Trevor Kobylarz Fulfills His Quest as ARDC Champion

Trevor Kobylarz Fulfills His Quest as ARDC Champion
By DINO OBERTO …. “Keeping Track”

            (HAZLE TOWNSHIP, PA) It was exactly one year ago over the Thanksgiving weekend that Trevor Kobylarz attended the yearly American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) banquet at Lobitz Catering Hall in Hazle Township and watched Tim Buckwalter yield in the accolades of winning the championship of the time honored Midget car racing organization, one of the most respected in the Nation.

            Kobylarz’s car owners, Dyke and Carey Becker, did secure the owners title but he was runner-up in driver points and from that night vowed to return to the banquet with nothing less than the top prize. Fast-forward to last weekend’s 2013 awards ceremony and it was mission accomplished for the 20-year old who hails from Birdsboro. 

“It made us hungry and determined to go into this year with the best equipment. The Becker’s gave us a solid piece and great motor to run which made a big difference. Having my dad as my crew chief and all the crew guys that worked on the car during the week let alone each week at the race track, we knew we would go to each race with the best possible car,” said Kobylarz.

“Second was great but getting this championship is what it’s all about. I am so proud to be able to get the Becker’s a car owner championship for a second time but we definitely wanted to get the driver title this year also.”

            When Kobylarz left Lobitz Hall at the end of last year’s banquet, he immediately set the wheels in motion to prepare for the title run.

            His racing actually began in January in Tulsa, OK at the annual Chili Bowl indoor event, Midget racing’s biggest show. He did well too, just missing out on qualifying for the high profile A-main. The momentum from there then carried over once the regular season got underway.

            From April through October as the ARDC traveled about the eastern seaboard, Kobylarz remained steady and consistent in nearly every race. Four wins, which came at Susquehanna Speedway Park, Potomac Speedway, Bedford Fairgrounds and Grandview Speedway plus 14 top tens in 20 starts was the key in winning this year’s crown. Five times he finished runner-up.

“We finished ever race but one and the car held up really well. There were a lot of really good runs up front throughout the season. Nine times we finished either first or second and we only raced twenty times so half the time pretty much we were up front,” said the Kobylarz, who is majoring in Mechanical Engineer at Penn State Berks.

“It seemed at times we struggled at some tracks and we couldn’t even get a top ten but that just gives us room for improvement for next year.”

            Even though his numbers read well, that did not mean he cake-walked into the championship. ARDC is infamous for close racing and parity. Matter of fact the title was not clinched until the final race of the season at Susquehanna. Steve Drevicki and Bruce Buckwalter Jr., second and third respectively in points, remained very close right to the finish.

“This year we had nine different winners and you have guys like Steven (Buckwalter) who runs a 410 Sprint Car at Williams Grove and Tim (Buckwalter) who runs a Modified and a few other guys who run in other divisions and are competitive there also so the competition is really hot in ARDC,” said Kobylarz.

Winning an ARDC championship is coveted. Since 1939 a virtual who’s who in Midget car racing has competed with the club and for Kobylarz there was added cause for celebration as his father, Bryan Kobylarz, was a two-time champion which put them in an elite group with just two other father/son combinations that did the same feat, Nick Fornoro Sr. and Jr., and Johnny Coy Sr. and Joey Coy.

“It’s really great and I know for him it was very special because I’m able to do what he did 15 years ago. The only other father/son teams to have won and ARDC championship are the Coy’s and Fornoro’s. We may not have been the first but they are two great families with lots of deep history in the sport and it’s an honor to be joined with them now,” said Kobylarz.

“Even though I’m only 20, my dad started running a Midget for the Starrett’s (car owners) when I was only three years old and I’ve been around it ever since. For the past 17 years I’ve been around ARDC and the Midget racing world. There is so much history in this club and the list of drivers who have gone on to win in Indy Car and the Indy 500, it’s definitely an honor to have my name included in.”

Bryan Kobylarz won ARDC titles in 1998-99 and has been a mainstay with the organization for the past 20 years. He serves as crew chief for his son and was named Ken Hickey Crew Chief of the Year for the second consecutive season.

“It is very special for me and Trevor. This was a long time coming and I’m a proud dad,” said Bryan.

            Mentor, crew chief, advisor and father, Bryan Kobylarz was behind his son’s racing every step beginning with ¼-Midgets to Karts to Micro Sprints and now the Midgets.

           “I think that’s where we really come together being a great team. With him being a previous two-time champion he knows what it takes on and off the track. Every time I would come off the track I would turn to him for advice on were other guys are running, do I need to change my line or keep doing what I’m doing. He always has great insight on certain things I may have to do slightly different. We have great communication,” said Kobylarz.

            Trevor Kobylarz is now in the history books of ARDC as a champion. His goal was reached and the new focus is to do as his dad and defend his crown.

“It would be great if we can go out and do it again next year especially with it being the 75^th anniversary. We made it two in a row for the Becker’s and hopefully we can three-peat for them and go for two with myself.”