Jeff Heotzler Goin’ Short Track Super Series Cajun Racin’ With Assistance From Texas Racer

Story By: BRETT DEYO / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – VIVIAN, LA – New York-based Modified legend Jeff Heotzler will race in Louisiana next week – by way of Texas.

The Dirt Modified Hall of Fame inductee known as ‘the Jeffer’ has set plans to take part in the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco-Southern Super Modified Series ‘Cajun Swing’ Nov. 11-14 on Louisiana soil at Ark-La-Tex and Chatham speedways.

The opportunity for Heotzler, who raced for the first time in his career weekly at Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway in 2020 and picked up a feature win, came together through Texas-based racer Jimmy McCommas, who competes with the Southern Super Modified Series and Ark-La-Tex winged Modifieds during the regular season.

McCommas, of Mesquite, Texas, brokered a deal to purchase a No. J17 Teo-Pro Car Heotzler owned and had driven in the Northeast during recent seasons.

McCommas also bought a potent Clements-built small-block engine from the Behrent’s Performance Warehouse team. Heotzler is a longtime Behrent’s employee in the sales department.

Heotzler put the two pieces together: the former Behrent engine is in his car and he will make the tow from Wallkill, N.Y., to deliver it.

He gets to have some fun first. McCommas has agreed to put Heotzler behind the wheel of the No. J17 for the ‘Cajun Swing’ events chasing the big money. McCommas will be in the field as well, driving his No. 21.

Wednesday night (Nov. 11) gets it all started at Gene Boyter’s Ark-La-Tex Speedway with a 40-lap, $4,000-to-win STSS Modified feature paying $400 to take the green flag. Factory Stocks (25 laps, $1,000 to win with 24 cars) and Limited Mods (20 laps) complete the Wednesday show.

On Thursday (Nov. 12), 50 laps of racing will result in a $5,000 STSS Modified winner at Ark-La-Tex! Also on the card: Crate Late Models ($800 to win with 14-car minimum), Pro Modifieds (20 laps) and Four Cylinders (15 laps).

The action shifts approximately 120 miles to the east on Friday to Jerry Hobson’s Chatham Speedway for the ‘Mods in the Marsh 75’ weekend.

Friday night (Nov. 13) brings Qualifying Races for the ‘Mods in the Marsh’ 75-lap, $20,000-to-win event plus a full program of Crate Late Models, Limiteds, Street Stocks, B-Mods, Factory Stocks, Compacts and Beginners.

On Saturday (Nov. 14), the 75-lap ‘Mods in the Marsh’ takes center stage with STSS Modifieds racing for $20,000 to win plus full events for Crate Late Models, Limiteds, Street Stocks, B-Mods, Factory Stocks, Compacts and Beginners.