| Car | Point | ||
| Pos. | # | Driver | Total |
| 1 | 19 | Steven Drevicki** | 910 |
| 2 | 92 | Brenden Bright | 761 |
| 3 | 83 | Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. | 723 |
| 4 | 1 | Trevor Kobylarz | 691 |
| 5 | 46 | Brett Arndt | 655 |
| 6 | 77 | Alex Bright* | 644 |
| 7 | 4 | Ryan Greth | 633 |
| 8 | 50 | Tony DiMattia | 594 |
| 9 | 54 | Austin Burke – R | 548 |
| 10 | 0 | Steve Buckwalter** | 530 |
| 11 | 8 | Kyle Lick | 522 |
| 12 | 13 | Brian Gilmore | 518 |
| 13 | 33/20 | Billy Pauch, Jr. | 507 |
| 14 | 44 | Brett Wanner | 502 |
| 15 | 52 | Tim Buckwalter* | 481 |
| 16 | 78 | Nick Wean | 439 |
| 17 | 21 | Tommy Kunsman – R | 425 |
| 18 | 5 | P.J. Gargiulo* | 415 |
| 19 | 95 | Jim Radney | 407 |
| 20 | 28 | Greg Fitzpatrick | 356 |
| 21 | 15B | John Barnett, Jr. | 345 |
| 22 | 17 | Clayton Glassman | 217 |
| 23 | 75 | Ryan Watt | 199 |
| 24 | 7 | Shawn Jackson | 178 |
| 25 | 75 | Billy Courtwright | 130 |
| 26 | 12 | Drew Heistand | 129 |
| 27 | 11 | Eric Heydenrich | 119 |
| 28 | 10 | Mark Gilmore | 92 |
| 29 | 20 | Carey Becker | 66 |
| 30 | 99G | Justin Grosz | 59 |
| 31 | 74 | Jamie Speers | 28 |
| 32 | 12 | Dusty Heistand | 25 |
| 33 | 33 | Danny Straton – TP | 0 |
| 33 | 34 | James Morris – TP | 0 |
| 33 | 97 | Tyler Brehm – TP | 0 |
Monthly Archives: June 2014
Steve Buckwalter is Spectacular at Grandview
Steve Buckwalter became the third different driver to claim an ARDC victory at the Grandview Speedway this season as he picked up the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) portion of the Open Wheel Spectacular at the Grandview Speedway. Buckwalter joins other Grandview feature winners, Alex Bright and Tim Buckwalter.
ARDC midget action saw 2012 ARDC Rookie, Brett Wanner lead lap number one from the pole. Billy Pauch Jr. took the lead on lap two, driving the RT Racing #20 on this occasion. Racing came to a stop with two laps scored as Tommy Kunsman spun in turns three and four, collecting Ryan Watt. Watt flipped the Fred Schell owned #75. All drivers were okay but Watt and Kunsman were unable to continue.
Pauch Jr. led the field on the restart with Steve Buckwalter in hot pursuit. Tim Buckwalter now ran in third with Danny Stratton and current ARDC point leader, Steven Drevicki completing the top five. With the two Buckwalters racing for second, Pauch was able to pull away from the field temporarily. Alex Bright and Bruce Buckwalter Jr. moved in to fourth and fifth as positions changed on nearly every lap.
Steve Buckwalter closed in on Pauch on lap eight and after a two lap battle, wrestled the lead from Pauch to score lap ten.
Wanner drew a caution when he came to a stop in turns three and four with thirteen complete. Steve led Tim Buckwalter, Pauch, Alex Bright and Steven Drevicki with half of the laps on the books.
Steve Buckwalter held off the challenge of Tim Buckwalter as Pauch, Alex Bright and Drevicki raced in the top five with ten laps remaining.
Bright took over third on lap sixteen and then moved in to challenge Tim Buckwalter for second. Bright had the runner-up spot by lap eighteen and he began to close the gap on the leader in the final laps.
Two restarts realigned the field nose to tail but Steve Buckwalter had the race in hand as he led Alex Bright and Tim Buckwalter to the checkered flag. Drevicki finished fourth with Pauch rounding out the top five.
The win was Buckwalter’s second ARDC midget win of the season.
Qualifying heats were won by Pauch, Drevicki and Kobylarz.
ARDC Midget Feature Finish (25 laps)
1. Steve Buckwalter 2. Alex Bright 3. Tim Buckwalter 4. Steven Drevicki 5. Billy Pauch Jr. 6. Danny Stratton 7. Ryan Greth 8. Brett Arndt 9. Tony DiMattia 10. Austin Burke 11. Brenden Bright 12. Trevor Kobylarz 13. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 14. Eric Heydenreich 15. Tyler Brehm 16. Greg Fitzpatrick 17. John Barnett 18. James Morris 19. Kyle Lick 20. Brian Gilmore 21. Brett Wanner 22. Nick Wean 23. Clayton Glassman 24. Ryan Watt 25. Tommy Kunsman
1. Steve Buckwalter 2. Alex Bright 3. Tim Buckwalter 4. Steven Drevicki 5. Billy Pauch Jr. 6. Danny Stratton 7. Ryan Greth 8. Brett Arndt 9. Tony DiMattia 10. Austin Burke 11. Brenden Bright 12. Trevor Kobylarz 13. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 14. Eric Heydenreich 15. Tyler Brehm 16. Greg Fitzpatrick 17. John Barnett 18. James Morris 19. Kyle Lick 20. Brian Gilmore 21. Brett Wanner 22. Nick Wean 23. Clayton Glassman 24. Ryan Watt 25. Tommy Kunsman
Quick Results from Grandview Open Wheel Spectacular
ARDC Midget Feature Finish (25 laps)
1. Steve Buckwalter 2. Alex Bright 3. Tim Buckwalter 4. Steven Drevicki 5. Billy Pauch Jr. 6. Danny Stratton 7. Ryan Greth 8. Brett Arndt 9. Tony DiMattia 10. Austin Burke 11. Brenden Bright 12. Trevor Kobylarz 13. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 14. Eric Heydenreich 15. Tyler Brehm 16. Greg Fitzpatrick 17. John Barnett 18. James Morris 19. Kyle Lick 20. Brian Gilmore 21. Brett Wanner 22. Nick Wean 23. Clayton Glassman 24. Ryan Watt 25. Tommy Kunsman
Complete story to follow on Monday, June 23rd.
ARDC MIDGET ACTION RETURNS TO THE GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY THIS SUNDAY
The First of 3 Open Wheel Spectaculars with TSRS 305 Sprint Cars
The wingless midgets of the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) will join forces with the winged Hilborn Tri-State Race Saver Sprint Cars for an Open Wheel Spectacular this Sunday at the Grandview Speedway.
It will be ARDC’s third appearance on the high banks of the Grandview Speedway during the 2014 season and if the first two races were any indication, racing fans won’t want to miss the show this Sunday night.
In ARDC’s first Grandview appearance, Alex Bright drove to his first win of the season after starting in the 21st starting spot in the twenty-four car line-up. Five different drivers held the lead – Jim Radney, Shawn Jackson, Billy Pauch, Jr., Kyle Lick and Alex Bright were all leaders of the twenty-five lap contest at one point in time. There were laps that saw multiple lead changes.
The 25 lap feature event was completed in just over seven minutes. Twenty-three of the twenty-four starters completed the race. Fifteen of those starters turned in laps under the seventeen second mark.
Bright took the win over current ARDC point leader, Steven Drevicki, Ryan Greth, Pauch, Jr, and Lick.
Two weeks later, Tim Buckwalter made his first start with ARDC of the 2014 season and picked up the win in the ARDC portion of the Eastern Storm event at the Grandview Speedway. Buckwalter was the dominant contender as he took the lead from 2013 ARDC Champion, Trevor Kobylarz on lap five and sailed to the win over Pauch, Jr. in Carey Becker’s #20, Steve Buckwalter, Brett Arndt and Drevicki.
Reading, PA driver, Steven Drevicki is the current ARDC point leader with two wins. In six events so far this season, Drevicki’s worst finish has been a sixth. Brenden Bright has started out the season with some strong performances and he is currently second in points followed by Bruce Buckwalter, Jr., Trevor Kobylarz and Brett Arndt.
The Grandview shows carry some additional incentive for the ARDC competitors thanks to Bob Hilbert Sportswear. The Hilbert on the Hill program will reward the driver with the best results in the Grandview races with 100 Express whiteT-shirts, printed with their design on the front and back of the shirts. The drivers who finish 2nd-5th at the end of the series will receive $100 gift certificates from Bob Hilbert Sportswear. A separate set of points is being maintained for the Hilbert on the Hill competition. Billy Pauch, Jr., is the current leader, followed closely by Drevicki, Greth, Lick and Arndt.
ARDC has completed six races so far this season. In addition to Drevicki’s two wins, Alex Bright and Tim Buckwalter’s Grandview wins, PJ Gargiulo and Steve Buckwalter have also earned checkered flags at the New Egypt Speedway.
ARDC always promises plenty of “three wide and side by side racing” from the wave of the green to the checkered flag.
Internet radio’s Low, Down & Dirty will host a Meet & Greet prior to the start of Sunday night’s racing. Alex Bright and Steven Drevicki will represent ARDC during the Meet & Greet and will be available to sign autographs, pose for pictures and meet with the fans before the racing action begins.
The Open Wheel Spectacular action will begin at 7:30pm. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults with kids 6-12 pay $5 and under 6 are admitted free.
Come out and enjoy the action as ARDC celebrates its 75th Anniversary with a return to tradition at the Grandview Speedway!
STEVEN DREVICKI IS FIRST TO REPEAT IN ARDC IN 2014
Drevicki Picks up Win in Port Royal Eastern Storm Event
After winning the 2014 season opener, Reading, PA driver, Steven Drevicki picked up his second win of the season as the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) made their third appearance of the week with the wingless Sprint Cars of USAC, this time at the Port Royal Speedway. Drevicki led all twenty laps on the way to his sixth career ARDC victory.
Drevicki lined up beside rookie driver, Tommy Kunsman Jr. for the start of the twenty lap feature event and wasted no time powering his DeGre Engineering& 19 into the lead. Brenden Bright moved past Kunsman to take second as Tim Buckwalter powered into third one lap later. Bruce Buckwalter Jr. moved up to fourth with Steve Buckwalter completing the top five with five laps scored.
Trevor Kobylarz raced into the top five on lap seven with a move by Steve Buckwalter as Tim Buckwalter raced with Brenden Bright for the runner-up spot. Meanwhile, Drevicki continued to pull away from the field.
Austin Burke ran into problems between turns one and two just after the field took the half way sign. Drevicki’s lead was erased as the field lined up for the single file, nose-to-tail restart. Once again, Drevicki powered away as Tim Buckwalter raced Brenden Bright for the runner-up spot, moving into second on lap eleven.
Steve Buckwalter had been working the high, outside line of the track throughout the race. With five laps to go, Buckwalter had it the way he wanted as he raced by Kobylarz to move into fifth and then side by side with Bruce Buckwalter Jr. to determine the fourth spot. Buckwalter raced high and wide to pass Bright for third on lap seventeen and one lap later, Tim Buckwalter was the next victim as Steve moved in to second.
Drevicki raced to the checkered flag alone as Steve Buckwalter led Tim Buckwalter, Brenden Bright and Bruce Buckwalter Jr. across the start finish line.
Drevicki’s win added more points to his advantage as the current ARDC point leader over Brenden Bright.
FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS) 1. Steven Drevicki 2. Steve Buckwalter 3. Tim Buckwalter 4. Brenden Bright 5. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 6. Trevor Kobylarz 7. Tony DiMattia 8. Nick Wean 9. Brett Arndt 10. Kyle Lick 11. Jim Radney 12. Brian Gilmore 13. Tommy Kunsman 14. Greg Fitzpatrick 15. Austin Burke 16. Brett Wanner 17. John Barnett 18. Ryan Greth
IT’S STEVE BUCKWALTER WITH HIS 8TH ARDC VICTORY AT THE NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY
Buckwalter Takes the Win as the Brights Battle for Second
The American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) competed in it’s second doubleheader of the week with the wingless USAC sprint cars at the New Egypt Speedway on Thursday night. Steve Buckwalter returned to his position of honor as he picked up his eighth career ARDC feature win at the Garden State track. Buckwalter’s record surpassed that of six time ARDC Champion, Ray Bull, who earned four NES victories during his domination in the midgets in the Northeast from 2000-2005.
The first five positions of the starting line-up were Buckwalters and Brights as Steve and cousin, Tim Buckwalter made up the first row. Brenden Bright lined up third, along side of Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. while Alex Bright started inside row three.
After picking up the win in Eastern Storm action at the Grandview Speedway earlier in the week, Tim Buckwalter went head to head with Steve as the green flag waved but it was Steve who took the lead at the start and raced ahead of the field. Alex Bright moved into third and then took second from Tim Buckwalter as Brenden Bright and 2013 ARDC Champion, Trevor Kobylarz rounded out the top five.
Steve Buckwalter had pulled away to a sizeable lead by the time Alex Bright arrived in second but lap after lap, Bright closed on the leader who was working through some slower traffic. Without the benefit of any caution flags to close up the field, Bright caught Buckwalter and briefly slid past Buckwalter’s #0 between turns one and two to take the lead. But Bright’s reign as the leader was brief as Buckwalter raced back into the lead as the pair raced to the end of the backstretch.
The one and only caution of the race came on lap twenty-one when the #50 of Tony DiMattia showed a lot of smoke and came to a stop on the homestretch. The red was thrown so that the safety crews could attend to the car and driver. DiMattia was not injured but his race ended just five laps from the checkered. Tim Buckwalter headed to the pits when the caution was thrown. A malfunctioning temperature gauge sidelined the former ARDC Champion who had been racing in the third spot.
Steve Buckwalter set sail on the restart as Brenden Bright moved in to challenge Alex for second. Buckwalter extended his lead while the rest of the top five battled for position. Alex won the battle of the Brights to take second with Brenden taking the final podium finish in third. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. battled back during the second half of the race to finish fourth with Kobylarz finishing fifth.
Feature Finish (25 laps)
1. Steve Buckwalter 2. Alex Bright 3. Brenden Bright 4. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 5. Trevor Kobylarz 6. Steven Drevicki 7. Ryan Greth 8. Jim Radney 9. Brett Arndt 10. John Barnett 11. Austin Burke 12. Brian Gilmore 13. Tommy Kunsman 14. Brett Wanner 15. Tim Buckwalter 16. Tony DiMattia 17. Greg Fitzpatrick 18. Nick Wean DNS – PJ Gargiulo
TIM BUCKWALTER REPEATS AS EASTERN STORM WINNER
History repeated itself when Douglassville, PA driver, Tim Buckwalter drove his Buckwalter Motorsports #52 into Grandview’s Victory lane after a twenty-five lap win in the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) feature event when ARDC joined USAC for the first Eastern Storm event on Tuesday night. The event survived the weather – waiting out two periods of rain but the entire show was completed in a timely manner.
Buckwalter, who became a regular in Saturday night action in Grandview’s tough 358 Small Block Modified ranks last season, earned his first midget victory of the season in his first race of the year with ARDC. Buckwalter had planned to make several other starts but those events fell victim to Mother Nature. While Buckwalter is still seeking his first stock car victory at Grandview, his win on Tuesday night made it two in a row of the 2012 ARDC Champion in Eastern Storm competition.
Buckwalter had this to say about his first outing. “We rebuilt the car and pretty much put everything back to where it was before. Buckwalter added, “I will tell you one difference thought – I ran my own shocks on all four corners of the car! That was one thing that was different.” Buckwalter has built a reputation around the micro sprint, midget and even stock car competition for his knowledge with shocks. Tim’s Shock Lab (TSL) can be found on many of the ARDC midgets on race night.
Alex Bright was scheduled to start on the pole for the feature event but developed motor issues and pulled into the pits while the field was still forming. Bright’s departure moved rookie driver, Austin Burke to the pole for the start of the race with 2013 ARDC Champion, Trevor Kobylarz to his outside. Kobylarz took the lead at the start but the caution came out at the end of one lap when Ryan Watt and Eric Heydenreich tangled on the homestretch. Koybylarz retook the lead on the restart as Bruce Buckwalter Jr. looked to the inside to take over second. It was Tim Buckwalter who made the move, passing his cousin and then Burke to move into second. Buckwalter overtook Kobylarz for the lead on lap five before the red was displayed when James Morris and Clayton Glassman came together on the backstretch. Both drivers escaped injury in the incident and the field was realigned for a single file restart.
Tim Buckwalter had the race in hand as the battle for second on back allowed the former champion to drive away from the field. Bruce Buckwalter took over third from Burke on lap seven and then raced Kobylarz for second for several laps. Kobylarz lost the handle in turn three as the field was coming to the half way mark as Danny Stratton and Tony DiMattia were collected in the incident. After getting upside down, Stratton’s night came to an end but Kobylarz and DiMattia restarted the feature.
Tim Buckwalter restarted the race and pulled away from Bruce Buckwalter Jr. and Brett Arndt as a side by side battle was waged for fourth between Steve Buckwalter and Billy Pauch Jr. Arndt took second on lap sixteen with Pauch moving up to third on the next go round. A move to the inside down the backstretch took Pauch to second.
With five to go, Tim Buckwalter held a sizeable lead over Pauch, Arndt, Steve and Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. Current point leader, Steven Drevicki broke into the top five in the final laps, gaining several positions in the late stages of the race.
Tim Buckwalter sailed to the win with a healthy lead over Pauch, Steve Buckwalter, Arndt and Drevicki.
Heats were won by Kobylarz, Ryan Greth and Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. with Danny Stratton winning the consolation event.
It’s on to the New Egypt Speedway for race #2 in the Eastern Storm on Thursday night.
RACE NOTES
Billy Pauch Jr. drove Carey Becker’s #20 for the first time – finishing second after starting 11th. Four of the top five cars – both Buckwalters, Pauch and Drevicki were Steve Buckwalter’s Elite chassis design. It was season best performances for Tim Bucwalter, Pauch, Steve Buckwalter and Arndt. Micro sprint driver, James Morris made his ARDC debut as the driver of the Steward #34 while Danny Stratton returned to midget competition driving Steward’s #33.
FEATURE RESULTS (25 LAPS)
1. Tim Buckwalter 2. Billy Pauch Jr. 3. Steve Buckwalter 4. Brett Arndt 5. Steven Drevicki 6. PJ Gargiulo 7. Brenden Bright 8. Ryan Greth 9. Kyle Lick 10. Tony DiMattia 11. Austin Burke 12. Trevor Kobylarz 13. Brian Gilmore 14. Tommy Kunsman Jr. 15. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 16. Ryan Watt 17. John Barnett 18. Brett Wanner 19. Danny Stratton 20. Eric Heydenreich 21. Clayton Glassman 22. James Morris 23. Jim Radney (DNS – Alex Bright)
Tim Buckwalter Wins in Grandview Eastern Storm Race #1
QUICK RESULTS
1. Tim Buckwalter 2. Billy Pauch Jr. 3. Steve Buckwalter 4. Brett Arndt 5. Steven Drevicki 6. PJ Gargiulo 7. Brenden Bright 8. Ryan Greth 9. Kyle Lick 10. Tony DiMattia
BIG WEEK AHEAD FOR ARDC MIDGETS
Four Races in Six Days for Wingless Competition
It’s the first week of June and that can only mean one thing – it’s Eastern Storm week as the wingless Sprint Car drivers from USAC travel east for their annual appearance. The midgets of the American Racing Drivers Club will continue to celebrate their 75th Anniversary as they join USAC for four nights of racing.
Eastern Storm competition opens on Tuesday evening, June 2 at the Grandview Speedway where ARDC just completed a spectacular show just a little more than a week ago. The fans are still talking about that twenty-five lap feature event that saw five different leaders and many more lead changes in what many have determined was the ‘best race of the night’ on the seven features only Thunder on the Hill Show. Collegeville, PA driver, Alex Bright came from the eleventh row of the starting grid to win his first ARDC midget event of the 2014 season when he charged in between Billy Pauch Jr. and leader, Kyle Lick to take the lead.
On Thursday evening, June 4 ARDC will join USAC at the New Egypt Speedway. This will be ARDC’s third appearance of the season at NES where drivers, Steven Drevicki and most recently, PJ Gargiulo have picked up wins n 2014. Drevicki, the current ARDC point leader, won the season opener at NES back in April. Gargiulo just picked up his win at NES a few short weeks ago when he led all twenty laps from green to checkered.
On Saturday, June 6, ARDC will make their only appearance of the 2014 season at the Port Royal Speedway where the wingless midgets will join the stars of USAC at the Juniata County Fairgrounds. On Sunday, June 7, the Eastern Storm wraps up at the Susquehanna Speedway Park.
Last season, Tim Buckwalter, Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. and Trevor Kobylarz picked up ARDC feature wins during race nights with the Easter Storm. Tim Buckwalter was the winner at Grandview – his only ARDC midget win of the season, while running a very limited schedule. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. picked up the win at Port Royal for his second win of the 2013 campaign and the second Port Royal win of his racing career. Trevor Kobylarz’s win at Susquehanna was his first of the season and first ever at the SSP. Kobylarz would garner three more wins on his way to the 2013 ARDC Championship.
After finding his way into the lead at Grandview on Memorial Day weekend, Kyle Lick is looking forward to a return engagement on the high banks. Lick was also a feature winner at Port Royal last season – his rookie season with ARDC. Lick can be considered a strong contender for the week ahead. Lick will take part in a Meet & Greet session at the Grandview Speedway prior to racing on Tuesday night.
Brenden Bright won ARDC’s final race of the season at Susquehanna’s Candy Bowl last October and would like nothing better than to pick up his first “W” of 2014 during Eastern Storm events this week.
Never to be counted out our ARDC drivers Ryan Greth, Brett Arndt, Tony DiMattia, Nick Wean, Drew Heistand Brett Wanner or Shawn Jackson. Greth and DiMattia are still in search of that first ARDC win as are Jim Radney, Greg Fitzpatrick, the Gilmore brothers, Mark & Brian, and Ryan Watt, as well as new comers Shawn Burke, John Barnett, Tommy Kunsman and Clayton Glassman.
There is so much potential in the field of competitors in the wingless midgets of ARDC that you never know who will get to the checkerd flag first. The only thing for certain is that there will be plenty of side by side and three wide (or more) racing before that checkered flag waves!