STEVE BUCKWALTER FETED AT ANNUAL ARDC AWARDS BANQUET

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