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Matt Waltz
BornMatthew Waltz
(1989-10-06) October 6, 1989 (age 35)
Newport News, Virginia
Achievements2017 Langley Speedway late model track champion
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
7 races run over 2 years
2016 position51st
Best finish51st (2016)
First race2015 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 (Richmond)
Last race2016 O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge (Texas)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of November 5, 2016.

Matthew Waltz (born October 6, 1989) is a retired American professional stock car racing driver. He competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving for Derrike Cope Racing and Obaika Racing, and raced late models at Langley Speedway, winning the track championship in 2017.[1][2]

Racing career

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Late models

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Waltz grew up racing Late Model cars on his home track Langley Speedway, which he shared with fellow NASCAR driver Brandon Gdovic. He took second in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Shootout in 2014,[3] the same year he won twelve races at Langley.[4] Returning to Langley in 2017, Waltz claimed his first late model championship at the track.[5]

Xfinity Series

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Waltz began his NASCAR career in a one race deal driving the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro for Derrike Cope Racing at Richmond International Raceway in fall 2015, Waltz's first race with live pit stops. He started 37th and finished 33rd after retiring with electrical issues[6] and a lap penalty for pitting too early.[7] He attempted another race later in the season with DCR, at Phoenix International Raceway, but failed to qualify.[8] The relationship stemmed from a chance encounter with Cope and his team at the spring Richmond race, which led to Waltz driving the Cope hauler to Iowa Speedway for the race there. In return, Cope gave Waltz the ride at Richmond.[9]

In 2016, Waltz debuted with Obaika Racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, qualifying 39th and finishing 28th. Two races later at Iowa Speedway, rear gear problems dropped him to a 35th-place finish. Waltz then ran four races for Obaika in the Xfinity Series Chase, finishing no higher than 34th.[10]

After the 2016 season, Waltz returned to late model racing because of inadequate sponsorship and did not compete in a NASCAR race in 2017.[11]

Retirement

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In early 2018, Waltz announced his retirement from full-time racing due to a number of factors, mainly a lack of opportunities to advance, a want of more free time, and spending more time running his family business.[12] He did, however, come out of retirement to attempt the 2019 ValleyStar Credit Union 300.[13]

Personal life

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Waltz is an Old Dominion University graduate with a Mechanical Engineering degree,[14] racing while attending classes.[15]

Motorsports career results

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NASCAR

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(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series

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NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
2015 Derrike Cope Racing 70 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL IOW CLT DOV MCH CHI DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH
33 		CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO
DNQ 		HOM 78th 11 [16]
2016 Obaika Racing 97 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA
28 		IND IOW
35 		GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KAN
37 		PHO HOM 51st 41 [17]
77 KEN
36 		DOV
35 		CLT TEX
34

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

References

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  1. ^ "Matt Waltz - NASCAR Driver". www.foxsports.com. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  2. ^ "Matt Waltz Career Statistics - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  3. ^ O'Brien, Marty. "Matt Waltz will make Xfinity Series debut at RIR on Sept. 11 for Derrike Cope Racing". dailypress.com. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  4. ^ O'Brien, Marty. "Matt Waltz clinches first Langley Speedway Late Model title". dailypress.com. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  5. ^ O'Brien, Marty. "Matt Waltz clinches first Langley Speedway Late Model title". dailypress.com. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  6. ^ "XFINITY Debut Has Matt Waltz Wanting More". RACE22.com. 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  7. ^ Marquis, Andy (September 12, 2015). "Matt Waltz Looks Ahead After Xfinity Series Debut". Popular Speed. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  8. ^ "Matt Waltz 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  9. ^ O'Brien, Marty. "Matt Waltz ready for Xfinity Series debut at Richmond". dailypress.com. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  10. ^ "Matt Waltz 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  11. ^ "NASCAR 101: Who Didn't Return to NASCAR in 2017?". www.frontstretch.com. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
  12. ^ O'Brien, Marty. "Langley Speedway track champ Matt Waltz won't race in 2018". dailypress.com. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  13. ^ Weaver, Matt (October 5, 2019). "Martinsville 300 Last Chance Races starting lineups". Short Track Scene. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  14. ^ Parsons, Brian (2015-09-11). "Local driver Matt Waltz to make Xfinity series debut at Richmond". WAVY-TV. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  15. ^ O'Brien, Marty. "Matt Waltz clinches first Langley Speedway Late Model title". dailypress.com. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  16. ^ "Matt Waltz – 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  17. ^ "Matt Waltz – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
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