Ryan Matthews, Connor Hall split Langley twin 50s

Connor Hall got what he needed in winning a race towards the NASCAR Weekly Series national championship but it was Ryan Matthews who delivered a statement victory by the end of the night on Saturday at Langley Speedway.

Matthews inherited the pole for the second race after finishing ninth in the first 50 lapper and was able to set sail early and manage his tires while Hall carved his way through the field after being inverted to 10th.

A spin for Cole Bruce spinning under Matt Waltz for ninth place set up a 10-lap shootout for the win as Hall had driven up to second by Lap 21. The two had a spirited battle for the win in which Matthews claimed his second win of the year.

Hall had taken the lead on the restart but Matthews took the bumper to him to regain the bottom and won by .137 in a duel that had the crowd on their feet.

“That was awesome I just want to thank Connor for racing me clean,” Matthews said. “He easily could have crossed me over there. I have a ton of respect for that. He’s the best out here right now so to beat him, that’s what everyone is trying to do here, and Greg got him the last time out, and I got him today.

“We had 40 laps and I was just getting lap times and Connor was a half tenth faster every other lap, reeling me in, and I didn’t think he could catch me. Then we got the caution and I was thinking ‘just dont screw this up’ and honestly, I thought Connor was going to get me. This means a lot because we struggled in the heat of the first race, car fell off the jack and messed our right side door up, but we rebounded pretty good.”

Was he nervous before the restarts?

“I knew what I had to do,” he said. “I haven’t been in this spot often with the Late Model so I’m learning and trying not to make a rookie mistake and thankfully we did okay. Connor got me on the restart but I stayed after him.”

This was all after racing at Ace Speedway in the CARS Tour race for Nelson Motorsports.

“Yeah we got back around 4-4:30 a.m. and got to the shop early and showed up late but still got it done,” Hall said. “This heat has kind of thrown us off balance a little bit. I don’t feel like it’s as good as it usually is.

“Matt (Waltz) kept us honest and I wasn’t able to save as much as I’d like for race 2. But for national points, one win was worth it, even at the expense of getting two. … after our luck the last couple of CARS Tour races, it’s good to get back to victory lane.”

Twin 50 No.1

1. #77 Connor Hall; 50
2. #2 Matt Waltz; 50
3. #00 Chase Burrows; 50
4. #21 Greg Edwards; 50
5. #55 Mark Wertz; 50
6. #26 Danny Edwards; 50
7. #41 Woody Howard; 50
8. #47 Ryley Music; 50
9. #51 Ryan Matthews; 50
10. #31 Cole Bruce; 50
11. #88 Thomas Marks; 50
12. #09 Michael Rogers; 49
13. #95 Danny Harrell; 48
14. #55e Donovan Edwards; 47
15. #81d Jacob Derrick; 37
16. #10 Jody McCormick; 35
17. #99 Craig Eastep; 28
18. #21v Evan VanLeeuwen; 12

Twin 50 No. 2

1. #51 Ryan Matthews; 50
2. #77 Connor Hall; 50
3. #00 Chase Burrow; 50
4. #41 Woody Howard; 50
5. #21 Greg Edwards; 50
6. #2 Matt Waltz; 50
7. #26 Danny Edwards; 50
8. #55 Mark Wertz; 50
9. #10 Jody McCormick; 50
10. #81d Jacob Derrick; 50
11. #99 Craig Eastep; 49
12. #09 Michael Rogers; 49
13. #47 Ryley Music; 40
14. #31 Cole Bruce; 39
15. #88 Thomas Marks; 36
16. #95 Danny Harrell; 35
17. #21v Evan VanLeeuwen; 25
18. #55d Donovan Edwards; 24