ARDC Midgets | KOBYLARZ HONORS TOM HERBERT WITH ARDC WIN AT GRANDVIEWKOBYLARZ HONORS TOM HERBERT WITH ARDC WIN AT GRANDVIEW

One Race Remains to Determine 2013 ARDC Champion

Current ARDC point leader, Trevor Kobylarz, had many reasons for wanting to pick up the win at the Thunder on the Hill – House of Thunder Show at the Grandview Speedway on Saturday. He was looking to increase his lead in the point standings with just one race remaining in the 2013 ARDC season. Kobylarz was also in search of his first career win at the Grandview Speedway – the track that Kobylarz like many of his fellow competitors, consider to be their home track. And Trevor Kobylarz wanted to honor former Grandview late-model driver and ARDC member, Tom Herbert. Herbert, who lived in the same neighborhood as Kobylarz, lost his battle with cancer just days before and was laid to rest on Saturday morning. Herbert was known to Grandview Speedway fans as the Pink Panther but he had also served as an official and crew member in ARDC in the past.

In what was features only program, Kobylarz started eighth on the grid for the start of the twenty-five lap ARDC feature event. PJ Gargiulo used the outside line to power by pole sitter, Jason Rice of Danielsville, PA on the first lap to take the lead. Kobylarz challenged Topton, PA driver, Brett Arndt for third on the fourth circuit as Gargiulo pulled away from the field. Gargiulo led Rice, Kobylarz, Arndt and Ryan Greth with just five laps on the books.

Kobylarz challenged Rice for the runner-up spot on the eighth lap and moved in to set his sights on Gargiulo. As the leaders came to the line to score lap ten, Kobylarz edged Gargiulo for the lead.

Steve Buckwalter was making his way through the field after starting fifteenth at the green. As Kobylarz extended his lead, Buckwalter moved into the top five by the half way point of the race. On lap fourteen, Buckwalter challenged Ryan Greth for fourth. Two laps later, Rice was in his sights as Buckwalter moved up to third. With Kobylarz making his way through lapped traffic, Buckwalter moved in to take second from Gargiulo on lap eighteen.

Kobylarz had a straightaway lead on the field by the time Buckwalter made his way into second. With just five laps to go, the caution was needed when Jimmy Glenn came to a stop in turn three and Kobylarz’s advantage was erased. The field was realigned nose to tail with the 2010 ARDC Champion, Buckwalter right on the tail of Kobylarz’s R/T Racing #1.

Kobylarz got a good start and was able to keep his #1 ahead of Buckwalter all of the way to the checkered flag. Kobylarz led Buckwalter, Gargiulo, Nick Wean and Ryan Greth to the finish for his fourth win of the season and first ever at Grandview. After starting eleventh on the grid, Wean drove into the top five just past the half way mark and battled with Gargiulo for the third spot in the closing laps.

There was great racing throughout the pack throughout the entire feature event. Rice was in the thick of many battles throughout as Brenden Bright, Pauch, Jr. Drevicki and Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. mixed it up right to the checkered flag.

Billy Pauch Jr., starting from the 23rd spot, drove the Steward #33s up to an eighth place finish and earned the Hyper Hard Charger Award.

The 2013 ARDC season concludes this Saturday with the Candy Bowl at Susquehanna Speedway Park.

FINISH (25 LAPS)

1. Trevor Kobylarz 2. Steve Buckwalter 3. PJ Gargiulo 4. Nick Wean 5. Ryan Greth 6. Jason Rice 7. Brenden Bright 8. Billy Pauch Jr.

9. Steven Drevicki 10. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 11. Brett Arndt 12. Kyle Lick 13. Tony DiMattia 14. Brett Wanner 15. Mark Gilmore 16. Billy Courtwright 17. Steve Craig 18. Joe Butera 19. Jimmy Glenn 20. Greg Fitzpatrick 21. Alex Bright 22. Tim Buckwalter DNS-Jimmy Radney

Contact – Deb Smith

phone (610) 972-6176

email – dsfotog@aol.com

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