Doug Heveron
Encyclopedia
Doug Heveron is an American race car driver from Liverpool
, New York
. He has driven supermodifieds, modifieds, Indy cars, NASCAR
Winston Cup cars, NASCAR Busch Grand National cars, sprint cars
, late models and midgets
.
Doug Heveron is the son of Gail and Tom Heveron. Tom was an Oswego Speedway
Hall of Famer. In 1969 Heveron began racing at the Syracuse Geddes Mic-Rod Track at the New York State Fairgrounds when he was 8 years old. When he was 13 years old, Heveron started racing quarter midgets. When he was in high school at Liverpool High School, he spent time helping regionally-known racer Jim Shampine at Shampine Auto Parts.
He entered the supermodified ranks in 1978 in one of Shampine's cars known as 8 ball
. Heveron used the car to become the youngest winner at Oswego Speedway
in the Alean 75 lapper. He won the International Supermodified Association (ISMA) Rookie of the Year award that year. Heveron became the dominant driver at Oswego. He won 13 races in 1981, the Oswego International Classic in 1981 and 1982, and track championships both years. Heveron was the champion of the ISMA tour series from 1978 until 1981.
In 1983 he drove in the CART
Championship Car race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
and finished 12th then prepared to qualify for the 1983 Indianapolis 500
. He spun the car into a wall and shattered his ankle. Between 1983 and 1986 he raced in NASCAR's Winston Cup series. He qualified in the only field in Talladega Superspeedway
history in which every car qualified with a speed in excess of 200 miles per hour. He raced in 31 races, with no Top 10 finishes. Heveron is best known for fliping over in turn one at the 1984 Firecracker 400
, which brought out the final caution to set up an exciting finish with Richard Petty
and Cale Yarborough
, Petty beat Cale en route of his 200th win. His best year was 1986, when he finished 36th in points.
After his NASCAR team ran out of money, he returned to modified racing. In 1989 he set a new track record, starting on the pole position
as a rookie in the Little 500, the USAC
sprint car championship. He returned to racing in Oswego in May 1989.
From 1994 until 1997, Heveron returned to the NASCAR, this time racing in the Busch Series
. He found more success in NASCAR's second-tier circuit, with five Top 10 and three Top 5 finishes in 65 starts. His best result was a second place finish at Nazareth Speedway
in 1995.
From 2000 until 2002, Heveron raced in the TBARA Winged Sprint asphalt racing series. He then starting racing for Heckman Motorsports, living in Jensen Beach, Florida
.
Liverpool, New York
Liverpool is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,505 at the 2000 census. The name was adopted from the city of Liverpool in the United Kingdom...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He has driven supermodifieds, modifieds, Indy cars, NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Winston Cup cars, NASCAR Busch Grand National cars, sprint cars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
, late models and midgets
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
.
Doug Heveron is the son of Gail and Tom Heveron. Tom was an Oswego Speedway
Oswego Speedway
The Oswego Speedway is a race track in Oswego, New York. It was built in 1951 and today is an asphalt race track. The track is the Labor Day Weekend home of the 200-lap, non-wing, big-block supermodified Budweiser Classic and Race of Champions...
Hall of Famer. In 1969 Heveron began racing at the Syracuse Geddes Mic-Rod Track at the New York State Fairgrounds when he was 8 years old. When he was 13 years old, Heveron started racing quarter midgets. When he was in high school at Liverpool High School, he spent time helping regionally-known racer Jim Shampine at Shampine Auto Parts.
He entered the supermodified ranks in 1978 in one of Shampine's cars known as 8 ball
8 Ball
8 Ball is the first E.P. by the Burden Brothers. It was released in 2002 on Last Beat Records. The disc was sold in a package along with a t-shirt, shotglass, and stickers on the band's website.-Track listing:-Personnel:...
. Heveron used the car to become the youngest winner at Oswego Speedway
Oswego Speedway
The Oswego Speedway is a race track in Oswego, New York. It was built in 1951 and today is an asphalt race track. The track is the Labor Day Weekend home of the 200-lap, non-wing, big-block supermodified Budweiser Classic and Race of Champions...
in the Alean 75 lapper. He won the International Supermodified Association (ISMA) Rookie of the Year award that year. Heveron became the dominant driver at Oswego. He won 13 races in 1981, the Oswego International Classic in 1981 and 1982, and track championships both years. Heveron was the champion of the ISMA tour series from 1978 until 1981.
In 1983 he drove in the CART
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
Championship Car race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
and finished 12th then prepared to qualify for the 1983 Indianapolis 500
1983 Indianapolis 500
Results of the 1983 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 29, 1983.-Recap:Three-time runner up Tom Sneva is stuck behind the lapped car of Al Unser, Jr., who is helping protect the lead of his father Al Unser despite being shown the blue "move-over" flag...
. He spun the car into a wall and shattered his ankle. Between 1983 and 1986 he raced in NASCAR's Winston Cup series. He qualified in the only field in Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
history in which every car qualified with a speed in excess of 200 miles per hour. He raced in 31 races, with no Top 10 finishes. Heveron is best known for fliping over in turn one at the 1984 Firecracker 400
1984 Firecracker 400
The 1984 Firecracker 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on July 4, 1984 at Daytona International Speedway .-General information:...
, which brought out the final caution to set up an exciting finish with Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
and Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough
William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
, Petty beat Cale en route of his 200th win. His best year was 1986, when he finished 36th in points.
After his NASCAR team ran out of money, he returned to modified racing. In 1989 he set a new track record, starting on the pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
as a rookie in the Little 500, the USAC
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
sprint car championship. He returned to racing in Oswego in May 1989.
From 1994 until 1997, Heveron returned to the NASCAR, this time racing in the Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
. He found more success in NASCAR's second-tier circuit, with five Top 10 and three Top 5 finishes in 65 starts. His best result was a second place finish at Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing track in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania which operated from 1910 to 2004. The track is often associated with local drivers Mario and Michael Andretti. It was associated with Frankie Schneider in its earlier dirt track history....
in 1995.
From 2000 until 2002, Heveron raced in the TBARA Winged Sprint asphalt racing series. He then starting racing for Heckman Motorsports, living in Jensen Beach, Florida
Jensen Beach, Florida
Jensen Beach is a census-designated place in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,100 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Port St...
.