ROOKIE BRENDEN BRIGHT OUTLASTS ARDC MIDGET FIELD TO PICKUP HIS FIRST WIN AT DIXIELAND SPEEDWAY

By Steve Williams

A hot summer day turned into a gorgeous summer night at Dixieland Speedway in Elizabeth City, NC on Friday night. Then the ARDC Midgets took to the speedway and the action heated up the near capacity crowd as rookie Brenden Bright won his first ever ARDC Midget race.

For the second week in a row, Parker Evans of Owego, NY look liked he was going to pick up the checkers as he dashed into the lead at the drop of the green flag followed by pole sitter Keith McIntyre Jr., Bruce Buckwalter Jr. and the Bright brothers, Alex and Brenden.

Evans was able to open up some distance between his red racer #61 and McIntyre who was pressured by Buckwalter. Action was halted on the fourth lap when Steve Craig flipped in the fourth turn. Craig was alright but his car was taken to the pits with heavy damage.

Evans again opened up a comfortable lead and on lap 11 Buckwalter was finally able to get by McIntyre for second. Evans had no trouble leading despite another yellow.

A pileup on lap 15 in turn one brought out the red again as Keith McIntyre Jr. flipped while Alex Bright ended up outside the turn. As cars avoided the accident, Nick Wean got collected and ended up putting his car on its side. Also involved were Drew Heistand and Steve Bull. All the drivers escaped injury.

Everything appeared to be going in the right direction for Evans until lap 22 when his engine stumbled and Buckwalter quickly closed to the back of his car. Another red flag flew when the track was blocked by three cars in the fourth turn giving Buckwalter a green white checkered shot at the lead but as the cars were pushed off Buckwalter headed to the pits with an ignition switch problems, ending his shot at the win.

Buckwalters misfortune was luck for Brenden Bright who was slotted into the runnerup position for the final laps.

On the final restart Evans car tookoff but coming down the front the engine again stumbled. It was later determined that Evans ran out of fuel. Likewise, Bright appeared to get loose as he was taking the green but instead of spinning his right rear found some wet clay and he came off the turn like a rocket ship taking the lead and holding it to the checkered flag.

Several cars also benefitted from Evans running out of fuel who quickly fell back through the field.

Finishing second through fifth where Brett Arndt, Tim Buckwalter, Dusty Heistand and Steve Drevicki.

Sixth through tenth went to Drew Heistand, Alex Bright, Trevor Kobylarz, Nick Wean and Bryan Kobylarz who was making his first start of the season.

Heats for the 20 Midgets went to Keith McIntyre Jr., Alex Bright and Brenden Bright.

DIXIELAND SPEEDWAY, ELIZABETH CITY, NC August 5, 2011 ARDC MIDGETS 20 Entries 1) 88 Brenden Bright 2) 46 Brett Arndt 3) 52 Tim Buckwalter, 4) 6 Dusty Heistand, 5) 19 Steve Drevicki 6) 12 Drew Heistand, 7) 77 Alex Bright, 8) 49 Trevor Kobylarz, 9) 78 Nick Wean, 10) 20 Bryan Kobylarz, 11) 01 Steve Bull, 12) 75 Scott Zipp, 13) 61 Parker Evans 14) 83 Bruce Buckwalter Jr., 15) 2 Shawn Jackson, 16) 8 Keith McIntyre Jr. 17) 51 PJ Gargiulo, 18) 3 Joe Butera, 19) 33 Ryan Smith, 20) 55 Steve Craig Heat Winners: Keith McIntyre Jr., Brenden Bright, Alex Bright

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, April 10

Susquehanna Speedway Park

Steve Buckwalter

Friday, April 29

Williams Grove Speedway

Steve Buckwalter

Saturday, May 07

Port Royal Speedway

Bruce Buckwalter Jr

Saturday, May 21

Bridgeport Speedway (1/4 Mile)

Alex Bright

Friday, May 27

Penn Can Speedway

Steve Drevicki

Monday, May 30

Big Diamond Speedway

Ryan Smith

Tuesday, May 31

Grandview Speedway (w/USAC Sprints)

Steve Buckwalter

Saturday, June 04

Port Royal Speedway (w/USAC Sprints)

RAIN

Saturday, June 11

Bridgeport Speedway (1/4 Mile)

Ryan Smith

Sunday, June 12

Susquehanna Speedway Park

Drew Heistand

Saturday, July 09

Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway (PPMS)

Ryan Smith

Friday, July 22

Big Diamond Speedway

Steve Drevicki

Friday, July 29

Clinton County

CANCELLED

Saturday, July 30

Mercer Raceway Park

Nick Wean

Friday, August 05

Southern Swing – Dixieland Speedway

Brenden Bright

Saturday, August 06

Southern Swing – County Line Raceway

Saturday, August 13

Winchester Speedway

Tuesday, August 16

New Egypt Speedway

Saturday, August 20

Port Royal Speedway

Saturday, September 03

Bridgeport Speedway (1/4 Mile)

Friday, September 16

Williams Grove Speedway

Saturday, October 15

Grandview Speedway (ToTH)

FOR OFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS VISIT WWW.ARDCMIDGETS.COM