Source: Kyle Heckman Media Relations
Date: 11/10/2007

Seventeen year-old high school senior Kyle Heckman capped of his 2007 maiden voyage on dirt with a championship in the ultra-competitive Super Street division as well as capturing Rookie of the Year honors.

Heading into the evening, nerves were in high gear for those entering “The West Best Short Track” Saturday to compete for the track championship on Coors Light Championship Night. A packed house came to see California’s best Super Street racers in the East vs. West Shootout Series tackle the 1/3 mile clay oval one last time to conclude the regular season.

Unusual track conditions, which were dry and dusty by qualifying guaranteed an evening where car setup was destined to be important. The night began with Heckman securing a second place starting position in qualifying. He followed up with a conservative third place finish in his heat race.

When the main event rolled around, Heckman was positioned outside the fourth row, where as his championship competitor was slated to start outside front row. During the main, Heckman maintained a solid top ten pace throughout the thirty-lap feature. At one point Heckman worked his way up to sixth on the relatively one-lined track. Unfortunately, on lap twenty-nine, Kyle got pinned on the bottom behind lap traffic, causing him to yield two positions. With his championship competitor finishing fifth, and Heckman ending up eighth, it proved enough to bring home the championship by a slim margin of three points.

Heckman remarked after the race. “Overall, it was a good night and we accomplished what we set out to do. We definitely lacked forward bite all night and it was a little discouraging that we didn’t get a handle on it and move forward, but regardless the crown is ours.”

Heckman’s plans for the remainder of the season are to race the Bud Nationals in Bakersfield and the Western Dirt Nationals at Hanford.

Heckman’s plan for 2008 are to move back to asphalt where he has seven years experience, winning multiple major championships behind the wheel of a go kart. Kyle plans on racing in the Late Model division at the new Kern County Speedway and is currently looking for sponsors to join his winning ways to make his 2008 goal a reality. To reach Kyle, you can contact him via e-mail at kheckman22@hotmail.com .

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