PLYMOUTH, Ind. — Rick Eckert enjoyed his first World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series victory in four seasons in victory lane. But he didn't get much time to savor it during the 40-lapper at Plymouth Speedway despite leading flag-to-flag.
The 55-year-old York, Pa., driver, a former WoO regular and the 2011 series champion, made all the right moves Saturday in fighting off runner-up Frank Heckenast Jr. and a flurry of pursuers for a $10,000 victory, his first-ever in the Murray Motorsports ride. While Eckert's No. 0 officially led every lap, the outcome was in doubt all the way.
"It wasn't until we come past the start-finish line where I knew I was going to win," Eckert said in victory lane after his celebratory donuts in turn three.
Heckenast, coming off a $5,000 non-touring victory Thursday at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway, was hot on Eckert's heels most of the way but the Frankfort, Ill., driver ended up 1.524 seconds behind at the finish while tour rookie Tyler Bruening of Decorah, Iowa, was third. Series points leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., and Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn. — who was running third early but slipped back to seventh on a botched restart — rounded out the top five.
Eckert, who notched his 38th career series victory and splits his time between his own car and an Allen Murray-owned ride he piloted at Plymouth, was glad for his return to victory lane on the national circuit.
"I was just wondering if it was every going to happen again. We've been so close here lately in my car and in Allen's car. We've had 'em both going really good here lately," Eckert said. "This is a cool racetrack. Traffic was difficult, but there was just enough (traction) out there that you could man up and push and wheelie and try to get around 'em. Hat's off to the racetrack, they worked on the (surface) before the feature and it helped a lot."
Eckert's high line gave him a comfortable lead in the first half of the race, but Heckenast cut the lead to just two-tenths of a second at halfway as lapped traffic forced Eckert to move around the track to find a way past the slower cars.
"There for a little bit, I was just no good in that bottom," Eckert said. "And then I finally cleared a lapped car there and (the bottom groove) got clean, then I was better in the bottom. I could leave the corner a little bit."
Eckert had one last scare on the 35th lap when he might slight contact with the slower car of Boom Briggs just past the flagstand, but he recovered to keep Heckenast in check.
"Rick did a perfect job driving there," Heckenast said. "He had his hands full with those lapped cars. We had three or four shots at him. Two times down there he turned left coming down because of lapped traffic and it was wreck us both or lift, so obviously we lifted."
Heckenast felt like he missed an opportunity with five laps remaining in the Eckert-Briggs mini-tangle.
"I just hate to let 'em get away like that. I don't know if I would've won, but there with (five laps) to go when he really held up — almost got wrecked actually on the front straightaway from the lapped car — I turned right to go to the top to try and blast (the cushion) and I hit the front straightaway wall," Heckenast said. "But it was a good run."
Bruening, who notched his third top-five finish of the season and remained third in series points, credited his Capital Race Car supporters and crew for his solid run in the Skyline Motorsports entry.
"We were sporty. I'll tell you what, when we were in lapped traffic there, I got under Frankie a couple of times and Rick got held up a little bit here and there," said Bruening, looking for his first series victory. "I don't know how it was in the stands, but I felt like we were putting on a helluva show. It was a lot of fun. I'm happy to be up here on the podium. We're right there. I'll tell you what, we're ready to win one."
The 40-lapper was slowed by a single caution on the third lap for a tangle that left the nose of Logan Nickerson's car atop the right-side hood of Tristan Chamberlain's car. Troy Worrick was also involved in the incident and was the only driver of the three to continue.
Notes: Eckert's previous series victory came Aug. 2, 2017, at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway. ... Fourteen driver completed 40 laps. ... The race ended before 9 p.m. at dusk. ... Three-time series champion Billy Moyer was scheduled to start seventh but lost fire during pace laps and was pushed to the pits. ... Series regular Brent Larson of Lake Elmo, Minn., missed the event because of the high school graduation of his daughter, Maddie.
