after winning the first one.
“It really took off and we ran our fastest laps toward the end of the race,” Falk said.
Pulliam made a huge leap toward his second straight Whelen All-American Series national championship by winning the opening twin race to follow up his two 125-lap victories Friday night at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford.
The Semora, N.C., native has 17 full-field victories and one more will clinch the national title. If he accomplishes that feat, he will join Keith Rocco (2010) as the only drivers to win 18 full-field races to claim a national title since the current format was instituted in 2010.
Falk’s victory, his first since June 8 when he swept a pair of Late Model races at Langley, snapped Pulliam’s winning streak at SoBo where Pulliam has won 15 of his 25 races this season.
“Lee’s a great competitor and is a two-time national champion now,” Falk said. “To get the bounty, we really needed the money and it really helps out the racing budget, especially when we go to Martinsville. Collecting that bounty and just winning at SoBo, and get a win period … just validates a lot of hard work.”
Since his last victory at Langley, Falk has recorded an average finish of 4.58 in 12 races at the 0.395-mile oval. That allowed him to secure his fourth track championship in the last five seasons and focus on preparing for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville Speedway in early October.
“The guys needed it. They’ve been working hard,” Falk said. “I feel like we’re on a new path, but its a path that can get us a lot more wins.”
In the other races at SoBo, Ross Kenseth held off Jared Irvan and Brandon McReynolds to win the 100-lap PASS South Super Late Model race, Sellers Racing driver Michael Maresca won the 50-lap Limited Sportsman race and Greg Autry swept the twin Pure Stock races.
In other races across the region, Kyle Ebersole held off George Brunnhoelzl III to claim his first Whelen Southern Modified Tour victory in the series’ 150-lap race at Langley Speedway.
Eddie Johnson held off pole sitter Chris Dodson to claim the 50-lap Late Model race at Southside Speedway in Midlothian. David Garbo Jr. won the 37th annual Bobby Isaacs Memorial at Hickory Motor Speedway, and Anthony Anders and Brent Brinson split the twin Late Model races at Myrtle Beach Speedway.
Follow Damien Sordelett on Twitter: @DSordelettLNA