By Gary Daughtrey
Special to the News-Herald

Already boasting a pair of feature victories, defending champion Shawn Balluzzo will try to extend his early-season hot streak, as the Modifieds return from a month-long hiatus on Saturday at Langley Speedway.

The 50-lap Modified event tops a seven-race bill that also includes Grand Stocks (Twin 20s), Super Streets (40 laps), INEX Legends (25 laps), INEX Bandoleros (20 laps) and Enduros (40 laps).

Off to a fast start in his pursuit of the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship, Late Model points leader C.E. Falk garnered significant attention late last week when he nabbed the top spot in this month’s NASCAR Hunter Index, a power ranking of drivers from NASCAR’s weekly and regional touring divisions.

Voters in the montly poll include 14 media members from across North America, as well as NASCAR representatives Brett Bodine and Jason Christley.

Early-season victories at Langley, South Boston and Motor Mile allowed Falk to edge NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour ace George Brunnhoelzl III for first place in the May vote tally.

Falk’s exploits also landed him on the cover of the current edition of Late Model Racer. Inside the magazine, Falk and the EF Racing team are highlighted in a feature article by Al Martin III.

Falk will lead the Late Models back into battle on Saturday, May 19, when Langley Speedway hosts Military Appreciation Night.

A longtime member of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Langley Speedway is a .395-mile, slightly banked oval. The track is located at 11 Dale Lemonds Drive, off North Armistead Avenue in Hampton.