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Steve Buckwalter's Second-Half Speed Nets New Egypt ARDC Victory

NEW EGYPT, NJ - Steve Buckwalter thought he was destined for a third-place finish.

Buckwalter, the winningest active driver with the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC), capitalized on evolving track conditions to take the lead in the second half of Wednesday night's 25-lap ARDC Midget A-Main at New Egypt Speedway.

The Royersford, Pa., driver registered his fifth victory of the season and 22nd of his career in the only ARDC event of 2009 at the Garden State three-eighths-mile oval.

Nick Wean of Phillipsburg, N.J., who started sixth, drove to a second-place finish in his family-owned No. 78. Stephanie Stevens of Phillipsburg, N.J., matched her career-best finish in third, followed by 11th-starter and points leader Frank Polimeda of Fort Lee, N.J., and 16-year-old rookie Trevor Kob ylarz of Birdsboro, Pa., who led laps 1-15 in the RT Racing No. 05.

"I was sure we would end up third," Buckwalter, 30, reflected. "I took gear out of it and with the new clay, it was pulling the motor down. Once the track dusted off, it came to me."

A single red flag slowed the feature and it came on the opening lap when Bruce Buckwalter Jr. flipped in turn two. Buckwalter, who entered the evening second in points, was uninjured.

On the complete restart, Kobylarz motored into the lead from third starting spot. All eyes were on Steve Buckwalter's No. 0, which rolled off the starting grid in 15th position. By lap five, Buckwalter sat fourth. Two circuits later, he had climbed to third spot, trailing Kobylarz and fourth-starter Stevens.

"The first lap, everybody slid up," Buckwalter said of his early advance. "I let off, rolled around the bottom and got like seven or eight cars."

Buckwalter's climb stalled at third - at least temporarily. He spent seven laps chasing the lead pair before working by Stevens on the 14th circuit for the runner-up spot.

By that point, lapped traffic had slowed second-generation driver Kobylarz, a freshman graduating from the 270cc Micro-Sprint division. Kobylarz left the outside lane open entering turn three on lap 15. Buckwalter blasted into the top spot.

"He (Kobylarz) got beat by experience tonight," Buckwalter said. "He just needs more track time. He gave me enough to get by."
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Kobylarz momentarily broke loose entering turn one on lap 17. Stevens, who checked up, and Wean got together slightly but continued unscathed.

Wean burst into the runner-up spot on lap 18. By that point, the 27-year-old third-generation driver was nearly a full straightaway behind Buckwalter.

"He races for a living and shows up to win," Wean said of victor Buckwalter. "I was hoping for a caution. When I got to second, Steve already had a big lead, but it looked like he might have been slowing a little."

Wean, who won the Aug. 7 ARDC event at Dixieland (N.C.) Speedway, feels his season is looking up.

"We're finally starting to turn it around," he said. "We've had some good runs, but now we're getting the finishes."

Stevens drove her family-owned No. 26 into third on lap 19 and remained there through the checkered, matching her ARDC-best third-place finish. She earned a top-three last year at Big Diamond (Pa.) Raceway.

"We've always struggled at this track," admitted the 25-year-old Stevens, in her second full season with ARDC. "We haven't had any luck here. It's a fast track and things happen quick."

Stevens said she enjoys racing at the larger venues like New Egypt.

"I seem to like the bigger tracks," she said, "places like Big Diamond or here where you don't brake, you just race."

Completing the top-10 were 17th-starter Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J., in the Burke No. 54;20Dusty Heistand of Manheim, Pa.; Brett Arndt of Topton, Pa., who started 13th; Modified racer Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., in the Schell No. 75; and P.J. Gargiulo of Morton, Pa.

Heat winners for the 27-car field were Stevens, Polimeda and Wean. No B-Main was required.

ARDC, celebrating its 70th anniversary, returns to action Saturday night (Aug. 29) at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa., at 7:30 p.m.

ARDC AFTERTHOUGHTS: ARDC championship leader Frank Polimeda was content with a fourth-place finish, considering he nearly pulled out of the A-Main during its early laps.

"I broke a throttle return spring on the second start," Polimeda said. "The first couple laps, I was discombobulated. I should have pulled off. It took five or six laps to learn how to drive it because it threw me off. I got good at it by the end of the race and I was catching those guys."

It was a productive point night for Polimeda, who was awarded a heat victory when Kobylarz received a penalty for jumping the initial start....

Bruce Buckwalter Jr. was unhurt but disappointed after his opening-lap flip placed the Royersford, Pa., driver dead last in the order of finish.

"A couple people came off the bottom. I was in left field. I checked up but I couldn't slow up in time," said Buckwalter, who expected to forego Thursday night's pre-season Philadelphia Eagles game (he is a season-ticket holder) to repair his No. 83....

Kobylarz matched his career-best finish of fifth. He had been a top-five finisher at Lincoln (Pa.) Speedway on June 13. The teenager, days away from the start of his junior year at Exeter Township (Pa.) Senior High School, had a large cheering section of friends and family members who live close to New Egypt.

"Hopefully we can keep the momentum going," he said. "Everybody that passed me tonight has a few years experience in the club. They're used to racing in traffic. "....

Scott Zipp was done for the night after smoke erupted from his car during hot laps....

Spike Chassis Inc. sponsored a giveaway of two $50 gift certificates and a 19-gallon Fuel Safe shell....

A large crowd turned out for the doubleheader program. The Midgets were run in conjunction with a Tri-Track big-block Modified show....

ARDC Race No. 12 - New Egypt Speedway/New Egypt, N.J.

Coming Events:
Sat., Aug. 29 – Grandview Speedway/Bechtelsville, Pa.
Sat., Sept. 26 – Big Diamond Raceway/Forestville, Pa.
Fri., Oct. 2 - Clinton County Raceway/Mackeyville, Pa.

August 26, 2009 - QUICK RESULTS - Full story to follow Thursday

ARDC Race No. 12 - New Egypt Speedway/New Egypt, N.J.

ARDC Feature Finish: STEVE BUCKWALTER, Nick Wean, Stephanie Stevens, Frank Polimeda, Trevor Kobylarz, Billy Pauch Jr., Dusty Heistand, Brett Arndt, Ryan Watt, P.J. Gargiulo, Eric Heydenreich, Steve Lenig, Justin Grosz, Andrew Hannula, Jimmy Cammock, Chris Zrinski, Tim Buckwalter, Greg Robinson II, Tracy Readinger, Drew Heistand, Jason Rice, Dave Shirk, Ryan Smith, Carey Becker, Bruce Buckwalter Jr.

Did Not Start: Christopher Rupp, Scott Zipp.

Heat winners: Stevens, Polimeda & Wean

2008 ARDC MIDGETS SCHEDULE

Date(s) TBA Clinton County Speedway
Date(s) TBA Southern Tour for 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009 Big Diamond Raceway
Saturday, April 11, 2009 Susquehanna Speedway Park
Friday, May 01, 2009 Williams Grove Speedway w/ All Stars
Saturday, May 09, 2009 Grandview Speedway
Friday, May 22, 2009 Penn Cann Speedway
Saturday, May 23, 2009 Five Mile Point Speedway
Tuesday, June 02, 2009 Thunder On The Hill w/ USAC
Wednesday, June 03, 2009 Williams Grove Speedway w/ USAC
Saturday, June 13, 2009 Lincoln Speedway w/ All Stars
Saturday, June 20, 2009 Bridgeport Speedway (small track)
Friday, July 10, 2009 Accord Speedway w/ ACOT Midgets
Saturday, July 11, 2009 Williams Grove Speedway w/ Super Sportsman & 358 Sprints
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Thunder On The Hill w/ 358 Modifieds & URC Sprints
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 New Egypt Speedway
Saturday, August 29, 2009 Grandview Speedway
Saturday, October 17, 2009 Thunder On The Hill 5/25's Features Only
Saturday, October 31, 2009 Susquehanna Speedway Park

2009 MIDWEST TQ MIDGET RACING SCHEDULE

04/11/09 Decatur County Fairgrounds (Practice/Mentor Day) 1pm - Dark Greensburg, IN.

05/02/09 Decatur County Fairgrounds Greensburg, IN.

05/08/09 Osgood (Cancer Benefit) Osgood, IN.

05/09/09 Twin Cities Raceway Park North Vernon, IN.

05/16/09 Salute to the Hall of Fame Rush County Fairgrounds (50 Lap Feature) Rushville, IN.

05/23/09 Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg, IN.

05/30/09 Jefferson County Fairgrounds Madison, IN.

06/06/09 Decatur County Fairgrounds Greensburg, IN.

06/13/09 Sheby County Fairgrounds Shelbyville IN

06/20/09 Twin Cities Raceway Park North Vernon, IN.

06/27/09 MTQRL - Mid Season Picnic

07/03/09 Osgood Osgood IN

07/11/09 TBA

07/17/09 Jefferson County Fairgrounds (Fair Night) Madison, IN.

07/18/09 Johnson County Fairgrounds Franklin IN

07/25/09 Bob Lowe Memorial Rush County Fairgrounds Rushville, IN.

08/01/09 TBA

08/08/09 Decatur County Fairgrounds Greensburg IN

08/15/09 TBA

08/22/09 Sheby County Fairgrounds Shelbyville IN

08/29/09 Johnson County Fairgrounds Franklin IN

09/12/09 Sheby County Fairgrounds Shelbyville IN

09/19/09 Twin Cities Raceway Park North Vernon IN

09/26/09 Decatur County Fairgrounds Greensburg IN

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