Buckwalter Completes Clean Sweep of First 3 ARDC Events in 2013
The Royersford Rocket, Steve Buckwalter, accomplished a task that hasn’t been seen in more than ten years by winning the first three ARDC events of the 2013 season. Six time ARDC Champion, Ray Bull opened the 2001 season with three wins during his second season of his six year run as ARDC Champion.
It was a beautiful night for racing in the idyllic setting of the Port Royal Speedway, nestled among the village and the surrounding mountains.
Topton, PA driver, Brett Arndt led the field to the wave of the green flag as he outgunned Mark Gilmore for the early race lead. Nick Wean made his move from sixth to second on the second circuit as Steve Buckwalter raced around the top to move into the third one lap later. After starting fifteenth, Buckwalter’s efforts were negated when Ryan Greth took a wild ride in turn four in the Steward #33, bringing out the red. Greth was okay and racing resumed with Arndt and Wean battling for the lead.
Wean took over the lead for lap three with Jimmy Glenn running second and Buckwalter making his way back to third. With five laps complete, Arndt and PJ Gargiulo completed the top five.
Glenn, a rookie contender last season, completed the pass by Wean to be scored as the race leader on lap five. Glenn was having the race of his career as he led the way through lap seven when Buckwalter came knocking. Buckwalter was the race leader on lap eight. With all of the focus on the front runners, Trevor Kobylarz made his way to third after starting ninth. As Buckwalter pulled away from the field, Kobylarz had his sights set on Glenn for second
Kobylarz took over second. Wean began to pressure Glenn for third with just five laps remaining.
The leaders caught up to the back of the field. As Wean made a move to the inside to challenge Glenn for position, they came up on a slower car. The two scrambled with Glenn getting airborne and taking a nasty ride in turn two. The race was red flagged but Glenn escaped without serious injury.
With three laps remaining, Buckwalter’s lead was erased as the top five – Buckwalter, Kobylarz, Wean, Gargiulo and Arndt lined up nose to tail. Buckwalter went on to the checkered followed by Kobylarz and Wean. Arndt finished fourth ahead of Gargiulo. It was a best finish of the season for the second through fifth place finishers.
Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. finished sixth after a race long battle with the Brenden and Alex Bright. Alex won the battle of the Brights to take seventh ahead of Brenden. Steven Drevicki finished ninth with ARDC veteran, Bill Courtwright finishing tenth.
Feature Finish (20 laps) 1. Steve Buckwalter 2. Trevor Kobylarz 3. Nick Wean 4. Brett Arndt 5. PJ Gargiulo 6. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 7. Alex Bright 8. Brenden Bright 9. Steven Drevicki 10. Billy Courtwright 11. Carey Becker 12. Kyle Lick 13. Shawn Jackson 14. Tony DiMattia 15. Jamie Spears 16. Joe Butera 17. Jimmy Glenn, Jr. 18. Steve Craig 19. Mark Gilmore 20. Ryan Greth 21. Jason Rice
WINNER – Steve Buckwalter (pic by Ty Garl)
the Hyper Hard Charger – Steve Buckwalter (pic by Deb Smith)