2009 News Archives

 

 

ARDC Action Heads to Susky; Robinson Hitting on All Cylinders
By Mark Kielblock

Felton, DE - After opening the season with a thrilling 25-lap main event at Big Diamond Raceway, the wingless midgets of ARDC now head to Susquehanna Speedway Park Saturday night for round two of the 2009 season. ARDC will join the Late Models, Street Stocks and Xtreme Stocks to kick off the 2009 season for SSP. Randy Monroe Jr. "bookended" the ARDC season at Susky in 2008, taking the opener and the closer. The "Royersford Rocket" Steve Buckwalter stirred up excitement at the Newberrytown oval last year with two thrilling late-race passes -- one over Randy Monroe Jr. and one over cousin Bruce Buckwalter Jr -- to take a pair of victories. PJ Gargiulo has fond memories of SSP as he scored his first career victory there on June 15 last year. Gargiulo experienced an even more monumental life event this week as his wife Nicole gave birth to daughter Olivia Nicole on April 4. It has not been confirmed at the time of this report whether or not the new daddy will be at SSP to defend his victory of last year.

With the champions from the past three ARDC campaigns, Andy Martin ('06 and '07) and Randy Monroe not returning to defend, the '09 season looks to be a wide open affair. No where was that more evident than in the March 28 opener at Big Diamond where winner Frank Polimeda came up from 11th starting spot and Steve Buckwalter came from 16th to lead until dropping out on lap 21. Bruce Buckwalter Jr. had to run the B-main after suffering early problems and charged up from the back of the pack to finish second. The next two finishers also had to charge through the pack; URC Multi-Champ Curt Micheal drove the Burke Trucking midget from 21st to 3rd and Ryan Watt drove the Schell Racing no. 75 from 15th to 4th. This kind of passing and charging through the pack leaves fans raving that ARDC stages some of the most exciting short track racing seen anywhere.

One driver who finished just outside the top five at Big D, Greg Robinson II, would concur. "There are no easy drivers in ARDC," Robinson stated. "It's not like you can walk through the pits at the beginning of the night and pick out 5 guys to beat. You see 30 cars and it's all good equipment and drivers." Robinson overcame early problems at Big D to have a strong run to start the season. "It was a frustrating start to the night," Robinson recalled. "When it came time for heat in the motors, the car wouldn't start. My dad went through all the wires, we tried again, still no start. Right before the second heat we got it to fire -- we went out with no heat in the motor and no time on the track. The motor stumbled on the start, then we got going  and with two to go we made a pass and grabbed the last transfer spot."

If it sounds like the tide was turning toward better fortune for the Harrisburg, Pa pilot -- it was. "I was lined up third to start the feature and was surprised to see the polesitter pull off," Robinson said. "That allowed me to slide up to the pole." This time when the green waved there was no hesitation from the Beechers Auto Body no.00. Robinson shot out from the pole to lead the early laps. The track surface at Big Diamond was groomed to perfection this night and Robinson took full advantage of it. "It felt great being up front. The track was in great shape, you could run anywhere from high to low," Robinson enthused. "Actually, that kind of hurt me because I'm used to running low and I pinched the car going into turn one a couple of times. I should've had a top five." Robinson ended up sixth in a strong early season run.

The father and son team of Greg II and dad Greg will hit as many of the ARDC shows as their work schedule will allow. Goals for the season? "To run more consistently and get a better feel for the set ups," Robinson said. "Of course, I would love to park it in victory lane." The no. 00 is a Stealth chassis with a Gary Hammaker built Gaerte Chevy supplying the power. Sponsors include Beechers Auto Body, Bryson Homes, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic and Simpson Race Products.

Tracy Readinger appeared to have his "Deuce" headed for a top finish at Big D when what could only be described as a "fluke" cut his charge short. "After starting 12th and advancing to 3rd a piece of mud hit the fuel shutoff lever, closing off the fuel to the motor," Readinger reported on his website. The March 28th date at Big Diamond was to be the only ARDC appearance at the Minersville oval for 2009. However Readinger who also serves as a booking agent for the club, reported on the ARDC website that talks are on going with Buddy Biever to add ARDC to the Diamond Nationals and Coalcracker weekends.