New Tires Make a Wild Race for the Edwards Brothers
July 29, 2006 By: Karla Watkins Edwards Motorsports Hampton, VA NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series During Time Trials, Greg Edwards (No. 27) qualified second and Danny Edwards (No. 26) qualified third. After the wheel spin of zero, the brothers would start tonight’s 100 Lap USG Race in the same order that they qualified. To accommodate the newly introduced tires for this season, the Edwards Motorsports crews stayed busy right up to the start of the race. The driver ’s buckled in, the engines roared and the Crossroads Fuels Late Model Driver ’s were ready to go! On the start, Greg was on the outside of the No. 40 of Mark Wertz and Danny was on the inside just one row behind. Wertz jumped ahead and Danny came with him, Greg and Danny ran side-by side for a lap until Greg ducked in behind his brother and just in front of the No. 29 of Casey Wyatt. Just as Greg made his way into third, Wyatt gave Greg a nice little bump to the rear to let him know he was definitely there. With only one more lap around and the first caution flag of the night came out just as the field was entering the fourth lap. With three laps on the board, it was back to green flag racing. This was only the start of a very exciting night! It was only three laps later when Danny nosed his 26 car under the 40 of Wertz but Wertz pulled ahead as Danny scooted back behind him. One lap later and Danny was at it again. It would take Danny three laps to take the lead and on lap 9, that’s just what he did. One lap later and Greg made his way under 40 for second. The Edwards Brothers were now in the top two lead positions but Wertz wasn’t far behind; he was nose-to-tail on the 27. Only 10 laps before the half way point and Wertz dove under the 27 in turn 4. Greg and Mark were side-by-side as they both battled for second. Mark cleared the 27 bringing Wyatt with him. On the front stretch the 29 slid under the 27 as he pushed him up the track with his nose at the door. The 27 was on the outside of the 29 as the distance between the 27 and the wall became shorter. Still running two-wide, Wyatt came high as Greg tried to stay off the wall. As they entered turn 1, the two cars started to make contact and continued to rub as they were heading into turn two. The cars separated resulting in a spin for the 29 car as he came out of the turn. Back to green and on to lap 37 for another caution. On the restart, the 01 of Jeff Shiflett made his way to Greg’s 27 and on lap 41, the Edwards brothers were both under attack as the 01 came under the 27, the 40 went under the 26. Eight laps later and the 26 was back under the 40 to regain the lead and bringing Shiflett with him. Three laps later and the tables were turned once again as Shiflett ducked under Danny bringing Wertz with him. Danny now running third and Greg in fourth. With 44 laps to go, Wertz moved his 40-car under the 01 of Shiflett and Danny stayed with Wertz to run side-by-side on the outside of Shiflett until lap 61 when it really started to heat up. The 40, 26, and 01 made it three-wide in turn 2 – the 01 on the apron, the 26 in the middle and the 40 on the outside. Shiflett made his move on the 40 for the lead. Lap 71 and Greg makes his move on his brother for third. Greg dove under the 26 in turn 4. Just as they made their way to front stretch, the caution flag was out again. Back to the order of the last completed lap and the 26 held on to third for the restart. With 20 laps to go, Wertz grabbed the lead from Shiflett as Danny and Greg stay tight behind him. The 01 squeezes his way between the Edwards brothers for third. One more lap and Danny tries to snag the lead back from Wertz but out flies the caution and the 26 restarts in second. Nine laps to go and Danny is back under the 40 to take the lead. Wertz shoots forward, Danny goes back under, Wertz shoots ahead again, Danny comes back and on and on for the next nine laps. Lap 99 and the crowd rises for the occasion as Mark and Danny take their cars side-by-side for the finish. Racing towards the checkered flag, the Dodges battle it out as the 40 gives it all he’s got for the finish. Coming side-ways out of turn 4, Wertz grabs the checkered by a nose. Congratulations to Mark Wertz on his win! Greg Edwards’ post race interview: “Tonight was an exciting night! The new tires threw every team for a loop but certainly made a great show for the fans. As for the accident with Casey, I felt like on the front stretch, I ran out of room and we began to rub going into turn 1, and continued rubbing through the corner with the result of Casey spinning. In no was this intentional. I feel we were two cars racing hard for the position and my fans know that’s not my style. After the race, Casey commented that he owes me one but I guess there’s nothing I can do about that. I want to thank my family, fans and friend for coming out tonight”. It is truly an honor for the Edwards Family to be a part of racing at Langley Speedway! We hope you will all join us for the exciting events planned for this upcoming weekend. For complete details on the upcoming event, please visit their “Welcome Page” and “Top News” at: www.langley-speedway.com. We thank the fans of “Saturday Night Racing” at Langley Speedway. A very special “thank you” to all of our Sponsors! From All of Us, Edwards Motorsports