Heotzler Among 2016 Dirt Mod HoF Inductees
Story By:BUFFY SWANSON / DIRTcar HALL OF FAME Photos By:RACERSGUIDE.COM PHOTO STAFF
WEEDSPORT, N.Y. –June 17, 2016- Jeff Heotzler is among the 2016 inductees into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame.
Driver inductions and special award ceremonies are scheduled for Monday, August 8 at the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame and Museum, the night prior to Weedsport Speedway’s Super DIRTcar Series Hall of Fame 100.
In early April, Heotzler was sitting around his race shop when a member of the Hall of Fame committee called to inform him of his selection.
“I was shocked — and surprised,” Heotzler said. “It almost knocked me out of my chair. I wasn’t expecting it. But to make matters worse, they swore me to secrecy until it was officially announced. I wanted to tell the world, but could only tell my wife Petra and son Jeff Jr. It was the hardest secret I ever had to keep. I’m glad it’s over with now.”
Jeff got his first shot at driving a race car in 1978. His brother, Ralph, was an established Modified star at the Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., and Jeff watched and learned from him.
“One night, Ralph brought his own race car to the track, handed me a helmet and firesuit, and told me I was going out in hot laps and to follow him if I could,” Heotzler recalled. “What a thrill that was! I stayed glued to his rear bumper and when we pitted I knew what I wanted to do.”
“That was the start of my fairy tale ride. It’s a ride that has had many peaks and valleys, but one that I would do again. I was right out of high school, having a fun time, and making money at the race track on Saturday evenings.”
In 1979, the owner of the Slingerland small-block Modified No. 25 approached Heotzler and asked if he would be interested in driving for him.
“What a shocker for me — a mere rookie driving one of the elite rides in the area!. For two years, we toiled together and took down the SBM championship at OCFS. With that championship, the owner packed up shop and retired from racing, having captured a title he was looking for.”
But as one chapter was closing for Heotzler, another was about to open for the fan favorite at the Hard Clay oval.
Gary Hoit, owner of the potent Fast Company Modified No. 2, gave the talented youngster his first shot behind the wheel of a big-block. And neither the owner nor the driver would be disappointed with the final results.
Heotzler Among 2016 Dirt Mod HoF Inductees
As the years rolled by with successes in the Modified ranks driving for Hoit, the Higbie Brothers, the Smith Brothers No. 74 and others, he was also making an indelible mark at the nearby Accord Speedway bullring.
Wheeling his own SBM, Heotzler won a championship in 1983 and followed it by garnering crowns again in 1984, 1985 and 1986. He was unbeatable at the quarter-mile oval.
“It was like a roller coaster ride during those years. Working full-time to support my family, and spending nights at the shop working on and preparing the race cars for the next event. I guess I got the break I needed when Reclamation hired me as a full-time mechanic and driver for their big-block #33. From 1993 through 1997, we racked up win after win at Orange County and on the road, with the final result being the (OCFS) Modified championship in 1997.”
“We were on top of the world, and it was a long way to fall after the recession slowed business, and resulted in the closing of the race car garage doors.”
Seeking stability in his life, Heotzler took a job with Behrent’s Speed Center in Florida, N.Y., and 16 years later still works there.
Next entering the picture was the Ray and Debbie Tuit/Sparta Trucking No. 673 racing team, offering “The Jeffer” a seat in their car, and the magic returned in 2003 when that combination provided Heotzler with his second OCFS Modified championship.
Two years later in 2005, championship crown number three followed suit, but yet again tight money shuttered the garage doors and Heotzler was again looking for a ride.
In 2007, Mike Petruska and his Atlas Paving operation opened the doors of their No. 66 to Heotzler, resulting in his fourth Orange County Modified championship, as well as a long sought after victory in the OCFS Eastern States 200. But once again, the roller coaster would slow after the Atlas Paving team decided on a different venue, and Heotzler was left looking for any ride, anywhere.
In 2015, Heotzler teamed up with Mel Schrufer at the Accord Speedway, and it was like lightning in a bottle. After a 30-year gap, the veteran captured the track championship title for a fifth time.
“That was very satisfying for myself and Mel,” said Heotzler. And as expected, Mel Schrufer retired from racing and Jeff was back in his canoe, paddling again.
“I have many things to be grateful for after 38 years of racing,” Heotzler added, and it shows – as evidenced by his 50th career win at OCFS, piloting the Roberts Racing No. 14H to the checkered flag in mid-May of this year.
That number sits third all-time, topped only by Brett Hearn and Frankie Schneider in the all-time wins list.
Heotzler’s career notes include 150 wins at 13 different tracks, 11 track championships between Accord and OCFS, a DIRT SBM touring championship and the initial Syracuse small-block Modified victory, two Mr. Dirt Track USA big-block championships, two wins in the Race of Kings for SBMs at Lebanon Valley Speedway and two Chevy Underwriters SBM 150 lap wins at OCFS.
When asked about his most gratifying success, Heotzler skipped over his Mr. Dirt victories, the Eastern States 200 checkered flag, the championships, and even his Syracuse win.
“I remember one night at Orange County when the (No.) 673 broke down before the feature, and Ed Zachary handed me the keys to his (No.) 1156 that didn’t qualify. We started last in the 26-car field, and won the 30 lap feature,” Heotzler recollected. “That was something else!”
And Heotzler’s proudest racing moment?
“The most special was our TQ (Midget) victory in Atlantic City. We knew nothing about TQ racing or how to set up a dirt track car to run on concrete on a 1/12 mile indoor oval. We won the race!”
Longtime car chief Bob Vincent said, “It’s a pleasure to work for Jeff. He’s a great person, down to earth, and a great innovator. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.”
That same sentiment was echoed by Jeff Heotzler Jr., who waits for his father to slow down.
“But it looks like he has another three or four years left in him,” the younger Heotzler laughed. “Oh, well!”
“Hall of Fame — has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” his father smiled.
