South Boston Speedway: Points race comes down to this

Even though Carter Langley is in the final stage of one of the closest Late Model Stock Car Division championship points battles in South Boston Speedway’s storied history he is keeping things fun.

The 18-year-old racer from Zebulon, North Carolina leads two-time NASCAR national champion and six-time South Boston Speedway champion Peyton Sellers of Danville, by a slim three-point margin entering South Boston Speedway’s final points race of the 2023 season, a 150-lap Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division race paying $5,000 to win that headlines the Halifax Farm Bureau Championship Night Race on Saturday night, September 2.

“Being in a championship battle means a lot, but I come here to have fun, win races, and let everything else play out,” Langley explained. “Racing is fun in general. To come out here and be able to drive this car every weekend is fun in itself.”

Langley acknowledges that the intensity of Saturday night’s race is going to be at a high level. Not only is the 150-lap race going to determine the division championship, it will also be the second-longest race of the season for the division at South Boston Speedway, and with the race paying $5,000 to win, there could potentially be competitors from other tracks coming in to try to capture the big winner’s prize.

“It’s going to be really intense,” Langley remarked. “A lot of emotions will be in the air between everybody, but it should be fun.”

The 18-year-old racer insists he is not feeling a lot of pressure about Saturday night’s race.

“I don’t really feel a lot of pressure because every time I try points racing it has never worked out for me,” Langley said, “so I just do my thing and have fun. I’m trying not to get my hopes up too much.”

The 2023 season has been a break-out season for Langley. He won his first career Late Model Stock Car Division race early this season at South Boston Speedway and has seven wins in his 18 starts heading into Saturday night’s final points race of the season. He has also compiled 14 Top-5 finishes, 17 Top-10 finishes and one pole win.

Langley had no idea when the season started he would have this kind of season at South Boston Speedway.

“I just wanted to come out of here with at least one win by the end of the year,” Langley explained. “I’ve been very fortunate to have won multiple races here this season. I’m just trying to go through the week and get better every week. My crew chief, Josh Yeoman, puts a killer setup on the car. Hopefully we can carry that into championship weekend and see what we can do.”

The Halifax Farm Bureau Championship Night Race on Saturday night, September 2 will be one of the biggest and most exciting events of the season at South Boston Speedway. Division championships in all four of South Boston Speedway’s NASCAR-sanctioned racing divisions will be on the line on the final points night of the season at the .4-mile oval.

Fans will also be treated to a colorful Labor Day fireworks show sponsored by Italian Delight Family Restaurant. The fireworks show will follow the final race of the night.

Advance adult general admission tickets are priced at $17 each and may be purchased online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.

Tickets at the gate on race day will be $20 each. Seniors ages 65 and older, military, healthcare workers, and students (with ID) can purchase tickets for $17 each at the gate on race day.

Frontstretch spectator gates open at 3:20 p.m. Practice will start at 3:30 p.m. and qualifying will begin at 6 p.m. The first race of the night will get the green flag at 7 p.m.

SportsPlus

Business

Prince Edward officials, residents question county’s solar choices

Buckingham

Buckingham looks to add a couple roads to VDOT’s six-year plan

College

Longwood women see record-setting season end on final shot

Business

Green Ridge vote not unanimous, but hearing date set

College

Longwood women’s basketball team prepares for WNIT

Business

Tax rate hike coming? Farmville town council weighs options

Business

Should Farmville council end employee benefit? Reduce it?

Cumberland

Virginia State Police continue investigation into Cumberland crash

Cumberland

Letter to the Editor: We just want to see work being done

Business

Cumberland authority set to discuss economic development plan

Farmville

What triggered the Farmville ICA escape? Officials detail changes

Business

Farmville Town Council votes on timeline, priority for work projects

Cumberland

Green Ridge landfill public hearing postponed in Cumberland

Buckingham

Herald News Briefs: Local students make Dean’s List, debate set

Business

Camp Yellow Cardinal takes flight, as supervisors approve project

College

Season isn’t over for Longwood women, as team earns WNIT bid

Buckingham

Herald Community Calendar for the week of March 14, 2025

Farmville

Farmville council drafts proposal for future work projects

College

‘He will be missed’: Farmville, sports world mourns John Feinstein

Cumberland

Cumberland High track team members earn Top 10 spots at state

Cumberland

Cumberland’s Charles Motter named Region 8 Teacher of the Year

Buckingham

Scam involving toll texts arrives in this region

Business

Gabriel Solar goes to a vote: County makes decision on project

Columns

Letter to the Editor: Cumberland is a do-nothing county