Heitz DQed, Margetta Takes Win

(Jackson, WI) -- One of the most shocking outcomes of an IndySlotCar Series race happened at the Black Track when the winner at the checkered flag, Joe Heitz, was found to be in contravention of the rules during the Jackson 500 final, was disqualified and second place finisher Dan Margetta was elevated to the win. All this after one of the closest finishes to a final among all four participants.

The controversy started when Heitz's #21 Splenda Chevrolet-Daboiler crashed and knocked the springs off the front suspension, the Good Vibes Racing crew went to work on the car, however, while the car was under repair there was a red flag and the mechanics kept feverishly wrenching the car, despite the fact that IndySlotCar Series rule Section VI, Part G states cars can only be worked on during Green flag conditions. The error was only brought to steward's attention after the race distance was complete, leaving disqualification as the only remedy. Heitz will be credited with a fourth place finish. 

Upon learning the victory was being taken away, Heitz didn't deny the mistake and the team admitted there was a lot of confusion while they furiously worked to repair the damaged car. Margetta didn't even believe that he had been give the win, but accepted the trophy in victory lane and proceeded to forget it as the hauler left the paddock.

The night started with rapid speeds on the high banked square oval, Mike Lack took his first Firestone P1 Award of the season, clipping his former FAST teammate Matt Hayek by 24-thousanths of a second over the four total laps. Steve Rist spun during his four lap attempt, but one of his clean laps set a new track record of 1.199 seconds. 

Margetta qualified for the final with an easy run through his heat race over Dean Strom, Matt Hayek and hometown hero Bill Black. John Wiedemann finally returned to a final, for the first time since round one at the Mini Milwaukee Mile, holding off Mike Kristof, the matador looked like he had returned to form on an oval, leading much of the heat. but struggled with handling in the second half, losing the lead and then falling one lap short of the transfer position total laps of Strom.

The third heat saw early excitement when Joe Heitz and Mike Lack battled for the lead, but, unfortunately for the #9 FAST driver, his teammate Steve Rist spun in front of him, with no where to go at the frightening speeds on the Black Track, the PNC Honda-Daboiler struck the disabled Rist car, sending Lack off the track and out of the event, ending the points leader's winning streak at two and missing a final for the first time this season. Heitz easily cruised to the heat win.

The final saw Margetta open an early lead that he held past three-quarter distance, while Heitz ran last in the first quarter of the race, but pulled within two laps, as Margetta hit 375. Meanwhile, Wiedemann and Strom struggled in a battle for third early on, then Strom stopped for tires and from a deep hole, 18 laps behind Margetta at three-quarter distance, found himself just a handful of laps behind the leaders with less than 50 to go, Heitz would take the lead with 30 to go, Strom passed Wiedemann with just 10 laps left for third, all four drivers were within six laps of each other as the checkers dropped.

As Heitz and the GVR team were heading to victory lane, officials of the IndySlotCar Series huddled to let the chief steward know there had been a violation of the pit working rules under red flag. It was quickly decided that the only resolution was disqualification of Heitz as the winner, Margetta elevated to the win, Strom to second and Wiedemann third. 

The series heads to one of the most famous and beloved events on the schedule, the 34th running of the Turkey Trot at the Infield Road Course at South Shore Superspeedway, the winner takes home the Thanksgiving main entrée.

 ##

Our latest race broadcast