Matt Waltz

Matt Waltz
Born	Matthew Christopher Waltz (1989-10-06) October 6, 1989 (age 35) Newport News, Virginia, U.S.
Achievements	2017 Langley Speedway late model track champion
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
7 races run over 2 years
2016 position	51st
Best finish	51st (2016)
First race	2015 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 (Richmond)
Last race	2016 O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge (Texas)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
Statistics up to date as of November 5, 2016.

Matthew Christopher Waltz (born October 6, 1989) is an American semi-retired 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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

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				51st	41	[17]
		77																												KEN 36	DOV 35	CLT		TEX 34	PHO	HOM

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

CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	CLMSCTC	Pts	Ref
2015	Randy Sears	34	Ford	SNM 12	ROU 29	HCY	SNM	TCM	MMS	ROU	CON	MYB	HCY							43rd	25	[18]
2021	Waltz Racing	2W	Chevy	DIL	HCY	OCS	ACE	CRW	LGY 18	DOM	HCY	MMS	TCM	FLC	WKS	SBO				54th	15	[19]
2023	Waltz Racing	2M	Chevy	SNM	FLC	HCY	ACE	NWS	LGY 20	DOM	CRW	HCY	ACE	TCM	WKS	AAS	SBO	TCM	CRW	71st	13	[20]
2025	Waltz Racing	2	Chevy	AAS	WCS	CDL	OCS	ACE	NWS	LGY 3	DOM	CRW	HCY	AND	FLC	SBO	TCM	NWS		-*	-*	[21]

^* Season still in progress
¹ Ineligible for series points

• Matt Waltz driver statistics at Racing-Reference