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BUCKWALTER AND ARDC FINALLY BEAT THE RAIN AT WILLIAMS GROVE
Oley, PA - Friday the 13th turned out to be a lucky day for the American Racing Drivers Club and Steve Buckwalter. The ARDC Midgets finally opened their 2005 season, after suffering through four rain-outs, at the historic Williams Grove Speedway.
Buckwalter, from Royersford, PA, toiled in the middle of the pack for almost three-quarters of the 20-lap feature. His car began to work better as the race wore on, and the Royersford Rocket swept around the outside of Ray Bull to grab the runner-up spot with four laps remaining.
It appeared that Buckwalter would have to be satisfied with a second-place finish, as sprint car veteran Lance Dewease had built up a huge lead. A yellow flag on lap 18 wiped out his advantage, however, and the caution period proved to be the downfall for the Fayetteville, PA, chauffeur.
As the field rolled down the front chute to take the green on the restart, Dewease suddenly slowed and pulled to the inside of the track. He'd lost oil pressure in the Miller Racing Team midget, ending his terrific run.
Asked what went through his mind when Dewease did not take off on the restart, Buckwalter explained, "I was ticked. I wanted to race him for the win."
As the five-time Williams Grove track champion was pushed to the pits, Buckwalter, who started 11th, inherited the lead. Pacing the field for the final two laps was no problem for Buckwalter, as he darted away at the drop of the green and won handily.
Mike Miller and Ray Bull furiously traded the runner-up position during those last couple of trips around the oval, with Miller finally claiming the spot at the checkered. Rookie of the Year contender Andy Martin made a late race charge to net the fourth position, and Ed Stimely, Jr. wound up fifth.
With 25 of the ARDC teams on hand, Frank Polimeda, of Fort Lee, NJ, and Bull captured the heat races.
The ARDC Midgets now head for the Big Diamond Raceway in Minersville, PA, on Friday, May 20. They will run a wingless show at Big Diamond, competing in Twin 20-lap features. There will not be any qualifying heats for the midgets; just warm-ups and the two, 20-lap features.
In other news involving the ARDC Midgets, a race has been added to the schedule at Clinton County Speedway. Saturday, September 17 is the date for the ARDC event, and the midgets will run heats and a feature at the quarter-mile clay oval, which is located near Lock Haven, PA.
FEATURE FINISH (20-LAPS):
1.Steve Buckwalter 2.Mike Miller 3.Ray Bull 4.Andy Martin 5.Ed Stimely, Jr. 6.Michele Miller 7.Dave Shirk 8.Frank Polimeda 9.Steve Lenig 10.Eric Heydenreich 11.Scott Zipp 12.Lance Dewease 13.Lew Blair 14.Billy Courtwright 15.Carey Becker 16.Ted Schmid 17.Tracy Miller 18.Mike Krause 19.Donnie Trent 20.Buddy Baker 21.Jim Jackson