Al Hejna Racing / A-Train / Official Web Site

A-Train Wins A-Main in Bolivar

The O'Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series returned to Bolivar Speedway USA on Saturday for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall Classic. The event lived up to its name as Al Hejna and Terry Phillips kept the crowd on their feet with an incredible side-by-side battle for the final 10 laps of the 30-lap contest, with Hejna nipping Phillips by a nose to pick up the victory.

With Phillips on the extreme high side of the racing surface and Hejna on the bottom, "The A-Train" nosed ahead of Phillips to lead lap 22. Over the final eight laps, the pair traded the lead every lap with Phillips gaining an advantage exiting turn 2 while Hejna struck back on the quicker low side of turn 4. Hejna crossing the line first ahead of Phillips to pocket the $2,000 top prize and his second main event victory of the 2006 season.

It was a different story on Sunday. Forced to take a provisional, Al Hejna was stuck in the back at the start of the main event. The A-train tried to stay on the rails to victory by just driving conservatively to save the right rear tire.

The track was taking on rubber early, and the plan was working as drivers were having tire problems. There were a lot of right rear tire failures. By lap 28, Al was running in 7th place when the right rear tire let go on the A-train's ride derailing a chance at another win for the weekend.

Adams County Updates

Hejna Brothers Racing competed in the Hawkeye Clash this past weekend at the Adams County Speedway (Corning, IA) this past weekend. Mike hit both nights, and he grabbed two top fives. Al was pitside Saturday night and was running well until a flat tire.

On Friday night, Mike qualified for the A-Main through his heat race. Rolling out 11th in the 24-car field, Mike was a solid top 5 car all race long. He ran as high as 3rd, but he had to settle for a 5th place finish.

On Saturday, Al joined the crew for a Brothers Hejna attacked on the rest of the USMTS field. Mike had a few problems in his heat race, and he was forced to run a B-Main. After winning his "B", he started 13th for the main event. Al won his heat and redrew the pole for the A-Main.

Mike saved his tires. THe track rubbered down, and he fought his way to a 3rd place finish. Al suffered the same fate as a lot of other drivers that night - a flat tire. Despite trying to save his tires, Al's tire went down on lap 28 while running 2nd. After changing the tire he cahrged back up to a 13th place finish.

"The track was 2 extremes over the weekend," commented Mike Hejna from the shop on Monday, "On Friday it was wet and heavy. Then on Saturday it went from dry to locked down in the feature."

There were a lot of flats," added Al Hejna. "We had a good run going when the tire went down. It's always hard to handle when you are running second, and the tire goes down. That's racing."