(Image Credit: Casey Cochran)
Bryan Hulbert – SAPULPA, Okla. (October 31, 2018) Johnny Herrera capped his 2018 season with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by Sawblade.com this past weekend at the John Christner Trucking Fall Fling with the wily veteran having to dig out of a hole caused by a crash in Qualifier competition.
“It was just racing. Someone was spinning out and I was trying to miss him, and that left the No. 79 with nowhere to go and he hit me. When that happened, it knocked the front end of my car down and ended up the push truck in the infield was what stopped me and that did more damage than getting hit trying to avoid the car that was spinning.”
Mired deep in a B-Feature, Johnny ended up having to take a provisional after coming up one spot shy of the transfer. Starting 24th, the Outlaw Wings No. 45x advanced to the 12th position.
“We just weren’t quite good enough in the B-Main, so we made some big changes for the A-Feature and the car was the best it had been all night. Getting to 12th, as good as the car was, had we had a better run getting there and started further forward, I think we would have had a solid top-five car.”
Ending the season fifth in overall standings, the 2018 season marks the eighth year that the No. 45x has chased the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series and the seventh time that Johnny has placed in the top five.
“We had an okay season. It wasn’t what we wanted, you know, we all want to be in contention for the Championship and we have been; we’ve just struggled the past two seasons a little bit, but overall we didn’t have a bad year,” explained Herrera of the 2018 season.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and I’m very grateful to still be able to. Thank you especially to my wife, Ann and my entire family. Thank you to my sponsors. Mesilla Valley Transportation, Morton Excavating, Champion Brands, Outlaw Wings, Maxim, CSR Garage, Ostrich, just everyone who helps keep this thing going. We’re working on next year already and seeing what we can do at the Chili Bowl as well.”
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: 44; Wins: 1; Top 5’s: 9; Top 10’s: 24; Top 15’s: 35; Top 20’s: 42
Coming Up:
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals – January 14-19, 2019
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.