(Photo by Seth Lacewell)
Inside Line Promotions – BELLEVILLE, Kan. (June 4, 2015) – Johnny Herrera has once again kicked off a season on the right foot.
Herrera has earned two feature victories, seven podiums and nine top-five finishes in his first 16 races, including a win and two runner-up results during the past two weeks.
“We’ve started off strong and consistent,” he said. “That’s kind of my thing. I might not win the most races, but I try to be consistent. We pride ourselves with not falling out of races.”
Herrera scored his second win of the season on May 22 during an ASCS Red River Region event at Timberline Speedway in Corley, Texas, where he charged from fourth to win a heat race and earn a spot into the feature redraw. He then pulled the No. 2 to line up on the outside of the front row for the main event.
“It always helps starting on the front row, but we had a good car,” he said. “Seth (Bergman) raced me as hard as he ever has trying to get by me. He slid me one time and jumped over the cushion and I got back by him. He made several challenges. I think we were about equal. Track position means a lot. Fortunately for us we got a good draw and got to the front right away.”
Herrera piloted a sprint car for Shawn Petersen the ensuing night with the USCS at Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram, Miss.
“We had a decent heat race,” said Herrera, who advanced from fifth to second place to garner the pole position for the main event.
“In the feature we took off and (Tim) Crawley had the lead off the bat. I thought about running the top the whole race. He went by me on the bottom and so I went down there. I got by Tim a few laps after a restart and led a lot of the race. Toward the end I got a lot of pressure from (Derek) Hagar. He was probably better than me on the restarts until I could get up to speed. Once we got rolling we could get away from him. Unfortunately coming off turn four with about two laps remaining the car sputtered because we were out of fuel. That got me into the wall and Hagar went on by.”
Herrera held on for a second-place result after leading 15 laps.
Last weekend kicked off on Saturday at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb., for the Hinchman Racewear Eagle Nationals – a marquee Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour event.
Herrera advanced from third to second place in a heat race, which put him only one spot out of a position in the feature redraw based on points. It lined him up on the inside of the fifth row for the main event on the choppy track.
“I just seem to run second there,” he joked. “We had a good car. I felt we could get there and contend for the win. Seth got to the lead first and by the time I got to second I couldn’t make any ground on him. He kept about a straightway distance pretty much the whole time.”
Herrera finished second for the fourth time during the last five Eagle Nationals.
The weekend concluded on Sunday at Belleville High Banks, which hosted its inaugural Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour event.
“We fought motor problems all night,” he said. “I did draw bad and would have liked to get another spot or two in the heat race, but there wasn’t a whole lot of passing.”
Herrera maneuvered from seventh to sixth place in a heat race and from third to second in the B Main. He then rallied from 18th to place ninth during the main event.
Herrera, who ranks second in the championship standings, is scheduled to return to Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour competition this Saturday at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla., where he placed second last year with the series.
QUICK RESULTS –
May 22 – Timberline Speedway in Corley, Texas – Heat race: 1 (4); Feature: 1 (2).
May 23 – Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram, Miss. – Heat race: 2 (5); Feature: 2 (1).
May 30 – Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb. – Heat race: 2 (3); Feature: 2 (9).
May 31 – Belleville High Banks in Belleville, Kan. – Heat race: 6 (7); B Main: 2 (3); Feature: 9 (18).
SEASON STATS –
16 races, 2 wins, 9 top fives, 13 top 10s, 15 top 15s, 15 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.JohnnyHerreraRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnnyHerrera2
LIVE COVERAGE –
To keep up to speed with Herrera at every Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour event, visit http://www.RacinBoys.com for free, live audio. Additionally, RacinBoys will provide live Pay-Per-View video at select races.
APPAREL –
Herrera has t-shirts available for sale at http://www.johnnyherreraracing.com/shopping.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Mesilla Valley Transportation
Mesilla Valley Transportation is one of the largest transportation providers in Western Texas and New Mexico. The company specializes in time-sensitive service between major manufacturing areas in the United States and Canada and the borders of Mexico. For more information, visit http://www.M-V-T.com.
“Royal Jones (who owns Mesilla Valley Transportation) has been a big supporter of mine for many years,” Herrera said. “He’s a great person and Mesilla Valley Transportation is a great company. Royal has been a huge supporter of not only me, but of a lot of racers. He’s a genuinely wonderful guy.”
Herrera would also like to thank ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Champion Racing, Print Place, Competition Suspension Inc., FK Rod Ends, Hoosier Racing Tire, Schoenfeld Headers, Maxim Chassis, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Simpson Race Products, Outlaw Wings, Bevins, Weld Wheels and Finish Line Coatings for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Jun 04, 2015
- Article Date: 6/4/2015 by Inside Line Promotions