Edwards captures twins

Published 9:28 pm Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Greg Edwards celebrates with his son and Smithfield Foods trophy presenter Clay Griffin after winning the first of two twin 65-lap late model stock car races in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program on Saturday at Langley Speedway.  (Bill Carr/MotorSports Photo News Service)

Greg Edwards celebrates with his son and Smithfield Foods trophy presenter Clay Griffin after winning the first of two twin 65-lap late model stock car races in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program on Saturday at Langley Speedway. (Bill Carr/MotorSports Photo News Service)

By Gary Daughtrey

Special to the News-Herald

Shut out of Victory Lane in the last four races, Greg Edwards returned to form with a sweep of the twin 65-lap late model stock car races in Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program at Langley Speedway.

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The wins were his fourth and fifth of the season.
Matt Waltz was the pole-sitter for the opener, at 89.114 mph, and paced the first 33 circuits. Edwards started fifth and swiped second place from Matt Bowling on lap 24. The exchange allowed Waltz to pad his lead to half a straightaway.
Waltz’s healthy margin vanished on the next lap, though, when the only caution flag waved. Back under green, Edwards tucked in line on Waltz’s rear bumper and shadowed him until lap 33, when he poked a fender underneath the leader in Turn 2.
Edwards nosed out front at the end of lap 34 and gained the clear-cut edge on lap 35. By the finish, Edwards’ margin of victory had swelled to better than half a straightaway over Waltz. Bowling was third to the stripe, while Lee Pulliam and Tyler Hughes completed the top five.

Edwards’ win in the first race landed him on the pole for the nightcap. Edwards took the lead on the opening lap, and then fought off Pulliam on an early restart to seize command of the event.

While his potential challengers jousted for position in his mirror, Edwards steadily widened his advantage. At the checkers, Edwards was the winner by nearly a full straightaway over Bowling.

Danny Edwards Jr. and Pulliam were third and fourth, respectively. After a tire change between races, Waltz started the second event from the rear of the field. He rallied, though, coming home in fifth.