From ARDC
The American Racing Drivers Club concluded its 71st season on Saturday Night their annual awards banquet held at Lobitz’s Catering Hall in Hazleton, PA.
The highlight of the evening was the crowning of Steve Buckwalter as club champion. Buckwalter accrued 10 wins on his way to his first ever ARDC title, scoring 2435 points to 2347 for runner-up Ryan Smith.
Buckwalter’s wins came at, Williams Grove, Penn Can, Grandview, Central Pennsylvania, Mercer, Dixieland, New Egypt, Big Diamond and two at Susquehanna. Buckwalter also led the club with 13 heat race wins.
Steve’s car owner / father, Brian Buckwalter Sr. was also presented with the car owners championship trophy.
The Buckwalter 0 completed a sweep of the awards when Crew Chief Eddie Heffline was named the Ken Hickey Crew Chief of the year.
Ryan Smith and car owners, Jerry and Karen Steward both received 2nd place awards in the driver and owners chase respectfully. Smith garnered, four wins at Williams Grove, Big Diamond and two at Bridgeport.
Don and Cindy Heistand were on hand to pick-up third place trophies for both driver and owners points. The Heistand’s were representing their sons, Drew and Dusty, both of whom were unable to attend.
In all plaques were given to the top 15 in points in both car owner and driver standings. In addition the top three in points also received a package of fasteners from Fastener Specialties.
The other special awards were picked up by Dusty Heistand as the Most Improved Driver, Tim Buckwalter won the Dutch Schaefer / Jiggs Peters Rookie of the Year while ARDC President, Bruce Buckwalter Sr. presented PJ Gargiulo with the Galen Halteman Presidents Award. Dave Shirk’s RAACE Foundation #16 was presented with the Best Appearing Car award and in addition to his plaque, received a leather jacket from PPG Paints.
Special guests on hand included former club champions, Hank Rogers Jr, Bryan Kobylarz and 2011 National Midget Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Leigh Earnshaw. Former competitor and Club President, Ron Lauer. Former competitor, Jim Maguire and former mechanic and vintage car enthusiasts, Dick & Marian Briggs.
Contingency Sponsors on hand included representatives from, Fastener Specialties and BDB Graphics.
Members of the press on hand included, AARN photographer Kris Keath and Hoseheads.com, Dino Oberto.
The crowd was entertained by the stories and memories of Hank Rogers Jr. and Jim Maguire.
The evenings fun activities included a Trivia Contest and a test of the pit crews including a tire mounting, gear changing and spark plug replacement contests.
A silent auction of donated gifts was held with the proceeds being donated to the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing to help defray the costs of their recently announced museum expansion.
BANQUET NOTES: Steve Buckwalter is preparing 2 cars for January’s Chili Bowl Nationals. He will drive one car. The other driver will be named later. Joining Buckwalter on the trip west will be car owner, Greg Fitzpatrick who will also take two cars along. One for his regular driver Steve Drevicki and one for Bruce Buckwalter Jr. Drew Heistand was unable to attend the banquet after having a procedure performed on his foot. Drew’s brother Dusty was also absent as his wife Jen, recently gave birth to their first child. Grandpa Don Heistand accepted the awards for his sons while Grandma Cindy kept Don straight on the babies important statistics. Steve Buckwalter’s 2011 plans include Midget racing as well as possibly more Sprint Car racing. Ryan Smith and owner Jerry Steward announced that they will mount a full out attack on the points championship. Rookie Steve Bull is looking forward to a full schedule of Midget racing in 2011 if additional sponsorship can be procured. ARDC had a total of 11 rookies compete this year and has already received commitments from at least 4 drivers for next year.
SEASON RESULTS
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Big Diamond Raceway
RAIN
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Susquehanna Speedway Park
Billy Pauch Jr
Candy Bowl Makeup
Steve Buckwalter
Friday, April 30, 2010
Williams Grove Speedway
Steve Buckwalter
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Big Diamond Raceway
RAIN
March 28th Makeup
RAIN
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Williams Grove Speedway
RAIN
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Grandview Speedway
Billy Pauch Jr
Friday, May 28, 2010
Penn Can Speedway
Steve Buckwalter
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Grandview Speedway TOTH w/ USAC
Steve Buckwalter
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Lincoln Speedway w/USAC
Eric Heydenreich
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Susquehanna Speedway
Steve Buckwalter
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Bridgeport Speedway (1/4 mile)
Ryan Smith
Friday, July 02, 2010
Central Pennsylvania Speedway
Steve Buckwalter
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Georgetown Speedway
POSTPONED
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Williams Grove Speedway
Bruce Buckwalter Jr.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
May 8th Makeup
Ryan Smith
Friday, July 16, 2010
Accord Speedway
RAIN
Friday, July 30, 2010
Clinton County Speedway
Completion TBA
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Mercer Raceway
Steve Buckwalter
Friday, August 06, 2010
Dixieland Speedway
Steve Buckwalter
Friday August 13, 2010
Accord Speedway
Tim Buckwalter
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
New Egypt Speedway
Steve Buckwalter
Friday, September 3, 2010
Clinton County Raceway
Postponed
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Bridgeport Speedway (1/4 mile)
Ryan Smith
Saturday September 25, 2010
New Egypt Speedway
Drew Heistand
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Big Diamond Raceway (3-28 Makeup)
Steve Buckwalter
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Big Diamond Raceway
Ryan Smith
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Grandview TOTH
Tim Buckwalter
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Susquehanna Speedway Park
Bruce Buckwalter Jr.
OFFICIAL FINAL DRIVER POINT STANDINGS
CAR #
DRIVER
POINTS
0
Steve
Buckwalter
2435
34
Ryan
Smith
2347
12
Drew
Heistand
2305
11
Eric
Heydenreich
1889
46
Brett
Arndt
1837
77
Alex
Bright
1793
52
Tim
Buckwalter
1750
83
Bruce
Buckwalter
1686
51
PJ
Gargiulo
1677
9
Steve
Lenig
1540
6
Dusty
Heistand
1533
78
Nick
Wean
1525
44
Frank
Polimeda
1509
49
Trevor
Koblarz
1352
19
Steve
Drevicki
1280
91
Donnie
Trent
1162
16
Dave
Shirk
1152
75
Ryan
Watt
1110
25
Chris
Zrinski
966
54
Billy
Pauch
959
2
Tracy
Readinger
934
84
Jimmy
Cammock
934
26
Stephanie
Stevens
930
17
Donnie
Hoffman
849
1
Steven
Bull
845
55
Steve
Craig
815
20
Carey
Becker
715
94
Brad
Cox
582
57
Jason
Rice
513
89
Andrew
Hannula
499
39
Justin
Grosz
417
99
Scott
Zipp
395
1
Mike
Miller
331
4
Jeff
Furlong
297
31
Joe
Butera
269
61
Parker
Evans
268
53
Randy
Reid
262
4
Shane
Penny
233
99
Lou
Cicconi
196
64
Brett
Conkling
157
28
Greg
Fitzpatrick
145
7
Shawn
Jackson
141
3
John (57)
Heydenreich
103
54
Kyle
Lick
75
38
Bobby
Goerner
57
24
Brad
Sweet
47
FINAL OFFICIAL OWNERS POINT STANDINGS
CAR #
OWNER
POINTS
0
Brian Buckwalter, Sr
2435
34
Jerry Steward
2347
12
DonCin Transport, Inc.
2305
11
Eric Heydenreich
1889
46
Essay Racing
1837
77
Joe Hemler / Ted Bright
1793
52
Rick Buckwalter
1750
83
Bruce Buckwalter, Sr
1686
51
Gargiulo Racing
1677
78
Rick Wean
1614
9
Steve Lenig
1540
6
DonCin Transport, Inc.
1533
44
Frank Polimeda
1462
49
Two Dogs Racing
1352
19
Greg Fitzpatrick
1280
75
Fred Schell
1247
91
Earl Fellin / Mid Atlantic
1162
16
Glenn Good
1152
54
Shawn Burke
1086
25
Zrinski Racing
1061
2
2T Racing
934
84
Jim Cammock
934
17
Donald Hoffman
849
1
Steven Bull
845
55
Steve Craig
815
26
George Stevens
733
20
Two Dogs Racing
715
94
Michael Cox
582
57
Wayne Rice
513
99
Zipp Racing
496
39
Grosz Racing
417
89
Zrinski Racing
404
1
Mike Miller
331
4
Two Dogs Racing
297
31
Joseph Butera
269
61
David Evans
268
53
Randy Reid
262
7
Shawn Jackson
257
4(2)
Shane Penny
233
64
Brett Conkling
157
28
Greg Fitzpatrick
145
38
Goerner Brothers Racing
57
3
Jerry Steward
54