Winning your first feature race is always an exciting achievement for any driver, but to say that Chevy Edwards did it in style would be quite the understatement, with the 22-year-old reaching the milestone in last Saturday night’s Victorian Late Model Title at Wahgunyah Speedway.
Having contested four full seasons in Late Models, most recently experiencing a competitive 2018-19 season campaign which saw him collect numerous top-five finishes, it was only a matter of time before Edwards would reach the top step of the podium. However, he certainly hadn’t banked on it being during a state title.
Qualifying third for the 20-lap Victorian Title-deciding feature race, it took a few laps for Edwards to come to grips with the tricky track conditions, dropping back to fourth in the early stages of the race, but later being able to regain his composure to work his way forward into second place with 12 laps remaining.
Chasing down race leader Callum Harper, who had created a decent gap from the rest of the field, Edwards committed to the bottom of the track and slowly reeled him in, with the pair running side by side until Edwards managed to pip Harper with just one lap left.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing from there. An incident with a lapped car on the final lap almost became Edwards’ undoing, causing his 434ci Chev powered AX # 21 Jacks Link’s Australia supported Revolution car to lift up onto two wheels. Once again showing great maturity to not let the situation get the better of him, Edwards held on to his position, greeting the chequered flag as the new Victorian Champion.
The celebration didn’t end there for the Eildon, Victoria-based racer, whose Victorian Title win was enough to wrap up the overall Late Model Racing Victoria (LMRV) Club Championship, well and truly planting him and his entire team on cloud nine.
“We’ve been knocking on the door for our first feature-race win, but to do it in the way we did in the Victorian Title is just an awesome feeling,” explained an elated Edwards, whose night was made even better after proposing to his girlfriend Annika, who excitedly said yes!
“We don’t have the newest car on the grid, but we’ve just been working with what we have and developing it as best we can and it’s really paid off for us. It’s such a family affair for our team and I can’t thank everyone enough for all of their amazing support and hard work. I also have to say a huge thanks to my fiancée Annika for saying yes!”
Also experiencing a consistent season, Edwards’ older brother Brock competed in the Victorian Title, coming home in fourth place aboard his 410ci Chev powered Vic # 12 Jacks Link’s Australia backed Mastersbilt car, along with placing fourth in the overall LMRV Club Championship point score.
The Edwards Motorsport team is proudly supported by the following 2018-19 season sponsors:
Jacks Link’s Australia
The Provender Country Bakehouse
M & L Plaster Cartage
iRacing
RJM Transport
Edwards Built
PlastaMasta Hallam & Mornington Peninsula
Vision Signs
Special thanks go to Edwards’ mum and dad Rod and Lisa, Brock, Annika, Melita, Uncle Grant, Jayde, Greg, Dusty, Daisy, Brayden, Adam and Lewis.
To find out more about Edwards and his team, LIKE their page by searching Edwards Motorsport.
