By Steve Williams
The ARDC Midgets will open the short track portion of the season this Saturday May 21st when they head to South Jersey to compete on the inner ¼ mile oval at the Bridgeport, NJ Speedway.
No one is looking forward to some good Ole’ Fashion Saturday Night short track racing more than Kunkletown, PA’s Ryan Smith. Smith picked up both of the ARDC wins last season at Bridgeport and is looking for his first win of the season.
Smith already owns a second and third place finish that sandwiched a tough outing at Williams Grove Speedway where he finished in the back of the pack with brake problems.
The return to Bridgeport will be special for Smith’s owners, Jerry and Karen Steward of Berwick, PA because it was the site of their first win as car owners, last season.
Three in a row will be no easy task if a pair of Bridgeport grads have anything to do with it.
Both “Slick” Nick Wean of Phillipsburg, NJ and PJ Gargiulo from Morton, PA spent their early racing years competing and winning on the oval and both would like nothing more than a return trip to victory lane.
After picking up his first win of the season at Port Royal Speedway Bruce Buckwalter Jr. remarked that he thought they had their short track program in pretty good shape and what a better venue to test that theory than on a quarter mile.
Brett Arndt of Topton, PA has been the model of consistency all season and currently ranks second in ARDC points but Arndt would like nothing more than to put his E. Schneider and Sons 46 in Bridgeport’s Winners Circle.
Arndt, like Smith spend their off weekends racing Wingless 600cc Micros to keep their lightning quick reactions finally honed.
After his second runnerup finish of the season at Port Royal Drew Heistand said he may change his last name to Buckwalter, eluding to the fact the he had followed both Bruce Buckwalter Jr. and Steve Buckwalter across the start finish line but the smart money says a win at Bridgeport will change his mind in short order. Finishing third in points last season Heistand is still looking for 2011 victory numero uno.
Bridgeport fan favorite, Ryan Watt will be pulling double duty. Since he already knows where victory lane is at Bridgeport, in his modified, he is an early race favorite to park his D&S Archery 17 there as well.
Returning club champion and two time winner Steve Buckwalter will also be pitside. After winning the season opener at Susquehanna Speedway Park and then picking up another win at Williams Grove in a historic night of racing, Buckwalter had problems at Port Royal but was still able to fight back for a fourth place finish.
Alex Bright will have a new car on hand after a grinding crash destroyed his racer while leading the feature at Port Royal. Also sporting new wheels will be Matawan, NJ resident Andrew Hannula who was caught up in the crash with Bright.
Fans will want to keep an eye on the RAACE Foundation 16 with wheelman Dave Shirk behind the controls. The car was voted best appearing last season and this years rendition has already coveted a best of show award.
ARDC will bring along a strong rookie contingent led by Keith McIntyre Jr. McIntyre has parlayed some strong early season finishes and is currently sitting eighth in points.
Rounding out the top ten in points is a relative newcomer and a legacy veteran. Steve Bull, in his second year or Midget racing has challenged for the lead and is still looking for his first checkered flag while Levittown, PA veteran Steve Craig will have his 55 set to go.
Gates open at 5:00pm with racing at 7:00. The Bridgeport Modifieds, 358 Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks will race on the big track while ARDC will race on the inner oval.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Susquehanna Speedway Park
Steve Buckwalter
Friday, April 29, 2011
Williams Grove Speedway
Steve Buckwalter
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Port Royal Speedway
Bruce Buckwalter Jr.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Bridgeport Speedway (1/4 Mile)
Friday, May 27, 2011
Penn Can Speedway
Monday, May 30, 2011
Big Diamond Speedway
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Grandview Speedway (w/USAC Sprints)
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Port Royal Speedway (w/USAC Sprints)
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Bridgeport Speedway (1/4 Mile)
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Susquehanna Speedway Park
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway (PPMS)
Friday, July 22, 2011
Big Diamond Speedway
Friday, July 29, 2011
Clinton County (Full show & Makeup Feature)
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Mercer Raceway Park
Friday, August 05, 2011
Southern Swing – Dixieland Speedway
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Southern Swing – County Line Raceway
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Winchester Speedway
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
New Egypt Speedway
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Port Royal Speedway
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Bridgeport Speedway (1/4 Mile)
Friday, September 16, 2011
Williams Grove Speedway
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Grandview Speedway (ToTH)
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Susquehanna Speedway Park
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Susquehanna Speedway Park (rain date)
CURRENT POINT STANDINGS
POS
Driver Name
Points
1
Steve Buckwalter
397
2
Brett Arndt
346
3
Ryan Smith
311
4
Bruce Buckwalter, Jr.
304
5
Drew Heistand
297
6
Nick Wean
287
7
Dave Shirk
277
8
Keith McIntyre, Jr.
276
9
Steven Bull
236
10
Steve Craig
233
11
Alex Bright
223
12
Steve Lenig
219
13
Tim Buckwalter
215
14
Brenden Bright
213
15
Andrew Hannula
211
16
Greg Fitzpatrick
188
17
Steven Drevicki
186
18
Mark Gilmore
174