HECKENAST, JR. FINISHES TWELFTH IN KNOXVILLE NATIONALS
(September 21, 2025) The 21st edition of the 'Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals' was on tap from September 18-20 at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. The three-day Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series weekend kicked off with a pair of $10,000 to win preliminary programs. On Thursday night in the opener, Frank Heckenast, Jr. scratched after qualifying due to terminal mechanical problems and did not compete in the rain-shortened feature event. In a similar show on Friday evening, Frankie placed ninth in his heat race and eighth in his B-Main, but was unable to make the start in the 25-lapper.

When Saturday rolled around at the Marion County Fairgrounds complex, a whopping $75,000 paycheck was up for grabs in the finale of the 'Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals.' Frankie advanced past six competitors during his B-Main to earn the second transfer spot into the 75-lap crown jewel headliner. The Frankfort, Illinois standout then improved fifteen spots during the course of the A-Main to leave Knoxville with a solid twelfth place effort. Full results from the last three days can be located online by clicking on www.lucasdirt.com. (Heath Lawson Photo)

FRANK HECKENAST, JR. KICKS OFF SUMMER NATIONALS
(June 16, 2025) The first grueling week of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour took place from June 10-15 and Frank Heckenast, Jr. entered in all five events that were completed in the Land of Lincoln. Frankie's best efforts of the week were a pair of fifth place performances at Kankakee County Speedway and Fairbury Speedway. On Wednesday at Kankakee, Frankie ran second in his heat race and later trailed only $5,000 feature winner Jason Feger, Dillon McCowan, Brian Shirley, and Mark Whitener. At FALS on Saturday, Frankie advanced to third in his heat race prior to blitzing past ten competitors during the 50-lapper to trail only $10,000 victor Brian Shirley, Jason Feger, Dennis Erb, Jr., and Joseph Joiner.

Other finishes for the week included a fourteenth in the opener on Tuesday at the Brownstown Bullring, a nineteenth on Thursday at Peoria Speedway, and a sixteenth on Sunday at Sycamore Speedway. Friday's $10,000 to win contest at Tri-City Speedway was won by Mother Nature. Full results from the entire week on the "Hell Tour" can be found online by visiting www.dirtcarsummernationals.com. (Todd Healy Photo)

HECKENAST RACING INVADES ELDORA SPEEDWAY
(June 8, 2025) The #99JR team invaded the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio from June 4-7 for the 31st edition of the 'Dirt Late Model Dream.' The long week at the 1/2-mile, high-banked venue started on Wednesday night with a $20,000 to win FloRacing Night in America Series contest. Unfortunately, Frank Heckenast, Jr. failed to transfer into the 50-lap opener after placing tenth in his heat race and fourteenth in his B-Main.

In his 'Dirt Late Model Dream' prelim night on Thursday, Frankie ran sixth in his heat race, third in his B-Main, and twenty-second in the $30,000 to win headliner. With a whopping $100,000 payday up for grabs in Saturday's grand finale, Frankie was not able to crack the starting grid for the 100-lap crown jewel feature after finishing sixth in his heat race and tenth in his B-Main. Complete results from the "Big E" can be found online at www.eldoraspeedway.com. (Ryan Roberts Photography)

TOP TEN FOR HECKENAST, JR. IN LASALLE'S TWIN 25
(June 1, 2025) The Heckenast Racing team was in the pit area at LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois on May 30-31 for the 'Illinois Valley Showdown,' which was sanctioned by the MARS Racing Series. On Friday night in the $5,000 to win Twisted Twin 25s, Frank Heckenast, Jr. finished sixth in his heat race, won his B-Main, and later climbed four spots in the first 25-lap feature to place twelfth at the checkers. After a ten-car invert for the second 25-lapper, Frankie advanced past four more competitors to land in the eighth finishing position.

On Saturday evening with a $25,000 paycheck up for grabs in the weekend finale, Frankie timed in fifth fastest in Group A during the qualifying session prior to grabbing the fourth and final transfer spot through his heat race. After rolling off from the inside of the seventh row in the 75-lap grand finale, the Frankfort, Illinois ace was unfortunately an early retiree and was ultimately paid for a nineteenth place showing. Complete results from both nights at LaSalle Speedway can be found online by visiting www.marsracingseries.com. (Josh James Artwork)

FRANK HECKENAST, JR. VISITS FARMER CITY VICTORY LANE!
(May 25, 2025) Frankfort, Illinois ace Frank Heckenast, Jr. reached victory lane for the first time in 2025 on Friday night, May 23 at Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois! In a weekly Super Late Model program, Frankie knocked down the sixth quickest lap overall during the qualifying session prior to placing second in his heat race. After starting the 25-lap headliner from the outside of the second row, Frankie drove to the front to pocket the $1,500 first place prize money ahead of runner-up Michael Leach, Caden McWhorter, Mike Spatola, and Braiden Keller!

The dirt-slinging action quickly shifted to Fairbury Speedway in downtown Fairbury, Illinois on Saturday, May 24 for a $5,000 to win MARS Racing Series showdown. Unfortunately, motor woes during preliminary action at FALS cost Frankie a shot of transferring into the 40-lap feature that was won by Jason Feger. Full results from both Memorial Day weekend races can be found online at www.farmercityracing.com and www.fairburyspeedway.com.

HECKENAST RACING BUSY DURING ILLINOIS SPEEDWEEK
(May 11, 2025) Frank Heckenast, Jr. and his #99JR team were busy from May 6-10, as they entered all five Illinois Speedweek races across the Land of Lincoln. Unfortunately, Frankie missed out on transferring into the feature at Spoon River (IL) Speedway on Wednesday, Lincoln (IL) Speedway on Thursday, and Farmer City Raceway on Friday. With a nearly 50 car field on hand each night, it was quite the chore just to advance into the A-Main.

Frankie fared much better in the opener on Tuesday at LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois and in the finale on Saturday at Fairbury Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois. At LaSalle, Frankie finished fourth in the heat race, won his B-Main, and later wound up twenty-second in the final finishing order of the $20,000 to win FloRacing Night in America Series headliner. In Saturday's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series battle at FALS, which boasted a $30,000 top prize, Frankie grabbed the third transfer spot through his loaded heat race before slipping to a twenty-fifth place effort in the 60-lapper. Full results from all five races can be found online at www.floseries.com and www.lucasdirt.com. (Josh James Artwork)

FRANK HECKENAST, JR. ADVANCES INTO SLOCUM 50
(April 20, 2025) The Heckenast Racing team competed in a MARS Late Model Championship Series tripleheader in the Hawkeye State from April 17-19. Up first was a $5,000 to win program on Thursday at Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa. Frank Heckenast, Jr. unfortunately missed out on the 40-lap feature after placing eighth in his heat race and seventh in his B-Main.

The MARS triple shot then concluded over the weekend in the annual 'Slocum 50' at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. In Friday's contest, which boasted a $5,000 payday, Frankie ran sixth in his heat race, second in his B-Main, and twenty-second in the 40-lapper. With a $10,555 top prize up for grabs in Saturday's grand finale, Frankie finished fifth in his heat race, won his B-Main, and later wound up twenty-third in the final finishing order of the 50-lap headliner. Complete results from all three shows can be found online by visiting www.marsracingseries.com. (Todd Healy Photo)

MOTOR ISSUES DERAIL ILLINI 100 WEEKEND...
(April 13, 2025) The #99JR team invaded Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois on April 11-12 for the annual running of the 'Illini 100,' which was once again sanctioned by the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. On Friday night in the $12,000 to win weekend lid lifter, Frank Heckenast, Jr. experienced terminal engine woes early in the evening and was forced to scratch from the program. Due to the mechanical trouble, Frankie did not enter Saturday's grand finale at Farmer City, which shelled out a $20,000 first place prize. Complete results from the disappointing 'Illini 100' can be found online at www.woolms.com.

HECKENAST RACING COMPETES IN NIPPY 50
(March 30, 2025) On March 28-29, the annual 'Nippy 50' took place at Maquoketa Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa and 44 MARS Late Model Championship Series competitors piled into the pit area for the doubleheader weekend. With a $10,000 paycheck up for grabs in Friday's opener, Frank Heckenast, Jr. did not start his heat race due to mechanical trouble and later placed sixth in his B-Main. In Saturday's $15,000 to win weekend finale, Frankie wound up eleventh in his heat race and chose not to start his B-Main. Unfortunately, he was unable to make the start in the pair of features over the weekend in the Hawkeye State. Full results from the 'Nippy 50' can be viewed online at www.marsracingseries.com. (Josh James Artwork)

DIRTCAR NATIONALS WRAPS UP SPEEDWEEKS
(February 15, 2025) The 54th edition of the 'DIRTcar Nationals' and Speedweeks - as a whole - wrapped up tonight at Volusia Speedway Park with a $20,000 to win World of Outlaws Late Model Series extravaganza. Frank Heckenast, Jr. ran eighth in his heat race and tenth in his B-Main, which unfortunately kept him out of the 50-lap grand finale that was won by Jonathan Davenport. (Chris Anderson Photo)

(February 14, 2025) The penultimate event of the 'DIRTcar Nationals' took place tonight at Volusia Speedway Park and another $12,000 winner's check was on the line for the cars and stars racing with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. After finishing sixth in his heat race and fifth in his consolation event, Frank Heckenast, Jr. was forced to watch the 35-lap main event that was ultimately won by Devin Moran.

(February 13, 2025) The World of Outlaws Late Model Series season heated back up tonight during the 'DIRTcar Nationals' at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida, as a $12,000 payday was up for grabs. Frank Heckenast, Jr. narrowly missed out on the 35-lap feature after placing fourth in his heat race and sixth in his B-Main.

(February 12, 2025) Tonight's program at Volusia Speedway Park featured a trio of 20-lap main events, as the 61-car Super Late Model field was split into thirds. Frank Heckenast, Jr. knocked down the eleventh fastest lap in his group during DIRTcar Racing qualifying prior to passing a trio of competitors in the A-Main en route to a steady eighth place effort.

(February 11, 2025) Round two of the 'DIRTcar Nationals' took center stage tonight at Volusia Speedway Park and the DIRTcar Racing showdown once again paid $7,000 to the winner. Frank Heckenast, Jr. stopped the clock sixth fastest in his group during time trials prior to running seventh in his heat race and fifth in his B-Main. Unfortunately, Frankie was unable to make the start in the 25-lapper that was won by Ricky Thornton, Jr.

(February 10, 2025) The 2025 edition of Speedweeks will conclude this week at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida and night one of the 'DIRTcar Nationals' took place earlier this evening. A total of 51 competitors entered the DIRTcar Racing event to vie for the $7,000 winner's check. Frank Heckenast, Jr. laid down the seventh fastest time in his group during qualifying before advancing to finish fourth in his heat race. After grabbing the second transfer spot through his B-Main, Frankie ultimately wound up twenty-second in the final finishing order of the 25-lap feature, which ran caution-free.

FRANK HECKENAST, JR. STARTS SEASON AT VOLUSIA
(January 25, 2025) The three-day 'Sunshine Nationals' wrapped up tonight at Volusia Speedway Park and a $20,000 winner's check was on the line. With 57 Super Late Model entrants once again in the pit area, Frank Heckenast, Jr. started off his evening by posting the twenty-eighth quickest time in Group B during World of Outlaws qualifying. Frankie then ran eighth in his heat race and seventh in his B-Main, which unfortunately kept him out of the 50-lapper that was ultimately won by Garrett Alberson. (Chris Anderson Photo)

(January 24, 2025) After yesterday's rain-out, the annual running of the 'Sunshine Nationals' officially got underway tonight at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida. A total of 57 World of Outlaws Late Model Series competitors converged on the Daytona Beach-area speedplant to do battle for the $12,000 first place prize. Frank Heckenast, Jr. laid down the ninth fastest lap in Group B during the qualifying session before placing seventh in his loaded heat race. Frankie was then involved in a grinding wreck during his B-Main that unfortunately ended his night prematurely.

(January 23, 2025) With Winter Storm Enzo producing hazardous driving conditions and road closures, along with heavy rain and cold temperatures impacting the Barberville, Florida-area, World of Outlaws Late Model Series and Volusia Speedway Park officials have canceled tonight's $12,000 to win 'Sunshine Nationals' opener.