DIRTcar Summernationals
Kankakee County Speedway
June 11, 2015
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Heckenast Conquers Kankakee to Earn First Summer Nationals Victory



KANKAKEE, IL (June 11) - He might be only 26, but reigning World of Outlaws Late Model Series rookie of the year Frank Heckenast Jr. has turned many laps through the years in his quest to earn a DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory. Finally, on Thursday night at Kankakee County Speedway, he reached his goal.

Heckenast, a touring driver on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series tour from Orland Park, Ill., inherited the lead on lap 33 when Kevin Weaver's motor expired. Weaver, the 2000 Summer Nationals champion, was closing in on his first series victory since 2013 when his misfortune struck. Heckenast, who started fourth, took advantage by leading the final seven laps and holding off his cousin, Mike Spatola, for the $5,000 win, Heckenast's first on the Summer Nationals tour.

"It's just so great to finally get this first one," said Heckenast, who in February earned his first WoO Late Model victory, too. "I've been trying really hard to win one of these."

After Heckenast and Spatola, Scott Schmitt, Bobby Pierce and Tanner English rounded out the top five.

There were 29 cars entered in the event. The DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour rolls north to Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., for Friday and Saturday before heading Sunday to Wilmot (Wis.) Speedway.

A-Main    
1 4 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr Orland Park, IL
2 6 89 Mike Spatola Manhattan, IL
3 1 10s Scott Schmitt Tonica, IL
4 5 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
5 8 96 Tanner English Benton, Ky
6 7 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IN
7 3 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
8 12 91P Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
9 10 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
10 13 8C Timothy Culp Sheridan, AR
11 17 7T Steve Thorsten Chebanse, IL
12 19 21JR Billy Moyer Jr Batesville, AR
13 18 77M Jay Morris Pittwood, IL
14 22 1M Jim Moon New Florence, MO
15 2 b12 Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL
16 20 4G Bob Gardner East Peoria, IL
17 11 91 Rusty Schlenk Weston, OH
18 14 21b Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
19 15 116 Torin Mettille Cullom. IL
20 16 11 Steve Dimmick Joliet, IL
21 9 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
22 21 9 Lyle Zanker Rockford, IL



B-Main    
1 2 11 Steve Dimmick Joliet, IL
2 1 7T Steve Thorsten Chebanse, IL
3 3 77M Jay Morris Pittwood, IL
4 4 17S James Shereck St. Charles, MO
5 5 4G Bob Gardner East Peoria, IL
6 10 9 Lyle Zanker Rockford, IL
7 8 45 Kyle Hammer Clinton, IL
8 6 14 Glen Thompson Buckingham, IL
9 9 15A Phil Ausra Dowagiac, MI
10 11 124 John Hahler New Florence, MO
11 7 8 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI
12 12 1M Jim Moon New Florence, MO

Heat #1    
1 2 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
2 4 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr Orland Park, IL
3 1 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IN
4 3 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
5 5 8C Timothy Culp Sheridan, AR
6 6 7T Steve Thorsten Chebanse, IL
7 7 9 Lyle Zanker Rockford, IL
8 8 17S James Shereck St. Charles, MO
9 9 8 Dan Schlieper Sullivan, WI

Heat #2    
1 2 b12 Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL
2 1 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
3 4 96 Tanner English Benton, Ky
4 3 91 Rusty Schlenk Weston, OH
5 7 21b Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
6 5 11 Steve Dimmick Joliet, IL
7 8 4G Bob Gardner East Peoria, IL
8 10 45 Kyle Hammer Clinton, IL
9 6 21JR Billy Moyer Jr Batesville, AR
10 9 1M Jim Moon New Florence, MO

Heat #3    
1 2 10s Scott Schmitt Tonica, IL
2 1 89 Mike Spatola Manhattan, IL
3 5 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
4 4 91P Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
5 3 116 Torin Mettille Cullom. IL
6 6 77M Jay Morris Pittwood, IL
7 7 14 Glen Thompson Buckingham, IL
8 8 15A Phil Ausra Dowagiac, MI
9 9 124 John Hahler New Florence, MO

Qualifying

Group 1
1 25 Jason Feger 13.374
2 21 Billy Moyer 13.430
3 24 Ryan Unzicker 13.785
4 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr 13.813
5 8C Timothy Culp 14.001
6 7T Steve Thorsten 14.111
7 17 James Sherech 14.242
8 8 Dan Schlieper 14.398
9 9 Lyle Zanker 14.609

Group 2
1 32 Bobby Pierce 13.631
2 12B Kevin Weaver 13.665
3 91 Rusty Schlenk 13.761
4 96 Tanner English 13.848
5 11 Steve Dimmick 13.978
6 21JR Billy Moyer Jr 13.984
7 21B Rich Bell 14.145
8 4G Bob Gardner 14.274
9 1M Jim Moon 14.805
10 45 Kyle Hammer 15.374

Group 3
1 89 Mike Spatola 13.563
2 10S Scott Schmitt 13.868
3 116 Torin Mettille 13.989
4 91P Jason Papich 14.034
5 18 Shannon Babb 14.136
6 77M Jay Morris 14.206
7 14 Glen Thompson 14.283
8 15A Phil Ausra 14.943
9 124 John Hahler 17.976