The Wingless Midgets of the American Racing Drivers Club will return to Bridgeport Speedway this Saturday Night, September 11th to compete on the ¼ mile inner oval, while the Big Block Modifieds and the Crate Modifieds will race on the outer oval.
When ARDC was at Bridgeport back in June, the race came down to a battle between Ryan Smith and speedway Modified regular Ryan Watt with Smith picking up his first win of the season.
Smith, who recently picked up a victory in a Wingless 600 Microsprint spent last weekend racing Sprint Cars in Pennsylvania and New York, is currently in the third spot in the points chase. Watt, who last week pulled double duty at New Egypt will be busy again as he tries to pull off a rare double win.
Both Ryan’s will have to contend with ARDC point leader, Steve Buckwalter who was in Indiana racing with USAC the last time the Midgets were at Bridgeport. Buckwalter, who like Smith spent last weekend in Sprint Cars, dominated the race at the wide open speedway at New Egypt will have adjust to the tighter ¼ mile inner oval.
Looking for his first win of the season is Drew Heistand, who currently stands second in points to Buckwalter. The high riding style and torque Esslinger engine the Heistand uses make him an early favorite to grab the checkers.
Racing gets underway at 7:00pm.
Thursday, September 02, 2010 12:00:00 AM
STEVE BUCKWALTER WRAPS UP THE UN-OFFICAIL END OF SUMMER AT NEW EGYPT WITH ARDC WIN #9
The Wingless Midgets of the ARDC returned to New Egypt Speedway Tuesday to makeup the rained out Summer Sizzler 40 but it was too hard to tell which was hotter. The 90+ degree temperatures or Steve Buckwalter, as he picked up his ninth win of the season and increased his point lead.
At the start of the feature the drag race into the first turn was won by Dusty Heistand from his pole starting position followed by outside front row starter Bruce Buckwalter Jr.
Buckwalter dogged Heistand and on the fifth lap he moved into the lead but not without a struggle. Pulling up on Heistand’s bumper into third was brother Drew Heistand.
On the eighth circuit Drew passed Dusty for position and was followed by Steve Buckwalter who had started in the twelfth spot.
On the following lap S. Buckwalter drove deep into the third turn and for a time he, his cousin Bruce and Drew Heistand were three wide on the beautifully manicured speedway. With the huge crowd on its feet, S. Buckwalter came off the fourth turn with a slight advantage over cousin Bruce.
As S. Buckwalter opened up a big lead, Drew Heistand moved into second while a battle raged for the fourth spot. Nick Wean and Eric Heydenreich took turns swapping the position and then Ryan Smith, Alex Bright, Trevor Kobylarz and Billy Pauch Jr. all joined in.
Wean looked to have the fourth spot nailed down, when engine whoa’s hit the #78 and Wean had to pull to the infield, relinquishing the spot to Bruce Buckwalter Jr.
At the checkered flag, Steve Buckwalter had a 3.6 second advantage over Drew Heistand and Bruce Buckwalter Jr.
Rounding out the top five were Ryan Smith and Rookie Alex Bright. Sixth through tenth spots went to Trevor Kobylarz, Eric Heydenreich, Billy Pauch Jr., Dusty Heistand and PJ Gargiulo.
Heats for the 24 Midgets in attendance went to Nick Wean, Bruce Buckwalter Jr. and Steve Buckwalter
NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY August 31, 2010
ARDC MIDGETS (24 Entries)
1) 0 Steve Buckwalter, 2) 12 Drew Heistand, 3) 83 Bruce Buckwalter Jr., 4) 34 Ryan Smith, 5) 77 Alex Bright, 6) 49 Trevor Kobylarz, 7) 11 Eric Heydenreich, 8) 54 Billy Pauch Jr., 9) 6 Dusty Heistand, 10) 51 PJ Gargiulo, 11) 46 Bret Arndt, 12) 19 Steve Drevicki, 13) 2 Tracy Readinger, 14) 9 Steve Lenig, 15) 25 Chris Zrinski, 16) 99 Lou Cicconi, 17) 44 Frank Polimeda, 18) 78 Nick Wean, 19) 17 Donnie Hoffman, 20) 20 Carey Becker, 21) 52 Tim Buckwalter, 22) 91 Donnie Trent, 23) 75 Ryan Watt, 24) 16 Dave Shirk
