RPW Column: JR Heffner Penalized After Eastern States 200 Heat Race, But It Could Have Been Worse
Column By: ANNMARIE VAN ALLEN / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – What started out as a promising Friday at the Orange County Fair Speedway for JR Heffner quickly went south.
However, the veteran still made the Eastern States 200.
After timing 22nd in time trials out of 56 cars, Heffner drive his way to second in his heat race, finishing just behind winner Tyler Dippel.
That was the highlight of Heffner’s run, as he was disqualified in tech after the heat.
“Our spoiler was too high,” Heffner said. “It started as a warning and moved to a penalty.”
That being said, instead of starting in 16th in the 200-lap event on Saturday night, Heffner will now have to roll from the 30th position. Officials did not make him run the last chance qualifier. All they did was put the #74 at the end of the qualified cars.
“It could have been worse,” he said. “We’ll take what we got. It may not be the hot setup for the feature, but if we have a fast car. We can make it work.”
The Eastern States 200 is scheduled to go off at 7:30 on Saturday evening.
