"Dyno" Dave wins second straight in Earlville
EARLVILLE, Ia. - NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster rookie "Dyno" Dave Heitzman won his second straight race on the divisional level during this past weekend's Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Ia. The race, which was postponed from it's original date three weeks ago, featured a bizarre series of events which lead to Heitzman soloing to the win in the Evan Knoll owned Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels backed entry.
Heitzman, of Decatur, Mich., qualified the Tom Conway tuned injected-nitro dragster sixth in the field on it's original weekend with a 5.597 second pass at 244.87 mph. In much cooler conditions, eliminations resumed this past weekend. Heitzman opened up against defending Division 5 Champion Randy Meyer in round one. Heitzman used a .036 to .119 starting line advantage to take a holeshot win with his 5.337 at 259.91 mph to Meyer's quicker-but-later 5.319 at 264.03 mph.
Things got bizarre after that round win. With only four of the eight original qualifiers showing up, the win gave Heitzman a free pass into the finals. Ed Schmeekle, the other first round winner, had a bye to the final on the other side of the ladder. NHRA rules required both competitors to at least stage their cars to 'complete' the semifinal round. Heitzman did just that, with no problems. However, Schmeekle wounded an engine during his burnout, and was unable to stage his car under it's own power, resulting in a disqualification. The turn of events gave Heitzman a bye in the final.
Already assured of victory if the car just staged, Heitzman wanted to give the crowd their money's worth with a full run. Heitzman carded a 5.513 at 252.14 mph to score his second win in as many weeks.
"It wasn't the prettiest win in the world," said Heitzman. "But it's still a win, and we'll certainly take it. Sometimes it's like the saying, you would rather be lucky than good. We were good when we had to be against Meyer. Tom and the crew gave me a fast hot rod to put me in position to beat Randy on the starting line. I'm just thrilled to put this Skull Shine - Torco Race Fuels hot rod in another winner's circle."
"Dyno Dave" and the Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels backed team will be looking to carry the momentum of their divisional success into their sponsor's event, this weekend's Torco Race Fuels Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park just outside of Richmond.
"We're pretty pumped after winning these two divisionals," stated Heitzman. "We have two of the 'little' Wally's [NHRA Winner's Trophies], hopefully we can get a big one in Virginia, which is a Torco race. Latrell Preston, the Torco Motorsports Director told us we need to get a 'daddy' for the two baby Wally's."
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