Martin Declared Winner in Wild Grandview ARDC Barnburner
By Mark Kielblock, Bechtelsville Pa May 21, 2008 - In a long ago Indy 500, Al Unser Jr and Emerson Fittipaldi headed for turn three side by side with laps running out in a race that was only to be won. Second place was not an option. Fittipaldi came out of turn three, Al Jr did not. Why didn't Jr back off? His replay was pure race driver, "There comes a time in racing when money doesn't matter, living doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is winning," Unser said stoically. What does this have to do with the "Thunder on the Hill" ARDC feature at Grandview Speedway Wednesday night? Everything. Steve Buckwalter of Royersford Pa. and Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown NJ had just such a moment in this race. The results were no less messy.
Scott Zipp and Stephanie Stevens led the 26 car field to the green flag in the 20-lap feature. Zipp pulled out to an early lead and was to hold it for much of the opening laps of the race.ARDC Champion Andy Martin had a rare up front starting spot and sea sawed between third and fourth place, before finally vaulting into second spot before lap 5 was complete. A yellow for a spinning Carey Becker slowed the action.
On the restart the jousting behind Zipp began when Martin, Billy Pauch Jr who had quickly advance from 10th starting spot and Drew Heistand began mixing it up. The next interruption in the action came in a yellow for Steve Lenig in turn 2. He was able to push off and restart, but probably wished he hadn't as he ended up on his side in turn four in a scary incident before another lap could be completed. Lenig's car lay in a very vulnerable position with the roll cage facing traffic, but quick spotting by ARDC officials got the red out and stopped the field before any contact was made.
All this was merely preliminary action to what was about to take place. When the field got back to racing, Billy Pauch Jr took his Two Dogs Racing no. 49 around Andy Martin and a rim riding Steve Buckwalter arrived on the scene from 14th starting position. What was to follow was dirt track midget racing at it's absolute frantic best. Pauch Jr got a little gap, but Buckwalter quickly closed it in traffic with Martin lurking just behind. This trio of talented hot shoes diced and weaved through traffic in a battle that often defied the limits of physics. In a blazing grand finale over the last few laps, Pauch and Buckwalter traded slide jobs, chased each other down the straights and banged off the cushion. Just when it seemed like one had the other beat, the trailing driver would find a burst of speed and make a comeback.
Too much of a good thing only leads to trouble, and that's the way this one ended. Going into the final two corners, Pauch Jr. tried an outside sweep with Buckwalter hard on the inside. Buckwalter ran Pauch high into the marbles where Pauch's no. 49 finally lost grip and hit the wall and flipped. It was a hard lick that left Pauch groggy and extremely sore after the race. The red flag came out and the official call was made to checker the race at that point.
Steve Buckwalter was interviewed in victory lane as the winner. He said that his run on Pauch in the corner was "not intentional." ARDC Officials did not agree, stating that Buckwalter went too hard into the corner did not maintain control of his car. He was DQ'd and placed in the 26th position in the official order. Andy Martin was the first car across the line after Buckwalter and he was declared the winner, putting the cap on a wild night of racing.Nick Wean, Ryan Smith, Drew Heistand and Brett Arndt completed the top five.
32 ARDC Midgets signed in for competition. Heat race wins went to Scott Zipp, Brett Arndt and Steve Buckwalter.
20 Lap ARDC Feature: 1) 21-Andy Martin 2) 77-Nick Wean 3) 54-Ryan Smith 4)12-Drew Heistand 5) 46-Brett Arndt 6) 27-Randy Monroe Jr 7) 26-Stephanie Stevens 8) 29-Zack Martini 9) 14-AJ Ernesto 10) 51-PJ Gargiulo 11) 83-Bruce Buckwalter 12) 11-Eric Heydenreich 13) 55-Steve Craig 14) 20-Carey Becker 15) 25-Chris Zrinski 16) 38-Bobby Goerner 17) 84-Jimmy Commock 18) 17-Donnie Hoffman 19) 49 Billy Pauch Jr. 20) 99-Scott Zipp 21) 2-Tracy Readinger 22) 44-Frank Polimeda 23) 42-Jack Spence 24) 75-Ryan Watt 25) 9-Steve Lenig 26) 0-Steve Buckwalter
VIDEO - ARDC MIDGET FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
By Mark Kielblock, Bechtelsville Pa May 21, 2008 - In a long ago Indy 500, Al Unser Jr and Emerson Fittipaldi headed for turn three side by side with laps running out in a race that was only to be won. Second place was not an option. Fittipaldi came out of turn three, Al Jr did not. Why didn't Jr back off? His replay was pure race driver, "There comes a time in racing when money doesn't matter, living doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is winning," Unser said stoically. What does this have to do with the "Thunder on the Hill" ARDC feature at Grandview Speedway Wednesday night? Everything. Steve Buckwalter of Royersford Pa. and Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown NJ had just such a moment in this race. The results were no less messy.
Scott Zipp and Stephanie Stevens led the 26 car field to the green flag in the 20-lap feature. Zipp pulled out to an early lead and was to hold it for much of the opening laps of the race.ARDC Champion Andy Martin had a rare up front starting spot and sea sawed between third and fourth place, before finally vaulting into second spot before lap 5 was complete. A yellow for a spinning Carey Becker slowed the action.
On the restart the jousting behind Zipp began when Martin, Billy Pauch Jr who had quickly advance from 10th starting spot and Drew Heistand began mixing it up. The next interruption in the action came in a yellow for Steve Lenig in turn 2. He was able to push off and restart, but probably wished he hadn't as he ended up on his side in turn four in a scary incident before another lap could be completed. Lenig's car lay in a very vulnerable position with the roll cage facing traffic, but quick spotting by ARDC officials got the red out and stopped the field before any contact was made.
All this was merely preliminary action to what was about to take place. When the field got back to racing, Billy Pauch Jr took his Two Dogs Racing no. 49 around Andy Martin and a rim riding Steve Buckwalter arrived on the scene from 14th starting position. What was to follow was dirt track midget racing at it's absolute frantic best. Pauch Jr got a little gap, but Buckwalter quickly closed it in traffic with Martin lurking just behind. This trio of talented hot shoes diced and weaved through traffic in a battle that often defied the limits of physics. In a blazing grand finale over the last few laps, Pauch and Buckwalter traded slide jobs, chased each other down the straights and banged off the cushion. Just when it seemed like one had the other beat, the trailing driver would find a burst of speed and make a comeback.
Too much of a good thing only leads to trouble, and that's the way this one ended. Going into the final two corners, Pauch Jr. tried an outside sweep with Buckwalter hard on the inside. Buckwalter ran Pauch high into the marbles where Pauch's no. 49 finally lost grip and hit the wall and flipped. It was a hard lick that left Pauch groggy and extremely sore after the race. The red flag came out and the official call was made to checker the race at that point.
Steve Buckwalter was interviewed in victory lane as the winner. He said that his run on Pauch in the corner was "not intentional." ARDC Officials did not agree, stating that Buckwalter went too hard into the corner did not maintain control of his car. He was DQ'd and placed in the 26th position in the official order. Andy Martin was the first car across the line after Buckwalter and he was declared the winner, putting the cap on a wild night of racing.Nick Wean, Ryan Smith, Drew Heistand and Brett Arndt completed the top five.
32 ARDC Midgets signed in for competition. Heat race wins went to Scott Zipp, Brett Arndt and Steve Buckwalter.
20 Lap ARDC Feature: 1) 21-Andy Martin 2) 77-Nick Wean 3) 54-Ryan Smith 4)12-Drew Heistand 5) 46-Brett Arndt 6) 27-Randy Monroe Jr 7) 26-Stephanie Stevens 8) 29-Zack Martini 9) 14-AJ Ernesto 10) 51-PJ Gargiulo 11) 83-Bruce Buckwalter 12) 11-Eric Heydenreich 13) 55-Steve Craig 14) 20-Carey Becker 15) 25-Chris Zrinski 16) 38-Bobby Goerner 17) 84-Jimmy Commock 18) 17-Donnie Hoffman 19) 49 Billy Pauch Jr. 20) 99-Scott Zipp 21) 2-Tracy Readinger 22) 44-Frank Polimeda 23) 42-Jack Spence 24) 75-Ryan Watt 25) 9-Steve Lenig 26) 0-Steve Buckwalter
VIDEO - ARDC MIDGET FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS