|
FAVORITES
COOPER TIRE
GEORGIA STOCK CAR RACING
GOODYEAR
NEWS
LATE MODEL NOTEBOOK
NASCAR
OFF
THE WAHL
RPM
SPONSORSHIP
WEEKLY
THE
INFIELD
TV
TIMES
VIDEO
VP
RACING
WELD
WESMAR
WHAT'S
NEW
| |
Turning heads on and off track nothing new to
Sherri Heckenast…
By Darin Stewart
| As a
parent, when your daughter starts asking to drive your car, you worry
about her safety, and her abilities behind the wheel. Now imagine the
feelings of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Heckenast when their young daughter wanted
to drive. Instead of the old family car, Miss Heckenast had her eyes on a
racecar, and has been driving one ever since. Sherri Heckenast, an Orland
Park Illinois resident, has been drawing attention in the past couple of
years, as she has shown both her racing talent, and her good looks. |
|
|
As a second-generation driver, Sherri began her racing career by driving
in the 4-cylinder division at the Santa Fe Speedway, and has since
progressed through three years of limited late models at LaSalle Speedway,
before making the jump to Late Models for 2000. Sherri also managed to
participate in a few late model shows in 1999, including a Florida
Speedweeks visit, but is in essence a true rookie in the Late Model
division. “ I just felt it was time to get into the late-models, and
start my learning curve, because this is where I want to be for a long
time” said Sherri. Heckenast, who has been traveling to the Northern
All-Stars races if possible, enjoys the travel, and feels the learning is
better when racing against the competition level in the series. “ The
drivers in this series are excellent drivers, and I am learning a lot
every night, and I am just trying to learn as much as possible from them.
I know that we have the equipment we need, and the people to get the job
done. Right now, the area we are lacking is in the driver area, just due
to lack of experience, and I am working on that. I just want to be the
best racer I can be, and it’s just takes time to gather the experience
and knowledge necessary” said the 25-year old Heckenast. “ Dad is able
to help me on a lot, but I still have to learn something myself as
well.” Frank Heckenast, Sherri’s dad, is himself a late-model driver
and has been able to help his daughter along with knowledge, and is able
to occasionally hop into her car, to give her feedback on set-up’s. “
She is really learning quickly, and hopefully I can speed that up even
more. She also really has taking a liking to these hard tire
deals(Northern All-Stars feature a Hoosier D-55 tire rule on both rear
tires of the cars) and that really takes finesse to do those deals, but
she is picking things up. I am having as much fun going and helping her,
as I have driving, and it makes me proud that she is doing as well as she
is” said her proud father. |
|
|
One of the major struggles
that she has struggled with is finding a “mentor” in which to really
learn from that is outside the family. “ Steve Barnett helped me a bunch
in Florida and that meant a lot, but I really haven’t found someone who
can teach me some of the tricks to this deal. I think that is one area I
need to concentrate on is finding that driver who can be part of the
program in assisting me. When I race around home, Tom Pauley is a big
help, along with Garrett Slager, but out here on the Northern All-Stars, I
need to get aligned with someone who can translate what I am feeling in
the car to the crew, and to me” explained Heckenast. |
|
She has the support of her fellow racer, if not the relationships. “She
has really learned well, and she is definitely improving as she goes
along. As long as she just stays patient, and keeps it up, there will be a
future for her in this sport. I also think that it’s good for the sport
for her to be involved.” said Doug McCammon, the Northern All-Star Point
Leader. That sentiment was echoed by Steve Hillard, “As a female in the
sport she is not intimated by the male dominance in the sport, and seems
to be running better every time I see her, and as with any driver seat
time will only help her, and it will only be a matter of time until she
gets to victory lane.” |
Sponsorship for Sherri comes from the family’s businesses; A-Reliable
Auto Parts, Speedway Auto Parts & Wreckers, and product sponsors such
as Carrera Shocks, Behling, Earl’s, K&N, and Hoosier Racing Tire,
along with a Special Thanks to Mom and Dad. The always sharp looking cars,
also feature a few things rarely seen on late models, such as flowers and
other little graphics. One unique item is the big U GO GIRL across the
rear spoiler, which is definitely a rare sight in dirt late-models. Also a
big BARBIE sticker on the hood of the racecar is a trademark as is a
tribute to a fallen friend; Kevin Roderick whose life was tragically cut
short in the spring of 1996. Barb Roderick, the wife of the late Kevin
Roderick, can still be found at the races quite frequently, and is
normally somewhere near the Heckenast family’s race-car hauler. The
close ties of that friendship are part of the reason that the Heckenast
family assists in the promoting of the annual Kevin Roderick Memorial Race
at LaSalle Speedway every year also. “ We just miss him so much, that
it’s our way of sharing some of our memories with the racing community.
We also take great pride in the fact that the memorial race is 200 laps,
just like the biggest race Kevin won” said Sherri.
Sherri, who is in the management of the
family’s A-Reliable Auto Parts has managed to become a fan favorite at
many places, and is obviously someone that most of the female segment is
cheering for, but also many of the men are watching both on and off the
track, either for the good looking car, or it’s good looking driver.
With no plans to make the transition to asphalt, Sherri has dug her heals
in to fight for her spot in the dirt late model spectrum, and intends on
winning the battle. Also Sherri has just launched her own internet site
for her fans at www.girlracer99.com. Sherri who is currently 2nd in the
Northern All-Stars points standings, and in the top 35 overall is
definitely on the right pace to accomplish the goals set out. |
Back to Driver Profiles
|
