On the tire-killing track, “Miles the Monster” knocked several drivers out of the race.
Miles struck our team as well. Max Lange started from pole position, quickly pulling away from the field after a few laps and settling into a leading rhythm. Max Heilek, starting in the top 10 (his best qualifying result in this season’s series), steadily found his groove, consistently staying in the top 10. For Michael, after a less-than-stellar qualifying session and being involved in an accident as early as lap 18, the race turned out to be rather challenging. Max and Max diligently collected stage points throughout the race, and their strategy seemed to be paying off. Unfortunately, towards the end of the race, bad luck hit Max Lange and Michael Heilek. Due to a so-called netcode (ghost contact), both were sent to the back of the pack. Despite this, Max Heilek delivered a strong performance, securing an impressive 3rd place finish.
Results for the NASCAR-FAN Store Threewide Racing Team:
3st place: Max Heilek
14th place: Max Lange
16th place: Michael Heilek
Race Report Max Lange #66:
The second half of the regular season kicked off at the Monster Mile in Dover.
With a solid qualifying performance, I secured the pole position for the 200-lap race. A stage caution was scheduled for lap 60, offering bonus points for the overall standings.
The race saw its first yellow flag as early as lap 12, but no one opted to pit for fresh tires. The race resumed on lap 17, leading to a longer stint that lasted until lap 43. With tire wear becoming significant, most drivers headed to the pits, except for the third-place driver in the #20 and a few others from the midfield. I restarted in P8 on lap 48 but quickly reclaimed the lead thanks to fresh tires, ultimately winning the stage.
The strategy flipped at this point, as the #20 pitted during the stage caution and now had 13-lap fresher tires. The race was interrupted again by a crash on lap 70, but a longer stint followed until lap 107, when most drivers made their “money stops.” Shortly after the restart, the final caution of the race came out.
The last restart took place on lap 117, with me starting in P2. From here, the race ran uninterrupted for the final 84 laps, marking the longest green-flag run of the event. Unfortunately, during this long run, I couldn’t keep up with the leader in the #20, likely due to the dirty air putting extra strain on my tires. Although there were no more yellow flags, some drivers pitted for fresh tires, which allowed them to unlap themselves and add to the on-track traffic.
Around 10 laps before the finish, I had to defend my second position from the faster #23 in P3. This battle was further complicated by interference from the lapped #45 car. With five laps to go, the #23 overtook me, but I continued to fight for P2.
Tragically, on lap 196, exiting turn 4, the #23 lightly brushed the wall, causing a netcode (ghost contact), as shown in the image. This netcode incident destabilized my car, sending me into the inside wall and breaking my front suspension. With severe damage, I had no choice but to pit and retire the car. I finished the race in P14, three laps down.
Despite the disappointing ending, there was still good news for our team. My teammate, Max Heilek in the #12, delivered a strong performance and earned a well-deserved 3rd place finish.
Race Report Max Heilek #12:
My top priority was to avoid falling into the clutches of Miles, the monster of the track. A crash here can quickly involve many cars, so caution was key. My strategy was simple: drive smart and hope for long green-flag runs. I knew that many others would wear out their tires early, allowing the #12 NASCAR-Fan Store Threewide Racing Ford Mustang to shine after about 25 laps into a stint.
For the first time this season, that plan finally worked!
Although my qualifying felt subpar, I was pleasantly surprised to start from P5 on the grid. Contrary to my expectations, I managed to hold my track position well, even while saving tires, and scored some valuable stage points.
The race itself was remarkably uneventful, with only a few interruptions, which played right into my hands. I spent nearly the entire race in the top 10 and comfortably held P4 during the nearly 90-lap run to the finish.
However, things took a turn near the end when a netcode incident involving my teammate Max Lange occurred. With just three laps to go, the #66 had to make an unplanned pit stop. This unexpected twist allowed my #12 NASCAR-Fan Store Threewide Racing Team Ford Mustang to move up into P3.
In the fifth race of the season, I finally achieved a long-overdue and satisfying result, which vaulted us back into the playoff spots.
Looking Ahead: The Great Unknown
No one knows what’s next on the schedule. Personally, I hope for more 1.5-mile ovals. Road courses and dirt tracks would be disastrous for me. Despite competing in the EuroNASCAR Esports Series 2021 and numerous other races, I’ve gained plenty of experience on road courses but still struggle to find speed on these track types.
We’re all eagerly awaiting what’s to come!
Race Report Michael Heilek #75:
The fifth race of the PWA Oval Series took place at Dover. The Monster Mile is far from being one of my favorite tracks. Practice didn’t go well; I kept meeting the wall and spinning out.
I decided to take a cautious approach to the race and focus on tire management. Unfortunately, on lap 18, I was hit with a meatball flag, requiring 30 seconds of repairs, and made the mistake of using my first of four tire sets too early.
I adjusted my strategy, opting for a longer stint than originally planned. The downside was being lapped as my tires began to give out. Luckily, a caution came shortly after, putting me back on the lead lap. Despite having a full tank and fresh tires, I stuck with my tire-saving strategy, aiming to finish the race without another pit stop.
This approach seemed to work until about 20 laps to go. With two laps down but running in P11, the poor handling forced me into one final pit stop. This stop cost me seven positions, and I was only able to recover two spots by the end of the race.
Final Thoughts:
With the right strategy, a top-10 finish was definitely within reach. As it stands, I’ll have to be content with P16 on a track I don’t enjoy, but the overall trend is improving.
Congratulations to my teammate and son, Max Heilek, for earning a podium finish in P3! Meanwhile, my other teammate, Max Lange, showed incredible strength throughout the race and had a shot at the podium. Unfortunately, a netcode incident resulted in a meatball flag for him near the end.
