Points battles tight at Langley
Greg Edwards isn’t overly concerned about the 12-point deficit to Brenden “Butterbean” Queen at the top of the Langley Speedway Late Model Division points standings. He did, after all, make up a 10-point deficit in the final race of 2015 to win the fifth of what is now six division titles.
By contrast, Danny Harrell isn’t thinking about his one-point lead at the crowded top of the Super Street standings. Focusing on points with two months left in the season takes the joy out of racing for a guy who brings a passion to stock car racing like few others.
“Points racing is stressful,” said Harrell, who has won two Enduro titles, a Pure Stock championship and countless races in the track’s high-contact Days of Destruction. “I try not think about points racing.
“I go out there, have fun, try to get good, consistent finishes, and hope Lady Luck will be on my side at the end of the season.”
Lots of drivers will lean on that lady as October approaches because Langley Speedway is enjoying an unprecedented number of extraordinarily tight division points battles. Incredibly, the top two in the Modified, Limited Late Model, Super Street, Super Truck and Pro Six divisions are separated by two points or less.
First and second in the Kart, Legends and Grand Stock divisions are five points apart, compared to 11 in the Bandolero and the aforementioned 12 in Late Model. At one point per position, that means a wreck by the points leader could result in a change at the top of the standings in nine divisions.
It is that thought, and his rally in the final race of 2015, that fuels Edwards’ optimism in Late Model, the track’s premier division. That said, Edwards admits that two-time defending champion Queen, who has won five of six Late Model points races, “ultimately has had the fastest car.”
Edwards might have more potential for growth, though. He is racing a new car this season and acknowledges he’s still trying to figure out the handling on it. But there’s a bright side to that.
“Though the car hasn’t been where we want it, we haven’t had any terrible finishes and we’re still in the hunt,” said Edwards, who is still looking for his first checkered flag of 2022. “I think we’re getting close, and if we can string together some wins, I think we have a chance at it.”
Harrell isn’t hanging his hat on figuring any one thing out. Because enduring supply chain problems mean the Super Street drivers will go into their third consecutive race tonight without purchasing a new tire, Harrell says it’s the “luck of the draw,” which driver hits on the right handling to run up front on a particular night.
The Super Street points race is a barn-burner, with Harrell in front at 156 points, followed by Jimmy Adkins (155), Dale Nichols (153), Sammy Gaita (152) and Gordon Weeks (152). Harrell says each brings talent behind the wheel.
“Jimmy has been around many a year, so, like me, he’ll know what it takes to seal the deal at the end of the season,” Harrell said. “Dale has been on his game the past few seasons, Sammy goes way back, and is smart and sharp, and Gordon is coming along and will be a contender.
“You’ve got five guys who can win on any given night. You’ve got to be consistent and smart,
and you’ve got to finish every race, and finish in the top five, to win the points.”
Here’s a rundown of the other top points races at the track:
Modified: Matt Carter 223 points, Brad Adams 222, Rick Gdovic 219
Limited Late Model: Ryley Music 228, Cody Bryant 226
Super Truck: Hunter Waltrip 120, Chris McEvoy 118, Donald Brown 112
Pro Six: Travis Wall 127, Donovan Edwards 125
Legends: Spencer Saunders 123, Jamie Price 118, Charlie Beals 117
Bandolero: Ayden Millette 102, Addison Schuman 91
Karts: Trace Wyatt 111, Dannie Wyatt 106
Other points leaders: Chris Roberts (Grand Stock), Stephen Flinn (Enduro), Christian Keller (UCAR)