By Gary Daughtrey

Special to the News-Herald 

Matt Waltz grabbed the lead on Lap 5 and sailed to his first win in the 100-lap Late Model Stock Cars race, the featured event of Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program at Langley Speedway.

Nick Smith was the pole-sitter, at 89.733 mph and led the first four laps with Waltz in tow. On Lap 5, Waltz ducked underneath Smith at the end of the backstretch, nosing ahead by half a car-length at the stripe. He cleared Smith on Lap 6. The race was slowed by caution flags on laps 9 and 12.

On the restarts, Waltz held a firm grip on the lead, while Smith and Greg Edwards traded the runner-up spot.

Edwards gained control of second place on Lap 12, but couldn’t keep up with Waltz, who pulled away by half a straightaway. Waltz cemented the win during a foray through lapped traffic that lasted from Lap 47 to Lap 52. During that stretch, he was able to double his advantage.

With the caution flag remaining under wraps for the final 89 circuits, Waltz cruised to victory, winning by a straightaway over Edwards.

Smith was third at the finish, followed by Mark Wertz, the final driver to complete the entire distance. Brandon Gdovic was fifth.