ARDC RESULTS FROM PITTSBURGH’S PA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
By
ARDC
Contact - Deb Smith
For Immediate Release
Phone (610) 972-6176
Email - dsfotog@aol.com
ALEX BRIGHT RACES TO SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON AT PPMS
Alex Bright of Collegeville, PA raced PJ Gargiulo for the lead in the final laps of the twenty lap ARDC feature event at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, picking up his second win of the season in the Lightcap Electric #77. The wingless midgets put on a show for the loyal supporters of the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins and gave the folks in the Three Rivers area something to talk about!
Polesitter, Brian Gilmore of Hackettstown, NJ led the starting field to the green flag to start the feature event. Parker Evans from Owego, NY used the outside line to grab the lead as the field crossed the starting line. Trevor Kobylarz quickly advanced from his fourth place start to challenge Evans for the lead, pulling out in front as the drivers headed down the backstretch of the wide, half mile speedway. Kobylarz had the race lead and started to put some distance between himself and the rest of the field.
For several laps, the action was all behind the leader as PJ Gargiulo drove into second on lap two after starting tenth. Brett Arndt took over third one lap later from his seventh place start. Alex and Brenden Bright ran in the top five with five laps complete.
With the half way point approaching, Alex Bright raced into third using the high outside line and made a bid for second. With Bright contesting, Gargiulo shot to the bottom of the track to take the lead. Gargiulo had pulled to a ten car length advantage when Bright took over second from Kobylarz.
While Alex Bright concentrated on Gargiulo in the lead, Arndt, Kobylarz, Brenden Bright and Nick Wean jockeyed for top five positions.
Bright went right to the top of the track during warm-ups and found his line of choice while many chose to run the shortest way around the track by running on the inside. Gargiulo moved to the top of the track and for a while, Bright ran in the tracks of the Morton, PA driver. As the laps counted down, Bright began to close on Gargiulo, moving within striking distance with just three laps to go. As the leaders came to the line with three laps remaining, Bright found an even higher line, running just inches from the wall. Gargiulo and Bright were even going across the line but Bright had the advantage as the cars exited turn two.
"I really didn't think that I had left him any room out there," Gargiulo stated. "But he found some - that's for sure!" Bright said his car was a "rocket" on the top of the track. "I moved up a little bit more and it was even better," Bright explained. "I know I was just inches from the wall but there was good bite up there!"
Bright led the final laps, taking the checkered flag for the second time this season. Gargiulo had his best outing of the 2012 season, leading laps and finishing second. Unlike his brother, Brenden Bright used the low, inside of the track and made some headway in the final laps, racing to third and the final podium finish. Kobylarz raced home in fourth with current ARDC point leader, Wean in fifth.
Bright was quick to thank his grandfather and car owner, Joe Hemler when he reached Victory Lane. "I want to thank my grandfather for all that he's done for me," Bright said. "I wouldn't be able to do this if it weren't for him!" , it was Bright's second win of the season and sixth podium finish in the last seven races.
Bright and Wean were the winners of the qualifying heats.
RACE NOTES:
Twelve races have produced seven different winners. Five drivers - Tim Buckwalter, Steve Buckwalter, Trevor Kobylarz, Brenden Bright and Alex Bright - each have two wins so far this season. Nick Wean and Steven Drevicki have one win a piece.
ARDC returns to Western PA to compete at Mercer Raceway Park for the second time this season. Steven Drevicki was the winner at Mercer just a few weeks ago.
ARDC continues to keep former car owner, George Stevens in their thoughts and prayers. The blood drive through the Miller Blood Bank has been extended through Saturday, August 11th. Cards of cheer will reach George at 3165 Belevider Road, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865.
Feature Finish (20 laps)
1-Alex Bright 2-PJ Gargiulo 3-Brenden Bright 4-Trevor Kobylarz 5-Nick Wean 6-Brett Arndt 7-Tim Buckwalter 8-Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 9-Mark Gilmore 10-Parker Evans 11-Brian Gilmore 12-Steve Craig 13-Joe Butera 14-Bret Guzik 15-Brett Wanner 16-Steven Drevicki
