HAMPTON — The Edwards family has enjoyed scores of great weekends at Langley Speedway the past four decades. None matches the one a month ago.
That’s saying something considering Danny Edwards Jr. and younger brother Greg Edwards have driven to more than 100 Late Model Division victories apiece. The eighth Late Model season championship Greg has virtually clinched puts him alone at the top in Langley’s 75-year history, while Danny ranks third with six.
But it was victory No. 1 by Donovan Edwards, 24, Danny’s son and Greg’s nephew, that made the weekend more memorable than expected.
Danny started things off on Saturday by edging Greg to win the first of two Late Model 50-lappers. Donovan, a Late Model rookie, followed by holding off Greg to win the second.
Under normal circumstances, Greg, legendarily competitive, might have been frustrated with a pair of seconds. But, perhaps because it was family, and perhaps because he was poised to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame of the Lower Virginia Peninsula the next night, he labeled the outcome “great.”
“That was special, Donovan getting his first win in his rookie season,” Greg said. “A lot of good drivers race a long time without getting a Late Model win at Langley.
“He got it in his rookie season, his dad was able to do it in his rookie season and I was able to do it. As our careers start to dwindle down, it’s nice to know Donovan is here and can write his own story.”
Greg Edwards Jr. weighs his car at the Edwards’ Family shop in Hampton, Virginia, on Sept. 10, 2025. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot)
Danny, whose induction into the Lower Peninsula Hall in 2022 made him the first motorsports driver ever selected, said he was far more excited about his son’s victory than his own. His pride in joining brother Greg for his hall induction the next night was also immense.
“Greg obviously had a big night, too, and then had a big celebration the next day with the hall of fame ceremony,” Danny said. “I was proud and happy he got in there because you can’t have a career like he’s had and not be in there as well.”
To join them at the ceremony as a Late Model winner is something Donovan never considered possible. Hanging around the family race shop blocks from Langley Speedway as a kid, he looked at Late Models with the same awe as “spaceships.”
Although he raced go-karts as a kid, he focused more on stick-and-ball sports growing up, starting for Poquoson High’s football and baseball teams. Moving into the family business, Danny’s Auto Glass & Mirror, out of high school, Donovan jokes he gravitated to racing because he needed something to keep him out of trouble after work.
“A couple of crew members told me, `If you stick around the shop and show you’re interested, your dad might buy you a car,’ ” Donovan said.
Indeed, Danny required his son to earn his place in the sport, first by helping out in the shop, then by racing his way up the competitive ladder starting with the Pro Six and Limited Late Model divisions. Four years in, Donovan was ready this season to move into Langley’s marquee Late Model Division.
He didn’t think he’d win.
“I knew I was ready to run with the majority of drivers now, but not the top five or six,” he said. “My goal was to get a top five and be competitive.”
But, in addition to racing in Edwards Motorsports equipment and benefiting from Junior Keene engine speed, he channels the best of Danny and Greg. Like Danny, he is unflappable under stress. Like Greg, he is patient behind the wheel, invariably saving his tires while minimizing contact with others.
That speed, and tires still in good shape after the first 50-lapper, served Donovan well in the second 50 as he quickly moved from the outside pole into the lead. Almost inevitably, Greg, who seemingly contends for every title — he’s finished second in the standings 12 times — and race, was in Donovan’s rearview mirror slowly closing a huge gap.
But Donovan had saved his tires enough that he was able to keep Greg at bay when it got close. Not being able to reach Donovan’s back bumper saved Greg from the difficult decision to move his nephew aside or not.
“Nobody can say I let him win it because I drove hard,” Greg said. “But the closer I got to him, I started thinking, `My mom (Diane Edwards) will kill me if I get up there and do something stupid with Donovan.’
“I’m fortunate I didn’t. I was very proud of him.”
Danny, a winner as well, was proud of them both, Donovan for the win and Greg for his hall induction.
“It’s an unbelievable story, something you’d never think was going to happen,” Danny said. “I love winning as much as anyone, or more, but I was happier about Donovan getting his win. I couldn’t believe he was able to get it done, but he did.
“Greg is someone who’s always in contention. He’s ‘The Barometer,’ someone we all measure ourselves against.”
True to his nature, Donovan was calm in victory. Seated at the hall of fame banquet with his girlfriend, Karly Wertz — whose dad, Mark Wertz, has won two Late Model titles at Langley — he was reflective about Danny and Greg.
“The bigger picture is dad getting inducted and now Greg being inducted for all of their hard work,” he said. “Everything you see out of me is their hard work, too.
“Racing is a lot harder than it seems, so to have people behind you you can trust, who know what they’re talking about, that helps a lot.”
The Edwards’ Family shop in Hampton, Virginia, on Sept. 10, 2025. Greg Edwards Jr., is honing in on a record 8th Late Model title at Langley Speedway. Danny Edwards Jr. is a six-time champ with two wins this season. Donovan Edwards is Danny’s son and a first-time Late Model winner this season. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot)
