MINERSVILLE, Pa. — Ryan Smith started on the pole and led all 20 laps to earn his first American Racing Drivers Club midget victory Friday night at Big Diamond Raceway.
At the outset, Smith began to pull away from the field, but it wasn’t long before the yellow flag was out for a huge pileup in turn one involving nearly a third of the field.
Smith powered away on the restart, with Andy Martin chasing.
Smith was in control throughout, but a late restart gave Martin a final opportunity.
“It stuttered a little bit on the restart,” Smith explained. That stutter allowed Martin to take a dive at Smith on the restart.
“I almost ran over him when he stumbled,” Martin shared.
But Smith got it going and held on for the breakthrough triumph. Martin finished second ahead of Brett Arndt, Billy Pauch, Jr. and Frank Polimeda.
The finish:
Ryan Smith, Andy Martin, Brett Arndt, Billy Pauch, Jr., Frank Polimeda, Tracy Readinger, Drew Heistand, Stephanie Stevens, Randy Monroe, Jr., Eric Heydenreich, Greg Robinson, Zack Martini, Steve Lenig, Steve Craig, Carey Becker, Shane Penny, Scott Zipp, P.J. Gargiulo, Nick Wean, Paul Kline, Bruce Buckwalter, P.J. Pavlick, Donnie Hoffman, Dave Shirk, Donnie Trent, A.J. Ernesto.