Greg Edwards beats Connor Hall in Langley thriller

It happened.

It took nine overall Late Model Stock races at Langley Speedway, across eight NASCAR Weekly Series events and the CARS Tour races earlier in the month, but someone defeated Connor Hall.

In fact, this is the first time in over a year that someone has defeated the Hampton native at his home track and Greg Edwards did via a defensive clinic on Saturday night.

First, this second feature followed a nine car invert of the opener earlier in the day won by Hall with Edwards finishing third, meaning they would start ninth and seventh respectively. Edwards got to the lead around Woody Howard on Lap 20 just as Hall moved into third.

Hall caught Edwards with 11 to go and drew even with him with 10 to go but never could find a way around. Edwards, a six-time champion who has raced at the track for decades, ran a perfect defensive line right down the middle groove and held the current NASCAR national championship and CARS Tour leader at bay.

“I love that I had a chance,” Edwards said. “They told me he was really free on the bottom and my car could just keep the momentum up there enough that I couldn’t complete the pass. I just want to thank him for how he ran me there. He could have easily bonzai the corner and didn’t, a true professional.

“We’re getting these cars turned around. I usually don’t do well in the summer heat. My wins come in the spring and fall. If we can get some momentum going, that would be great.”

It was his first win since he and brother Danny split the Opening Night Twin 50s in April.

“And to do it that way, against the guy that’s the best out here, that’s pretty special, man.”

Hall, who won the NASCAR national championship last year alongside the Langley championship hadn’t been beat there in any race he had entered dating back to last summer. Counting the CARS Tour race this year, he was 8-for-8 in all races entered on Hampton Roads until the Saturday nightcap.

Fans had started to really boo Hall loudly, tired of his winning ways and on Saturday night, they cheered loudly having experienced the end of the streak.

TWIN 50 No. 1

1. Connor Hall
2. Mark Wertz
3. Greg Edwards
4. Danny Edwards
5. Ryan Matthews
6. Casey Wyatt
7. Woody Howard
8. Ryley Music
9. Dean Shiflett
10. Cody Bryant
11. Dylan Newsome
12. Michael Rogers
13. Trey Williams
14. Jacob Derrick
15. Chris Horton
16. Craig Eastep
17. Cole Bruce

TWIN 50 No. 2

1. Greg Edwards
2. Connor Hall
3. Woody Howard
4. Ryan Matthews
5. Mark Wertz
6. Danny Edwards
7. Cole Bruce
8. Casey Wyatt
9. Ryley Music
10. Dean Shiflett
11. Craig Eastep
12. Cody Bryant
13. Jacob Derrick
14. Dylan Newsome
15. Michael Rogers
16. Trey Williams
17. Chris Horton