NEW EGYPT, N.J.
Steve Buckwalter had his wheels firmly planted in the low groove at New Egypt Speedway Saturday night.
He hugged the pole to rocket from 17th starting spot to take the lead from Randy Monroe, Jr. late in the race and drive to his second American Racing Drivers Club midget victory of the season.
Monroe, who tangled with another car on the initial start but recovered nicely, grabbed the lead from Tracy Readinger on lap five. Meanwhile, Buckwalter was working his way through the field.
But when Readinger stopped on the track, the battle was between Monroe and Andy Martin. However, a few laps later Martin crashed hard, flipping his machine. He was taken to a local hospital for observation.
Planted in the low groove, Buckwalter took the lead and romped to victory.
“I guess I got a little mad because they kept telling us on the radio that they were cutting laps from the feature and putting us on a time limit because rain was on the way,” Buckwalter explained. “I figured I didn’t have much time, so I just had to gas it up and go.”
Monroe finished second, ahead of Nick Wean, Frank Polimeda and Billy Pauch, Jr.
The finish:
Steve Buckwalter, Randy Monroe, Jr., Nick Wean, Frank Polimeda, Billy Pauch, Jr., A.J. Ernesto, Eric Heydenreich, Carey Becker, Drew Heistand, P.J. Gargiulo, Scott Zipp, Zack Martini, Bruce Buckwalter, Brett Conkling, Lew Blair, Chris Rupp, Mark Lawshe, Steve Lenig, Chris Zrinski, Tracy Readinger, Andy Martin, Brett Arndt, Stephanie Stevens, Jack Spence, Jimmy Commock.