Heckert Celebrates First NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Win at Watkins Glen International in New York

Heckert's victory in the Bully Hill Vinyards 125 at Watkins Glen was emotional as it was his first career win and at the upstate New York track where he grew up watching races

Andrew Ranger led a total of thirty laps in his Waste Management Bagster Ford during the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Bully Hill Vineyards 125 race at Watkins Glen International. Despite leading the majority of the race, Scott Heckert was able to come past Ranger on the inside during lap number fifty-one. Ranger and Cole Custer, in the 00 Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet, had been battling for the lead when a caution flag on lap forty-nine slowed down the race and forced a restart. With just two laps to go Ranger and Custer battled side by side with Custer trying to make a move on the outside. Unfortunately for both young men, this opened up a window of opportunity for Scott Heckert to sneak by on the inside just before the white flag.

Scott Heckert was able to gain the lead just before the white flag came out during the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Watkins Glen International in New York

“I was able to hold the lead for a long time, but unfortunately, with green-white-checkered attempts, things can get a little crazy,” remarked Andrew Ranger. He continued “The No. 00 car was really fast on the restarts and I was focused on him on the outside and never really worried about the inside and unfortunately I got passed.”

Andrew Ranger led a race high 30 laps in his Waste Management Bagster Ford but a mistake in the final moments of the Bully Hill Vineyards 125 at Watkins Glen International cost him the win

Ben Rhodes, who leads the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship points, had to work his way up to third place. At one point Rhodes was out of the top ten, but patiently made his way toward the front. “I got pushed back on one of the restarts but worked my way up, started passing people and watching what they were doing. I just went back out there and started to pick people off and save our stuff” said Rhodes.

Representatives from K&N and Bully Hill Vineyards were on site to congratulate Scott Heckert on his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victory at Watkins Glen International

For a number of reasons the win for Scott Heckert was an emotional victory. Not only was this his first career win after two years of driving in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East series, but as a Ridgefield, Connecticut resident Heckert grew up watching races at Watkins Glen International. “Watkins Glen means a lot to me and my family. My dad's been coming here for forty years and it means a lot to us” said Heckert.

Ben Rhodes continues to lead the championship points race, with Cameron Hayley trailing by 75 points and a mere seven points separating Hayley and Brandon Jones who sits in third.

The next NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race will be the Biscuitville 125 at Virginia International Raceway.