From Staff Reports

Suffolk News-Herald

C.E. Falk took the lead on lap 71 and rolled on to the win the 150-lap Late Model Stock Cars race, as Langley Speedway kicked off its 63rd NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season Saturday night.

Nick Smith set a new division record in qualifying (92.990 mph) and led the first 70 circuits from the pole.

Falk, meanwhile, lined up fifth on the grid and moved into third in the early going. On lap 53, one lap after a restart, he grabbed the runner-up spot from 2012 champ Greg Edwards.

As Falk slipped by Edwards, Smith extended his lead to five lengths. Soon, though, Falk had tracked him down and began hunting for an opening. Falk got his opportunity on lap 71, poking a fender underneath Smith off Turn 2 and motoring ahead at the end of the backstretch. Six laps later, Edwards rooted Smith aside in Turn 1 and took over second, while Smith fell to fifth.

Falk and Edwards ran first and second until lap 114, when Smith regained the runner-up spot, soon after a restart. The shuffle allowed Falk to pad his lead to six lengths.

The last of the race’s five caution flags appeared on lap 125. Back under green, at lap 135, Smith pressured Falk for a handful of circuits before the leader began to ease away.

In the closing laps, Edwards moved up to challenge Smith as Falk enjoyed a smooth sail to the checkers.

At the finish, Falk was the winner by about three lengths over Smith. Edwards was third, followed by Late Model newcomer Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and Casey Wyatt.