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Steve Buckwalter Takes Susky ARDC
From Gargiulo With Late Race Charge
By Mark Kielblock

Felton, DE - PJ Gargiulo became a dad earlier in the week. He picked up a last minute ride in the Martin Racing no.71 after hurting the motor in his no. 51 in the ARDC opener at Big Diamond. Gargiulo was driving the Martin family-owned machine to victory at Susquehanna Speedway Park to cap off a dream week, but he had just one problem -- Steve Buckwalter. Gargiulo led laps 7-18 of the 20-lap ARDC main, but Buckwalter made one of his patented late race charges to grab the lead and hold on for the win.

Scott Zipp and Zach Martini led the 26 car field to the green flag. Zach Martini grabbed the early lead from Zipp, and PJ Gargiulo served early notice that he would have to be dealt with when he fired out of the sixth starting spot and slid into second by lap 4. As the early laps spun off the top 5 was Martini, Gargiulo, Greg Robinson, Steve Lenig and Zipp. On lap 7 Gargiulo took the lead from Martini in turn 3. By lap 10 Gargiulo had begun to pull a gap on Martini, when his charge was interrupted by a tangle that involved Dave Shirk and Trevor Kobylarz.

On the restart Steve Buckwalter vaulted into fourth place all the way up from 16th starting spot. They only ran one lap under green when a tangle involving Jason Rice, Ryan Watt and Donnie Hoffman brought out the yellow again.

When they got back to racing, Gargiulo gapped the field again. The real action was a torrid duel between Martini and Greg Robinson for second. As the youngsters battled, Steve Buckwalter tried to sweep around both of them on the outside between turns one and two on lap 13. The two would not be intimidated and held their ground, forcing Buckwalter to slide back to 4th for the moment. Another hard charger arrived on the scene as Nick Wean appeared in the top 5 out of the 10th starting spot.

Another yellow slowed the field, and when they got back to racing the stubborn Buckwalter finally made a great restart and got up to second spot. Gargiulo fought as hard as he could, but after taking the two to go sign he knew he was in trouble. "I was holding the car on the bottom and I didn't think anyone could get by me," Gargiulo explained. "Then I heard someone coming on the outside going into one, and I knew that could only be one person, Stevie." Sure enough, Buckwalter took his no. 0 up high around Gargiulo and sailed into the lead which he would hold to the checker.

Buckwalter explained what it took to get another hard-earned win. "It's tough when you start so far back with the track as dry as it was," Buckwalter said in victory lane. "The only way to get it done is down on the tires (extreme inside groove). I have to say congratulations to PJ though. I didn't think I had anything for him, but he slowed up a little bit at the end."

Gargiulo gushed with enthusiasm for his ride in the Martin Racing machine. "I just can't say enough about the Martin's," Gargiulo enthused. "We burnt three pistons in the 51 car at Big Diamond -- this deal literally came together at 10 o'clock last night. To run this good is just a testament to how good Jeff (Martin) is at setting up a car."

Greg Robinson hung tough and held on for a career best third place finish. He confirmed in victory lane what his driving showed on the track when he repelled Buckwalter's first charge. "I wasn't going to give him anything easy," Robinson stated. Nick Wean and Zach Martini rounded out the top 5.

Ryan Watt, Steve Buckwalter and Zach Martini took the three heat races for the 29 ARDC Midgets on hand. Eric Heydenreich took the consolation.

ARDC's next race is at the historic Williams Grove Speedway on Friday May 1 with the All-Star Sprints.

Pit Patter: Donnie Trent showed up at Susky in a no. 91 car purchased from RT Racing still carrying the RT colors and sponsors. Eric Heydenreich rode out a hot lap tumble that required a front axle replacement and rear suspension repair. His miserable night continued when he spun out of a transfer spot in his heat race. He salvaged the night with a win in the consi and a top 10 in the feature. Jimmy Commock explained that the problem that knocked him off the pole position in the opener at Big Diamond was a bad battery. "It was a shame because the track was in great shape and the car was working good," Commock said. Justin Grosz, Stephanie Stevens and Greg Robinson took part in the first ARDC autograph session that will accompany every ARDC race for the remainder of the season.

20-lap ARDC Feature: 1) 0 Steve Buckwalter 2) 71 PJ Gargiulo 3) 00 Greg Robinson 4) 78 Nick Wean 5) 29 Zach Martini 6) 9 Steve Lenig 7) 44 Frank Polimeda 8) 26 Stephanie Stevens 9) 83 Bruce Buckwalter 10) 11 Eric Heydenreich 11) 75 Ryan Watt 12) 34 Shane Penny 13) 2 Tracy Readinger 14) 39 Justin Grosz 15) 57 Jason Rice 16) 6 Dusty Heistand 17) 17 Donnie Hoffman 18) 84 Jimmy Commock 19) 05 Trevor Kobylarz 20) 12 Drew Heistand 21) 91 Donnie Trent 22) 55 Steve Craig 23) 16 Dave Shirk 24) 99 Scott Zipp 25) 46 Brett Arndt 26) 25 Chris Zrinski

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