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(Photo by Justin Brester)

Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 11, 2016) – The first two weeks of 2016 were used as a test session for Johnny Herrera, who opened the year at the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown at Cocopah Speedway.

“We don’t get to race many 410ci races these days so it was important for us to learn as much as we could,” he said. “The results aren’t what we wanted, but our top goal was accomplished by learning more about our car and the setup adjustments that work and don’t work.”

Herrera kicked off the marquee 410ci winged sprint car event on Jan. 1 by placing seventh in a heat race and sixth in a qualifier. He then ended 12th in a B Main.

The team returned to the 3/8-mile oval the ensuing night and nearly duplicated the opening night results. Herrera ended sixth in a heat race, seventh in a qualifier and eighth in a B Main.

“I saw progress from Night 1 to Night 2,” he said. “Unfortunately, we started in the third row or further back in every race the first two nights so that makes it really tough. These cars are so even that you have to be better than the car in front or catch a break with them making a mistake.”

The trend of starting near the back of the pack continued last Wednesday as Herrera ended eighth in both a heat race and a qualifier and ninth in a B Main.

However, Herrera finally drew a good number to open last Friday’s race, which he began by starting on the outside of the front row for a heat race. Bad luck reappeared in the opening laps as Herrera was involved in a crash in turns three and four while running second. That ended his night and the weekend early.

“The draw is always important in racing and it’s unfortunate that the one night we drew well we were involved in a crash, but that’s part of racing,” he said. “We’ll take what we learned from getting a lot of laps this early in the season and we’ll apply it to future races.

“I also want to thank Heidbreder Foundation Services, MVT, Champion Brands and all of our partners for their support. I’m excited to get this season rolling and hopefully get to Victory Lane soon.”

Herrera shifts his focus to this week’s 30th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire at Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. Herrera, who will drive for Speedquip Motorsports at the premier midget event, is set for preliminary action on Wednesday before Saturday’s finale.

“The Chili Bowl is a unique event with drivers from all ranges of racing coming together inside one building for a week of competition,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we will have a little better luck than at the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown.”

QUICK RESULTS –

Jan. 1 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 7 (7); Qualifier: 6 (7); B Main: 12 (7).

Jan. 2 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 6 (5); Qualifier: 7 (7); B Main: 8 (11).

Jan. 6 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 8 (5); Qualifier: 8 (8); B Main: 9 (12).

Jan. 8 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: DNF (2); Qualifier: DNS (9); B Main: DNS (-).

SEASON STATS –

4 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 0 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Wednesday and Saturday at Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla., for the 30th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire

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 Mesilla Valley Transportation, Champion Brands, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, 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.