HEAVNER SIXTEENTH IN USAR PRO CUP SEASON OPENER
Written By: DLP Marketing Inc.
NEW SMYRNA, FL (March 22nd, 2011) Ryan Heavner entered the season-opening USAR Pro Cup Series race at the New Smyrna Speedway with high hopes. And, with good reason. The 15-year old Lincolnton, North Carolina driver was debuting with a new and very competitive team.
Heavner, beginning his second season in the USAR Pro Cup Series, recently agreed to drive the #77 Chevrolet for Matt Lofton Motorsports. Plus, veteran driver and team owner Bob Schacht will serve as Crew Chief for Heavner during the 2011 season. That’s two great reasons to have high hopes.
With the deal to place Heavner in the #77 Chevrolet coming less than three weeks ago, the team had no opportunity to test prior to the season-opening trip to Florida. When the track opened for Pro Cup Series practice on Friday afternoon, it was the first time that Heavner and Schacht had worked together. In most cases, a new driver-Crew Chief pairing would take weeks, maybe months, to come together and establish a good line of communication. No so for Ryan and Bob Schacht. From the very first time Heavner rolled on the track for practice, the communication clicked and the entire crew felt as though this team had what it takes to be successful.
At each practice on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, Heavner and Schacht communicated well and the lap speeds continued to rise. In qualifying late Saturday afternoon, Heavner would post the 12th fastest speed and start the 250-lap event on the outside of the sixth row.
With a full moon shining above and a great crowd at New Smyrna Speedway on a perfect night for racing, one had the feeling that the New Smyrna 250 would be an action-packed event. Little did anyone know just how true that statement might be. On lap five, the first caution of the race waved. Heavner would restart on lap ten in the ninth position.
On lap 18 as Heavner entered turn one, a slower car running in the bottom groove forced the #18 driven by Caleb Holman up the track and made slight contact with the #77 Chevrolet. Heavner spun, but only made slight contact with the outside wall. However, before Heavner could rejoin the field, he would lose a lap and restart 17th.
During the next 25 laps, Heavner began his march through the field, often turning lap speeds as fast as the leaders. When caution waved on lap 49, Heavner was awarded the “Lucky Dog” and was back on the lead lap in 15th position.
Twelve laps after the restart, Heavner radioed to the crew that he had smoke in the cockpit under his feet. By lap 69, Heavner had moved up to the 8th position, but the smoking problem had increased. Finally, on lap 71, Heavner brought his Chevrolet to the pits so that the Bob Schacht-led crew could examine the problem. After a thorough inspection by the team, it was determined that a blown engine would end the night for Heavner. Completing 71 laps, Heavner was credited with a 16th-place finish in the USAR Pro up Series season-opener.
“I appreciate the crew and all their hard work and effort,” Heavner said. “And, I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with Mr. Lofton and Bob Schacht. We worked hard and made improvements each time we went out on the track. They (team) gave me a top-five car all weekend long!”
“It’s unfortunate that we had a motor issue,” Heavner added. “I really wanted to finish my first race with this team strong and show Mr. Lofton and the Bob Schacht team just how good a car that they gave me. You just have to say ’that’s racing’ and move on to the next one.”
The next stop on the 2011 USAR Pro Cup Series schedule is Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina on Friday night, April 1st. And, if the New Smyrna 250 was any indication, the Ace Speedway race will be a very competitive one.
“I’m really looking forward to continuing the relationship with Bob Schacht and his crew,” Heavner concluded. “Hopefully, I can secure some sponsorship to take me through the entire season so that I can achieve my goals.”
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities with Ryan Heavner and Matt Lofton Motorsports, please visit the teams contact page. They would be happy to go in to detail with you about how motorsports marketing can help to grow your business.
Ryan Heavner would like to thank all of the team partners for the 2010 racing season. These include; Strutmasters.com, Lawing Marble, DLP Marketing, LJ DeZigns, W.D. Enterprises and WaltersWebDesign.com.
For more information on Walters Web Design please visit our website at www.WaltersWebDesign.com. Also, please follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/WaltersWeb and on facebook at www.facebook.com/WaltersWebDesign to receive the latest race team news, photos, videos, results, and website releases.
For information about Ryan Heavner, visit www.RyanHeavner.com