Set to make his third NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) start of the season in Saturday afternoon’s Road America 180 fueled by Johnsonville, Scott Heckert looks to build on his outstanding performance at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International earlier this month.
Teamed up with B.J. McLeod Motorsports, Heckert showcased his road racing skills in the Zippo 200 at WGI, where he hustled the No. 15 B.J. McLeod Motorsports Ford Mustang to 17th in qualifying then utilized his ability to muscle inside the top-10. Finding himself a victim in an on-track incident, limited downforce stalled his momentum, yielding a 16th place finish.
While the finish was a career-best for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East veteran, Heckert returns to the final road course race of the season looking to finish what he started and seek his first top-10 finish in the penultimate standalone race of the season.
“I like Road America and feel confident going there,” said Heckert. “At Watkins I proved to myself I still have pace in a stock car and that was important, and I know that will transfer to Road America.”
While, the Ridgefield, Connecticut native has a vast array of road course experience at different tracks, he’s never been to Road America in a stock car. However, the four-time K&N Pro Series East winner does have experience there in another division and refuses to let his inexperience at Road America stop him from earning his first career XFINITY Series top-10.
In fact, Heckert embraces the challenge and is prepared to step up to the challenge.
“I went to Road America earlier in the SIN R1 GT4 with the Racers Edge Motorsports and had a really good weekend,” added Heckert. “I know just about every mark will be different but I now have a ton of laps there and have a good handle on the place. Even though it’s a different car, that experience can only be a positive.”
For Saturday’s Road America 180, Heckert plans to do what he does best, prove his ability and earn his team a satisfying performance.
Sounded Heckert, “I know a lot of people would say a top ten would be amazing for our team with the low budget we’re running on, but honestly I just want to go out there and lay it all on the line. I’m incredibly optimistic that if, as a team, we all do that, we will be close to the front all day.”
B.J. McLeod, whose team is working with Rick Ware Racing in a collaborative effort this weekend at Road America has prepared Heckert’s car for his third XFINITY Series start of the season.
“I was really proud of Scott at Watkins Glen,” said McLeod. “He did everything he needed to do and was able to put himself and the team in the spotlight throughout the weekend. He didn’t get the finish he was looking for in the end, but his finish was nothing to be disappointed about. It’s only motivation for him and us to go to Road America this weekend and see what we can maneuver.”
The Road America 180 fueled by Johnsonville (45 Laps / 182.16 Miles) is the 23rd of 33 NASCAR XFINITY Series on the 2016 schedule. Practice begins Friday, Aug. 26 from 9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m., with a second session etched in from 11:00 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. Qualifying is set for later in the day beginning at 6:35 p.m. The 40-car field will take the green flag the next day, Saturday, Aug. 27 at 2:00 p.m. with live coverage on NBC Sports Network, Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite Radio, Channel 90). All times are local (Central).
BJ McLeod Motorsports PR
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