By Mark Kielblock
Hazleton, Pa. – ARDC crowned Frank Polimeda as it’s newest Champion as the Club celebrated it’s 70th Anniversary at Lobitz Catering Hall on Nov. 28. Several ARDC legends were present at the celebration including National Midget Racing Hall of Fame member and 5 time ARDC Champion car owner Ken Brenn Sr, 4 Time Champion driver Leigh Earnshaw Jr, 2 Time Champ Hank Rogers, Jr. and 14 time race winner Jimmy McGuire. Polimeda was well aware of his place in history as he accepted his Championship award. “I look at the list of past Champions and to see my name added to that list is a true honor that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Polimeda said.
When asked what the highlight of his Championship season was, Polimeda remembered how he and his team responded to the adversity of a crash at the Chili Bowl. “I came out of the Chili Bowl all busted up and I had a busted up race car, I was demoralized,” Polimeda recalled grimly. But the highlight was what came next. “We came out at the ARDC opener at Big Diamond and got a feature win,” Polimeda related. “It wasn’t so much that it was just a feature win, but it was how our team responded — that made it extra special and set the tone for the rest of the season.” Polimeda followed up that win in the opener at Big Diamond with six top-5 and 4 top-10 finishes on his way to the Championship. Brett Arndt, Nick Wean, Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. and PJ Gargiulo picked top 5 point standing awards.
Polimeda’s Crew Chief Milt Acquilini was the winner of the Ken Hickey Crew Chief of the Year Award. Acquilini’s name was previously etched in ARDC history as he racked up Owners and Drivers Championships with Mega Motorsports and legendary ARDC driver Ray Bull. Acquilini was complimentary of his most recent Champion driver. “Frank Polimeda is going to be a great Champion for ARDC and he is going to be a good representive for the Club,” Acquilini said as he accepted his award. Polimeda spoke equally highly of Acquilini, “He’s been the difference for us,” Polimeda said. “Milt came on board with us this year and made us fast. Milt’s body of work speaks for itself,” the newest ARDC Champ added.
Bruce Buckwalter Jr. and Sr made a family affair of winning awards at the Banquet as Bruce Jr. picked up the Most Improved Driver Award. Buckwalter was a feature winner in 2009 on the inner bullring at Bridgeport Speedway. Bruce Buckwalter Sr. was honored for the second year in a row as the owner of the PPG Best Appearing Car. The BDB Construction/BDB Graphics Stealth/Gaerte no. 83 was selected for the Best Appearing award by vote of the fans at the ARDC Website www.ardcmidgets.com.
ARDC had an outstanding crop of rookies in 2009, so much so that there were Co-Winners in the Rookie of the Year category; Trevor Kobylarz and Dusty Heistand. Kobylarz is the son of ARDC Champion Driver and Car Owner Bryan Kobylarz. Highlights of his rookie season included top five finishes at Lincoln Speedway and New Egypt Speedway. His New Egypt run was especially strong as he led the first fifteen laps before being past by the veteran midget ace Steve Buckwalter. Dusty Heistand came close to being a feature winner in his rookie year with a second place finish at Dixieland Speedway. His other season highlight came in June as he was in the lead pack battling for the win at Lincoln in a race that was eventually won by his brother Drew, Dusty finished fourth.
Club Treasurer and Owner of car no. 75 Fred Schell was the popular winner of the Presidents Award, selected by ARDC President Bruce Buckwalter, Sr. “I care alot about the Club,” Schell said. “It’s alot of work. In my job as treasurer I’m responsible to take care of others people’s money. I take better care of the Club’s finances than I do my own.”
The 2009 ARDC Banquet was also billed as a fund raiser the RAACE Foundation. The RAACE Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating the epidemic of child sexual abuse by raising public awareness. The RAACE Foundation was represented at the Banquet by Brad Brickel. Raffle tickets were sold throughout the night and at the conclusion of the night Club representative Deanna Kobylarz presented Brickel with a check for $639. “We wanted to do something special with our Banquet this year, we wanted to follow the theme ‘ARDC gives back’, ” Kobylarz summed. Information on the RAACE Foundation can be obtained by logging on to http://www.raace.org
Lobitz Catering Hall was transformed into an ARDC Museum with memorabilia covering the span of ARDC’s 70 year history. There were classic restored midgets were on display along with a plethora of posters, photos and drivers suits. ARDC legends Ken Brenn, Leigh Earnshaw, Hank Rogers Jr and Jimmy McGuire both moved and entertained the crowd as they shared their memories and passion for ARDC from the podium.