TRENTON, N.J. — Tim Buckwalter might be one of the most versatile race car drivers in competition today with one of the biggest families in motorsports competition.
None of that will matter, just his driving skills and good fortune when he heads to CURE Insurance Arena for the two-day BELFOR Property Restoration sponsored East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals, February 24-25.
The Douglasville, Pa. driver knows how to win and he plans to do that when he enters the Trenton event for the fourth time in hopes of taking home the $5,000 prize being offered for Saturday’s 50-lap A-Main for wingless 600 Micro Sprints.
All the action will be broadcast on SPEED SPORT.tv.
But first, he’ll have to battle a field of 90 also seeking a spot in the 24-car field. With noted success in dirt modifieds, sprint cars, SpeedSTRS, micro sprints, and TQ Midgets, Buckwalter will be seeking a fast race car and a smile from Lady Luck to get the job done.
Buckwalter has all the credentials to do it too. Racing Barry Greth’s powerful No. 71 600cc Micro Sprint last year at the tight confines of Kutztown (Pa.) Action Track, Buckwalter went to victory lane often and finished second in the point standings. He also won in the SpeedSTR class there and clinched the championship.
The 33-year-old enters the Trenton weekend seventh on the all-time win list. Despite 80 to 100 competitors entered at the three Trenton dirt races held so far, he’s qualified for them all with a best A-Main finish of fourth.
Already this season, Buckwalter has proven once again his driving ability on a small indoor series race track. At this year’s Indoor dirt Chili Bowl Midget Car race in Tulsa, Okla. he was the A-main Hard Charger with a 23rd to ninth run in the 50-lap feature.
Buckwalter also finished second in the Indoor Auto Racing Concrete Series event inside Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on January 27 in the Gambler’s Classic.
The Buckwalter family is all about racing. Richard and Betty Buckwalter got it going 50 years ago. Richard raced stock cars on dirt in the 1960s then got six of his seven children to race in quarter midgets.
Five of them (Bruce, Brian, Gary, Judi, and Sandy) raced micro-sprints, while Rick raced a modified. Judi (Bates) would go on to find success with 360 and 410 sprint cars. The legacy continued to a third generation of Buckwalters with Tim, Steve (410 sprints, SpeedSTRs), and Bruce Jr. (USAC East Sprints) now racing.
Judi’s daughter Ashley ran a rookie season in 360 sprints after her quarter-midget career but stopped to get a college education. She married Danny Sammons, whose family promotes the Indoor Racing Series in which she plays a large part.
The fourth Buckwalter generation, Steve’s two children, are already honing their skills in quarter-midgets.
A record crowd for the event is expected, and Buckwalter will be one of the favorites. He not only has a big family but many fans that follow him as well.