By Gary Daughtrey

Special to the News-Herald

Langley Speedway’s drivers and teams swing back into action Saturday, when the track resumes its 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series schedule.

The seven-race feature lineup includes: 50-lap modifieds; twin 20-lap super trucks; 25-lap UCARs; 30-lap “sixes”; 20-lap HRKC Pro Winged Champ Karts; and a 40-lap Enduros.

After a steady diet of twin events during the first half of the season, the Modifieds gear up for just their second 50-lapper of 2012. Shawn Balluzzo captured the first 50-lap race, finishing a second ahead of teammate Todd VanGuilder.

Since that May event, which capped Balluzzo’s season-opening three-race winning streak, Mike Rudy has surged to the top of the division standings. Heading into this weekend, Rudy owns a five-point edge over Balluzzo in the current standings, 226-221. Anthony Kincaid is third in the rundown, 10 points out of the lead. Robbie Babb and Matt Slye complete the top five.

Though his four-race winning streak was snapped the last time out, Robbie Davis still enjoys a 13-point advantage over Troy Turnage, 205-192, in the Super Truck standings. Tommy Nixon is third, four behind Turnage. Chris Bechtel and Buck Munger are fourth and fifth, respectively.

UCAR points leader Bill Eaker endured an eighth-place outing in the division’s last race. His fellow title contenders, for the most part, fared even worse, though, allowing Eaker to expand his margin. He comes into Saturday’s 25-lapper with a five-point lead over Jon Largena. Sammy Gaita is third, six behind Largena. Landon Abbott and Tim Wilson are fourth and fifth.

Steve Williams remains atop the Pro Six standings. With 146 points, he is three ahead of Bobby Hall and five up on Landon Florian, who picked up his first series victory in the last race. Nelson Moody is fourth, while three-time race winner Casey Sipe is fifth.

Alex Floroff will look to extend his three-race winning streak in Saturday’s 40-lap Enduro feature. He leads Larry Drommerhausen by 11 points, 128-117, in the current standings. Derrick Boggess is third, only three behind Drommerhausen, followed by two-time race winner Richard Quinn and Bobby Larkin.

Despite a doubleheader sweep at Southern National Motorsports Park last Saturday, C.E. Falk has given up the top spot in this week’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national top 500. Lee Pulliam, who has been on a streak lately, climbed atop the national rankings, just one point ahead of Falk, who dropped to second. Keith Rocco, Nate Monteith and Ted Christopher round out the top five.

Other Langley stalwarts in the top 500 include: Greg Edwards (50th); Wes Falk (92nd); Mark Wertz (108th); Casey Wyatt (121st); Shayne Lockhart (162nd); Terry Carroll (173rd); Danny Edwards Jr. (188th); Jeff Shiflett (264th); Duane Shreeves (314th); and J.T. Jackson (429th).

In the Virginia standings, C.E. Falk continues to hold a healthy advantage over Pulliam, who has competed in several non-commonwealth events. Matt Bowling, Peyton Sellers and Tommy Lemons Jr. are third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Greg Edwards is sixth, while Wes Falk is 10th. Wyatt and Wertz rank 12th and 13th, respectively.