Scott Heckert K&N Pro Series East driver w/Turner Scott Motor Sports Photo – Getty Images
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Third-Place Run in Casey’s General Stores 150 Proves Heckert is a Threat
Speed had not been an issue in most of Scott Heckert’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts in 2014. He had been quick in qualifying and had impressive top-10 qualifying runs on several occasions, but circumstances never quite went his way to have a threat to win come race time. Putting together that “total package” effort for the first time this season on Saturday, May 17 at Iowa Speedway, Heckert was quickest in practice, qualified third and finished third to score his best-career NASCAR K&N Pro Series finish in the Casey’s General Stores 150.
“We were a threat to win and I think anyone who watched that race knew it. That’s a great feeling,” said Heckert after the race. “Any time you’re fast in practice or fast in qualifying, it’s great knowing that you can be fast for one lap. But it’s a great feeling when you’re able to know that you’ve got a car that will stay fast for 150 laps and execute like you need to.”
Heckert, in his first season driving for NASCAR powerhouse Turner Scott Motorsports in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East division, raced inside the top-five for much of the opening 75-lap segment at Iowa. The No. 34 Chevrolet faded a bit near the 10-minute competition caution at halfway, but Heckert and crew chief Rich “Fuz” Burgdoff consulted and made the right adjustments for Heckert to battle for the win in the last 75-lap run to the checkered flag.
“We knew if we could stay up near the front most of the race, we’d be in a good spot to go for the win,” said Heckert. “The car was a little loose in the first run and dropped back to sixth before the break. Into the night, the car seemed to come to us a little bit and tighten up. The car was really good in that second half.”
In the last 75-lap run to the finish, Heckert battled up to second and took a peek around TSM teammate Ben Rhodes for the lead. Heckert showed the nose of his No. 34 Chevrolet to the inside and the outside of Rhodes and got to his back bumper several times. In the last laps, however, the handling of Heckert’s car began to fade a bit. He lost touch with Rhodes and lost second in the last laps, but still came home with a career-best third.
“I thought we’d have a chance at the win,” added Heckert. “We were fighting with Ben Rhodes and thought we were a little quicker than him, but I just got a little loose at the end and just rode there and came home with a good finish.”
Now Heckert will take the momentum built up at Iowa, one of the biggest tracks on the K&N Pro Series East circuit, to one of its smallest tracks. Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina will host the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 on Saturday, May 31. Heckert made one start at historic Bowman Gray in 2013. He was racing inside the top-ten when he found himself tangled up in a late-race crash that relegated him to a 20th-place finish. This time around, Heckert has a top-five run in his back pocket as he goes to battle at the “Madhouse” of Bowman Gray.
“We’ll come out in a few weeks at Bowman Gray and even though it’s a totally different kind of track, we tested there and were just as fast. There’s no reason we can’t do the same any place we go and that’s a good feeling. Bowman Gray is another place where you’ve got to be prepared and qualify as well as you can. You’ve got to be up front and out of the mess because you know there’s going to be a mess. We’re going to work to stay up front and I think we’ll be good.”
For more information on Scott Heckert, visit www.scottheckert.com. Follow Scott on Twitter, @Scott34Heckert and “Like” his page on Facebook by searching Scott Heckert Racing.