Indiana Open Wheel - Big night for Buckwalter

STEVE BUCKWALTER VISITS WILLIAMS GROVE VICTORY LANE TWICE IN ONE EVENING

Steve Buckwalter had a career night on Friday evening as he collected both the 30 lap O’Reilly All Star Sprint Series race and the ARDC Midget feature.

At the start of the ARDC Midget race Andrew Hannula powered into the lead from his outside pole starting position, beating Ryan Watt into the first turn.

Joining the five car race for the lead were Bruce Buckwalter Jr., and the Heistand brothers, Dusty and Drew.

Hannula was able to open up a slight lead as the battle for second was joined at various times through the feature by, Brett Arndt, Steve Lenig, Steve Craig, and Dave Shirk.

Behind the battle for second 12th starting Nick Wean and 15th starting Steve Buckwalter were both moving forward when on lap 6 Wean slowed and withdrew from the action.

On lap seven Steve Buckwalter moved into second place, holding his car to the inside line. “I run here a little more so we have it figured out.” Buckwalter admitted later in victory lane.

A lap 8 caution for a slowing Tim Buckwalter put Steve Buckwalter on the rear bumper of Hannula and on the restart Buckwalter made his first pass for the lead in turn two.

As Buckwalter was passing under the flagstand the yellow was unfurled for a turn three pile-up that collected the cars of Lenig, Dusty Heistand and Alex Bright.

On the restart, Buckwalter was again able to get by Hannula but was again put back to second after a yellow for a slowing Ryan Watt.

Buckwalter made his third and final pass of Hannula heading down the backstretch on the ninth circuit. Standing in victory lane, after the Midget feature, holding a broom given to him by his crew to signify the sweep of the evenings events, Buckwalter talked about how he had to pass Andrew Hannula three times for the win after wiring the Sprint Car feature earlier in the evening. “Andrew Hannula ran a heck of a race.” “If he would have gone with a little harder tire it would have been him sitting here. He was pretty good.”

Buckwalter was starting to open up a lead when on the 12th lap, Bruce Buckwalter Jr. and Eric Heydenreich in a furious side by side battle for position got together on the front stretch.

Heydenreich rode up over the rear tire of Buckwalter shooting the front of his number 11 skyward and into a series of pirouettes and end over end flips ending with a hard landing.

Heydenreich was shaken after the wild ride but all involved drivers were alright.

Also involved in the front stretch incident was Drew Heistand who was towed back to the pits with a pair of flat rear tires.

The yellow would fly one more time on lap seventeen allowing Drew Heistand to close up on the top five after making extensive repairs. Heistand made the most of the situation and on the final lap made a pass over Brett Arndt down the backstretch, to take second spot behind Buckwalter.

“I was watching Drew there and he was so darned fast.” “I figured he be the guy to beat.” Buckwalter said later.

Finishing third through fifth were, Arndt, Hannula and rookie Keith McIntyre Jr.

Sixth to tenth place finishers were Steve Lenig, Dave Shirk, Ryan Watt, Mike Miller and rookie Brenden Bright.

Heat races for the 25 Midgets in attendance went to Brett Arndt, Andrew Hannula and Drew Heistand.

ARDC NOTEBOOK: Drew Heistand credited the help from Nick Wean and Steve Lenig’s crews with helping to get him back on the track after the lap 12 pileup. Both Dave Shirk and Brenden Bright were flip victims in their heat races. Both drivers came back to finish in the top ten in the feature. Andrew Hannula’s car sat in his trailer after the feature, with two bald rear tires. “We need a little more experience getting set up for the features.” Said Hannula. “We’ll be ready next time and will run a little harder tire.” Brett Arndt credited the support of his family for his heat race win and third place finish after having issues throughout the 2010 season. Rookie Keith McIntyre Jr. gets the Hard Charger Award finishing fifth after starting in the 22nd position. Steve Lenig finished with an unusual setup on the front of his racer. After being involved in a lap 8 incident a coil over shock was mounted along with the more traditional torsion bar arrangement.

WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY April 29, 2011

ARDC Midgets, 20 laps: 1. (0) Steve Buckwalter, 2. (12) Drew Heistand, 3. (46) Brett Arndt, 4. (89) Andrew Hannula, 5. (8) Keith McIntyre, Jr., 6. (9) Steve Lenig, 7. (16) Dave Shirk, 8. (17) Ryan Watt, 9. (41) Mike Miller, 10. (88) Brenden Bright, 11. (28) Greg Fitzpatrick, 12. (81) Mark Gilmore, 13. (01) Steven Bull, 14. (55) Steve Craig, 15. (19) Steven Drevicki, 16. (83) Bruce Buckwalter, 17. (11) Eric Heydenreich, 18. (2) Shawn Jackson, 19. (4) Shane Penny, 20.(6) Dusty Heistand, 21. (77) Alex Bright, 22.(33) Ryan Smith, 23. (52) Tim Buckwalter, 24. (78) Nick Wean, 25. (53) Randy Reid