(Photo by Justin Brester)
Inside Line Promotions – ELMA, Wash. (July 6, 2016) – Johnny Herrera had a consistent trip to Washington, where he earned a pair of podium finishes, three top fives and four top 10s during the two weekends with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
“I know we’re one of the guys to beat every night, but we have to get a little better to win races,” he said.
Herrera kicked off the trip on June 24 at Skagit Speedway in Alger, where the Jim Raper Memorial preliminary night began inauspiciously. Herrera advanced from sixth to third place in a heat race, but he endured a mechanical problem that forced the team to swap engines. He was supposed to start on the outside of the front row of a qualifier, but was forced to tag the back of the field because of the engine change.
“We had a little motor issue at Skagit so that put us behind,” he said. “It broke a rocker arm in the heat race. That really put us behind.”
Herrera placed seventh in the qualifier, which relegated him to a B Main. He won that to transfer into the main event. Herrera then charged from 17th to seventh in the feature.
The momentum continued the following night as he powered from sixth to second place in a heat race and from sixth to fourth place in a qualifier. Herrera then maneuvered from seventh to fifth place in the main event, which marked his 15th top five of the season.
Focus shifted to Grays Harbor Raceway for the two-day Fred Brownfield Classic last weekend, which began on Friday with Herrera maneuvering from eighth to third place in a heat race. That locked him into the feature redraw, where he pulled the No. 1 to start the main event on the pole.
“We had a good heat race that got us into the redraw and then we started up there on the front row,” he said. “We weren’t as good with the race car as we needed to be. We just missed a little bit and had to settle for third.”
Herrera led the first four laps before a third-place finish locked him into the feature redraw on Saturday, when he once again pulled the No. 1 during the random redraw to start on the pole.
“We thought we made some changes for the better, but we still weren’t good enough,” he said. “I was tight both nights. Still having a podium finish is something to build on.”
Herrera settled for a third-place result for the second straight night.
He is slated to return to ASCS National Tour competition this Friday and Saturday at Gallatin Speedway in Belgrade, Mont.
QUICK RESULTS –
June 24 – Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. – Heat race: 3 (6); Qualifier: 7 (2); B Main: 1 (2); Feature: 7 (17).
June 25 – Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. – Heat race: 2 (6); Qualifier: 4 (6); Feature: 5 (7).
July 1 – Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash. – Heat race: 3 (8); Feature: 3 (1).
July 2 – Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash. – Feature: 3 (1).
SEASON STATS –
34 races, 2 wins, 17 top fives, 18 top 10s, 20 top 15s, 23 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Gallatin Speedway in Belgrade, Mont., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.JohnnyHerreraRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnnyHerrera2
APPAREL –
Herrera has t-shirts available for sale at his race trailer and at http://www.johnnyherreraracing.com/shopping.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Competition Suspension Inc.
Competition Suspension Inc., which is located in Brownsburg, Ind., has spent many years developing valving combinations to improve the overall performance of race cars. The company has knowledge in many different disciplines of racing. For more information, visit http://www.CSIShocks.com.
“I think I’ve been with CSI since Garrett Andrews started the company,” he said. “They are very knowledgeable and professional and do a great job.”
Herrera would also like to thank Morton Excavating, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Champion Brands, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Ostrich Racing Engines, FK Rod Ends, Hoosier Racing Tire, Schoenfeld Headers, Maxim Chassis, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Simpson Race Products, Outlaw Wings, Weld Wheels, Finish Line Coatings, Semi-Crazy Truck Wash, Smiley’s Racing Products and Heidbreder Foundation Services 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 Jul 06, 2016
- Article Date: 7/6/2016 by Inside Line Promotions