June 3
Fairbury Speedway,
Fairbury, IL
Sanction: DIRTcar Supers (Thursday Night Shootout) - $5,000
Information provided by: Staff and track reports (last updated June 4, 6:08 pm)
Heckenast's slider leads to $5,000 Fairbury win
Thursday Night Shootout
- Frank Heckenast Jr.
- Shannon Babb
- Eric Smith
- Ryan Unzicker
- Kevin Weaver
- Rich Bell
- Gordy Gundaker
- Trevor Gundaker
- Jeffrey Ledford
- Mike Provenzano
- Derek Chandler
- Jeff Curl
- Dennis Erb Jr.
- McKay Wenger
- Torin Mettille
- Mike Spatola
- Alex Wilson
- Chad Finley
- Donny Walden
- Titus Sneed
presented by
Jim DenHamer
Frank Heckenast Jr. takes the checkers at Fairbury Speedway.
What won the race: Using an aggressive slide job to overtake Shannon Babb with three laps remaining, sixth-starting Frank Heckenast Jr. of Frankfort, Ill., grabbed a $5,000 Thursday Night Shootout vicotry at Fairbury Speedway.
Quotable: "This is the first race that I've ever won that I feel terrible about, when I timed (the winning slide job), I just thought I would be clear and it was so crumby and dusty in three, I was trying to throttle up and make it so he could turn down or try not to slide, but I just started sliding," Heckenast said. "I feel terrible for Babb, he's been my hero growing up and I would never race him like that, he's never wrecked me. I had Babb setup through here and he pushed really hard in three and four and stopped, it killed my momentum and I thought well this is it right here, we're going to lose the race or go for it and I thought I was clearer than I was, so I feel bad about that."
Key notes: After leading laps nine through 36, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., settled for the runnerup position, 3.167 seconds behind Heckenast. ... Polesitter Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., paced the first eight laps before fading to finish fifth. ... Slowed three times, the 40-lapper lasted 16 minutes with a dozen drivers finishing on the lead lap.
On the move: Gordy Gundaker of St. Charles, Mo., started 13th and finished seventh.
Winner's sponsors: Heckenast’s Rocket Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by JR Hauling, Storage Squares, Petroff Towing, Jim Weber Motorsports, Jay Morris Construction, Allstar Performance, TeamDemo.com, Penske Shocks, Swift Springs, DirtOval66.com, Chase Decals, Hoosier Racing Tire and Dragon Racing Fuels.
Points chase: Entering the event, Mike Spatola (206 points) of Manhattan, Ill., was atop Fairbury’s standings over Jeffrey Ledford (200), Eric Smith (189), McKay Wenger (171) and Donny Walden (169).
Current weather: Clear, 79°F
Car count: 20
Fast qualifier: Kevin Weaver
Time: 13.004 seconds
Polesitter: Kevin Weaver
Heat race winners: Kevin Weaver, Shannon Babb, Ryan Unzicker
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.
