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Heckenast takes MARS opener at Davenport; Kay doubles down in IMCA action

DAVENPORT, Ia. (June 25, 2020) – On a perfect night for racing, the MARS Racing Series made its 2020 season debut at the Davenport Speedway. The record book will show Frank Heckenast Jr. of Frankfort, Illinois, capturing the first feature of the year. While there was only one pass for the lead during the race, there were wholesale passes for position on every lap.

The 40-lap main started with Bobby Pierce taking the early lead. Pierce, using the high side set a blistering pace. Near halfway, the top side of the track started to lose grip. Staying on the bottom, Heckenast started ninth and by lap five was already in fourth. Frank would take the lead on lap twenty-five and not look back. Pierce would hang onto second for awhile, before slipping off turn four and winding up sixth.

The remainder of the top five was a mad scramble with Chris Simpson, Brian Birkhofer, Brian Shirley, and Allen Weisser each going up and down on the scoreboard, throughout the race.

At the checkers, it Weisser in second with Shirley third. Simpson and Birkhofer rounded out the top five.

MARS heat race wins went to Weisser, Pierce, and Spencer Diercks.

The Petersen Plumbing & Heating IMCA Late Models started their evening with a make-up feature from last Friday night. After a rash of early cautions, Matt Ryan passed Gary Webb for the lead on lap eight and would lead until lap twenty-four when Justin Kay pulled into the top spot. Justin was first to the checkers, picking up his second feature win of the season. Ryan would finish second, followed by Andy Nezworski, Chuck Hanna, and Gary Webb.

This week’s feature was a case of déjà vu. This time Ryan jumped out to the early lead from a front row starting spot. Kay was mired in the pack until the race’s only caution flag flew on lap seventeen. After the restart, Justin hustled his way into contention.

Again coming to the white flag, Justin came to the front, this time on the bottom of the track.

His third Davenport feature win would again see Matt Ryan in the runner-up spot. Nick Marolf took third followed by Brian Harris and Logan Duffy.

IMCA Late Model heat winners were Ryan, Kay, and Joe Zrostlik.

Tomorrow, Friday June 26th, the Davenport Speedway will again be in action. The Sprint Invaders bring their open wheel brand of excitement to the quarter-mile dirt oval. Weekly classes, Modifieds, SportMods Street Stocks, and Sport Compacts will also be racing.

Results:

Davenport Speedway

June 25, 2020 –

MARS Racing Series

Heat #1: 1. Allen Weisser; 2. Brian Birkhofer; 3. Myles Moos; 4. Jason Feger; 5. Rich Bell;

Heat #2: 1. Bobby Pierce; 2. Jonathan Brauns; 3. Daryn Klein; 4. Brian Shirley; 5. Ryan Unzicker;

Heat #3: 1. Spencer Diercks; 2. Chris Simpson; 3. Frank Heckenast Jr.; 4. Bob Gardner; 5. Jason Wagner;

Feature: 1. Frank Heckenast Jr.; 2. Allen Weisser; 3. Brian Shirley; 4. Chris Simpson; 5. Brian Birkhofer; 6. Bobby Pierce; 7. Chad Holladay; 8. Daryn Klein; 9. Rich Bell; 10. Justin Kay; 11. Jason Feger; 12. Spencer Diercks; 13. Ryan Unzicker; 14. Jonathon Brauns; 15. Bob Gardner; 16. Matt Furman; 17. Jason Wagner; 18. Jake Miller; 19. Myles Moos; 20. Tegan Evans; 21. Joel Callahan;

IMCA Late Models

Make-up Feature: 1. Justin Kay; 2. Matt Ryan; 3. Andy Nezworski; 4. Chuck Hanna; 5. Gary Webb; 6. Mitch Manterach; 7. Joe Zrostlik; 8. Brian Harris; 9. Logan Duffy; 10. Brian Webb; 11. Sam Halstead; 12. Don Pastaska; 13. Nick Marolf 14. Joe Ross; 15. Stacy Griffis; 16. Jacob Waterman; 17. Shaune Lewis; 18. Joel Callahan; 19. Dave Stichter; 20. Dave Wada; 21. LeRoy Brenner; (2-DNS)

Heat #1: 1. Matt Ryan; 2. Nick Marolf; 3. Andy Nezworski; 4. Joe Ross; 5. Sam Halstead;

Heat #2: 1. Justin Kay; 2. Mitch Manterach; 3. Don Pataska; 4. Brian Harris; 5. LeRoy Brenner;

Heat #3: 1. Joe Zrostlik; 2. Chuck Hanna; 3. Gary Webb; 4. Logan Duffy; 5. Dave Stichter;

Feature: 1. Justin Kay; 2. Matt Ryan; 3. Nick Marolf; 4. Brian Harris; 5. Logan Duffy; 6. Andy Nezworski; 7. Mitch Manterach; 8. Don Pastaska; 9. Joe Zrostlik; 10. Gary Webb; 11. Joel Callahan; 12. Jacob Waterman; 13. Shaune Lewis; 14. Joe Ross; 15. Dave Stichter; 16. Sam Halstead; 17. Stacy Griffis; 18. LeRoy Brenner; 19. Chuck Hanna; 20. Dave Wada; 21. Brian Webb;

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