(Image Credit: Kenny Shaw)
Bryan Hulbert – WHEATLAND, Mo. (September 26, 2018) A season of work and setbacks finally paid off for Johnny Herrera and his Mesilla Valley Transportation No. 45x, as the wily veteran snapped an 80-race winless streak at Lucas Oil Speedway; winning the Friday preliminary A-Feature during the 8th annual Hockett/McMillin Memorial.
“We needed that. I knew I hadn’t forgotten how to drive a Sprint Car, we just needed to keep working at it and we finally got the balance back in the car that we’d been missing,” commented Herrera, whose last win came on October 14, 2016, at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
Starting the weekend with a charging run from 19th to tenth on Thursday night, Herrera was very happy with his Morton Excavating sponsored machine considering the track had taken rubber.
“I feel like we could have been even better. If the track hadn’t laid rubber, we definitely could have gotten more, but we just took that and built on it for Friday.”
Gridding the field third on Friday, Herrera initially dropped back on the start before jumping top-side and working back to the front. The fourth different leader of the 25-lap affair, Herrera took the lead on Lap 19 from Colorado’s Jake Bubak.
“The car was just getting better and better. At one point, I got a little tight, so I just rolled the wing forward a little bit and it took off so the car was just about perfect. With the format and the way we drew, it just worked out. I think Thursday we drew 54 and Friday we drew 53, and just past a few more cars early to set us up in the feature.”
Locking into Saturday’s A-Feature, Johnny ended his weekend with an eighth-place finish.
“We were good, just missed it a little bit. I had the car where we had it on Friday night thinking the track was going to go away, and it didn’t so, just too tight, but overall, we had a good weekend. I owe a big thank you to everyone who supports this team. It’s been a long year, so this win was for them.”
Taking the weekend, Herrera will return to competition at the COMP Cams Short Track Nationals at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. on October 5 and 6.
The 2018 season marks the 34th year of racing for Johnny Herrera which includes over 140 victories in various forms of Sprint Car competition. For more information, and to keep in touch with the man called “Hollywood”, log onto to http://www.johnnyherreraracing.com.
2018 Season To Date:
Races: 41; Wins: 1; Top 5’s: 9; Top 10’s: 24; Top 15’s: 33; Top 20’s: 40
Coming Up:
October 5 and 6 at I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, Ark.) for the COMP Cams Short Track Nationals
Johnny Herrera Racing Online:
Website: http://www.JohnnyHerreraRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnnyHerrera2
Apparel:
Online soon at http://www.johnnyherreraracing.com/shopping and in the Pits at the team’s trailer.
Sponsor Highlight: Champion Brands:
Champion Brands understands the complexities of doing business in today’s market and is always looking for new and better ways to make your company more efficient and increase your bottom line. Quality products are more than a commitment at Champion; our high standards define the way we do business.
Johnny 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, CSR Garage, Heidbreder Foundation Services and Rocket Designs for their continued support.