By Gary Daughtrey

Special to the News-Herald

Danny Edwards Jr. led all 130 laps on the way to his second and third straight wins in the late-model stock cars class of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Langley Speedway on Saturday.

Hoping to avoid a third consecutive rainout, the track waited out late afternoon and early evening showers. The program got under way just after 10 p.m. and finished shortly after 1 a.m.
While the four support divisions lined up for their races by points, the late models held time trials, and Edwards nabbed the pole for the first of the Twins, qualifying at 88.615 mph.
In the opening event, Edwards contended with an early challenge from Matt Waltz, who started third and moved up to second on a restart at Lap 2. Edwards gradually pulled away, though.

By the time the second caution flag flew, on Lap 42, his advantage had grown to better than half a straightaway. On what would turn out to be the final restart, Edwards fought off Waltz and set sail.

At the checkers, he was the winner by half a straightaway over Brenden “Butterbean” Queen. Terry Carroll, Casey Wyatt and Connor Hall tailed Edwards and Queen to the stripe, while Waltz faded to a sixth-place finish.

By virtue of his win in the first race, Edwards was the pole-sitter for the second Twin.
The nightcap began with 51 green-flag laps, and Edwards continued his mastery, stretching his lead to a full straightaway.
Behind him, Mark Wertz bounced back from a disappointing showing in the first race, motoring from 17th on the grid to take over second on Lap 49.

After the only caution flag, on Lap 52, Wertz opted for the outside lane on the ensuing restart. Back under green, Edwards cleared Wertz in Turn 2, but Wertz switched lanes and drove underneath the leader in Turns 3 and 4.
 Wertz and Edwards went door-to-door until Lap 57, when Edwards finally regained the clear-cut edge off Turn 2. Firmly in command, Edwards powered away in the closing circuits and won by six car-lengths over Wertz.

Tyler Hughes was third to the line, while Hall edged Collin Cabre at the flagstand to secure fourth.