PETERSEN MEDIA
After a very disappointing start to the 2013 season, Lance Dewease and his Heffner Racing team have seem to have found something as of late, as they took on the All Star Circuit of Champions over the weekend and scored three top-five finishes, as they competed with heavy hearts.
With his car owner, Mike Heffner, promoting an open competition show at the Bridgeport Speedway on Wednesday night, Dewease and his team were looking to start their week off on a good note for their car owner, but unfortunately, tragedy struck, with the passing of Jason Leffler.
“It is tough to lose a fellow competitor, but it really hits close to home when it happens during competitions,” Dewease said. “My entire team, and family would like to send our thoughts toward Jason Leffler’s friends and family during this trying time.”
Regrouping, the team returned to action on Friday night, which was an emotional night for all in attendance.
Dewease opened the night up by timing his Lelands.com/Conduit Connections/Pasquirellos Auto Shop No. 27 in with the third fastest lap of the night, with 34 cars on hand.
In heat race action, Dewease grabbed the fifth and final transfer spot, after starting sixth, and earned a spot in the feature event, as well as the night’s dash.
Starting last, in the dash, Dewease found the top of the speedway to his liking, as he charged to a third place finish, putting his Penske Shocks/Wings Unlimited/Brown and Miller Racing Solutions backed entry in the second row of the feature event.
When the green dropped on the 30-lap feature, Dewease followed pole sitter, Danny Dietrich, as he jumped into the second spot.
Hanging right with Dietrich during the early stages of the race, Dewease pounded the top, as the leader stayed low.
Around the halfway point, Dewease looked to make a bid for the lead, but as he continued to run the high-side, Dietrich, got off the bottom, and slammed the door on Dewease, keeping him at bay in the second spot.
“I wanted to win at Williams Grove in the worst way,” Dewease said. “I wanted to do it for Leffler, and I wanted to do it for Mike Heffner, who really had a tough week.”
Taking his confidence to Lincoln on Saturday night, Dewease again timed in well as he was second fastest, behind Tim Shaffer.
Starting sixth in his heat again, Dewease was able to drive to a fourth place finish, putting him in both the heat, and the dash, where he would finish fourth.
Going green in the feature event, Dewease worked his way up to third, initially where he ran for the first 18-laps, until him and Dietrich began battling again, and he then slipped back to the fourth spot, where he would ultimately finish.
“We had a very fast car at Lincoln, we just got too free towards the end of the night, and Danny Dietrich snuck past us, and we just hung on for fourth.”
Sunday night at the Susquehanna Speedway Park, Dewease charged from his 11th starting spot, to finish in the fifth spot, capping off a very nice weekend for the Heffner Racing team.
“Overall it was a trying week, and I’m happy we were able to be competitive all three nights,” he said. “We are starting to figure out the new tires, and we really seem to be on to something, which is exciting.”
Dewease and his Heffner Racing team would like to thank Lelands.com, Conduit Connections, Pasquirellos Auto Shop, Penske Racing Shocks, Wings Unlimited, Brown and Miller Racings Solutions, Keizer Wheels, DMI Racing Components, Schoenfeld Headers, Hanks Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Viper Venom fuels, ATL Fuel Cells, Schaeffer Racing Oils, Astro Titanium, Tom Shockey Collision, Kirkey Racing Seats, Michael Graphics, Valley Forge Inc., Bell Helmets, WRT Web Designs, and WRT SpeedWerx for their support.
2013 BY THE NUMBERS: Starts-36, Wins-1, Top 5’s-13, Top 10’s-27.
ON TAP: This weekend, the Heffner Racing team will be in action at the Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night, and the Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay up to speed with Lance by visiting his website, www.lancedewease.com, or liking his Facebook Page, Lance Dewease Motorsports.