NEWSFLASH

Herman’s Last to First Run Negated by Busted Oil Line

6/4/06 Lakeland, FL-   By lap 127 of this past Saturday night’s USAR Hooters ProCup Series race Mike Herman had completed his first goal of the night – to advance 34 positions to lead the Sears Auto Center 250.

The second goal – a solid Top 5 finish – would come up short 20 laps later in the turn 1 wall of the ultra-fast USA International Speedway after a busted oil line would see the #34 Fireside Hearth & Home / Combee Insulation of Lakeland Chevrolet spin in its own oil.

The oil line problem was a continuation of the problems that had plagued the Fireside team throughout the day.  Practice was cut short for the 34 car as the team fought a power steering problem throughout the day that would eventually see them electing to start in the rear so necessary repairs could be performed after qualifying. 

“An oil line was moved to make the repair to the power steering.  Unfortunately in the rush to get the car on the starting grid the oil line was never moved back to its safe spot and a pulley rubbed a hole in it,” said veteran car owner Mike Herman, Sr.  “We had numerous people helping out so there were a lot of hands involved so we’ll accept the mistake as a team and learn so we can move on.”

In typical “Hermanator” fashion Mike Herman, Jr. was making the most of a tough day when he overcame adversity to lead around the midway point in the race.  Using pit strategy to gain track position the lead would last for 6 laps until being passed on lap 133 by Shane Huffman.  Huffman would go on to dominate the next 117 laps to win the Sears Auto Center 250.

After losing the lead the night would still have one more twist – this time at the hands of 3-Time ProCup Series Champion Bobby Gill.  While solidly in second place and still in contention for the win Herman wouldn’t get any slack from the #52 of Kirk Leone who at the time was 2 laps down to the leader.  Leone continued to race Herman side by side which allowed the USG Sheetrock Brand Ford of Gill to close on Herman.  Contact was made by the 06 entering turn one that would result in the 34 going for a spin.  As a result USAR Officials would issue a rough driving penalty to Bobby Gill that would put the 06 at the tail end of the lead lap.

Herman would tell his side of the story after being sidelined, “It was a combination of things with the 06.  The 52 wasn’t cutting me any slack.  I know he had a fast car but there have been plenty of nights that I had trouble and was down laps where I would just let the leaders go even though I had a fast car.  When you’re a lap down and the leader is gone you have no reason to race a front runner.   Then on top of that the 52 was two laps down which made it even worse for him to be racing me like that.  He had nothing to gain because as a driver you have to be realistic.  He knew there was no way he could pass Shane to get a lap back.”

“I’ve been in this Series since 1998 and I guess I have a different philosophy.  I call it respect.  Gill would have to vouch for me on that one because I’ve always given him plenty of room when I was a lap down.  Now I’m not saying that he couldn’t have had a little more patience while I cleared the lap car because he could have but that’s Bobby Gill.  I knew I didn’t have the fastest car because we were playing the short-pit strategy but we had a top-5 car at the least.  When you’re on older tires you hope to fall in line where you can comfortably run.  The quicker guys on fresher tires have to know that is what you’re doing and then they have to show patience.  Instead we got turned around and the 06 had to take a penalty.  Fortunately we didn’t hit anything and it cost him a shot at the win.”

The 06 of Bobby Gill went on to finish in third and the 52 of Kirk Leone went on to finish in thirteenth 2 laps down.

Even though the night didn’t end the way the Fireside Hearth & Home team would have liked the event turned out to be very successful in another facet of racing – the all important world of sponsorship.  The Fireside car also carried the logo of Combee Insulation – a Lakeland area Heatilator distributor.

“Keith Combee of Combee Insulation had a very nice hospitality event where he entertained 80 customers and employees during the event.  Whether it is Heatilator distributor like Combee or a Heat-N-Glo or Quadra-Fire dealer everyone in the Hearth & Home Technologies family is very important to our motorsports marketing program,” said Herman.  “After the warm reception that I received from all the guests of Combee Insulation I’m certainly glad that we were able to put on a show for them coming from last to first.  I know the Fireside Racing Team and the USAR ProCup Series gained a lot of new fans with Combee’s involvement and I’m sure they will be back for our two remaining races in Lakeland.”

Be sure to watch the nationally televised broadcast of the Sears Auto Center 250 on Wednesday June 7^th at 5pm EST on the SPEED Channel and once again on Friday June 9^th at Noon EST. 

Hooters Pro Cup Series Elsewhere on TV

America One: Friday, June 9, 2006 (9 p.m. ET)

Altitude Sports: Saturday, June 10, 2006 (5 p.m. ET)

CL Midwest: Sunday, June 11, 2006 (6 p.m. ET)

CSN West: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 (11 p.m. ET)

Mike Herman, Jr. & Fireside Racing will be back in action on June 10^th and 17^th at the historic Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC before returning with the USAR Hooters ProCup Series on June 24^th at the legendary Myrtle Beach Speedway in Myrtle Beach, SC.

15/5/06  Entrants in the USA Stockcar Challenge braved the cold  weather on May 10th to participate in the chance of a lifetime, and have a ball as well, driving a race trim NASCAR at Calder Park Raceway, Victoria.

Onlookers stopped in their tracks as the mighty V8's fired up and Calder came alive again to the unmistakeable sound of 700Horsepower NASCARS at full throttle. (Word has it they could be clearly heard INSIDE the McDonalds over the road !)

Fortunately the weather held off and the rain stayed away, and entrants had a drivers briefing before taking to the wheel of either the #17 Chevy Monte Carlo or the #73 Calibra. Both cars were out on the track together, and spectators from all walks of motorsport looked on as the NASCARS completed lap after lap with their new drivers. Each entrant was given the opportunity to drive both cars and report back as to how they felt about each vehicle, themselves in the vehicle and on  the track. These cars are 'no holds barred' race-set-up NASCARS and they'll let you know it if you confuse them, however entrants on the day took most things in their stride, and the day finished up at around 4pm. (One entrant who travelled from Echuca, left at 5 am, drove 2 1/2 hours to the track, drove a NASCAR then drove home after chatting with Mat til late, that's dedication and an understanding wife!) We even had a couple of proud dads turn up, making the day a family affair,.

Don't forget, your chance of a lifetime is just a phone call or email away! It's an awesome experience you'll never forget!

Mike Herman, Jr. Peach State Post-Race Report

11/4/06   Have you ever gone to work and the day was so up and down that you felt like you were on a roller coaster ride.

That's the best way to describe Team Fireside Racing's day at work this past Saturday at Peach State Speedway in Jefferson, GA. 

The morning started off gloomy while rain filled the forecast.  By noon the rain had quit which allowed the cars and stars of the USAR ProCup Series to hit the track for practice.  When all was said and done Mike Herman, Jr. was riding high after his Fireside Hearth & Home Chevy posted the 9^th fastest time of the practice session.

The thrill ride would continue but this time the 34 car would take its first dip of the day.  Herman would qualify in the 17^th position.

'We had high hopes of a solid top ten qualifying run but it just wasn't going to happen.  The sun came out and the track temperature shot up which hurt our set-up,' said Herman.  'I just about had to lift to keep from hitting the fence.  It was a white knuckle ride and now that I can look back it should have given us an idea of how the car would handle at the start of the race – which wouldn't be good.'

However, we described the day as a roller coaster ride so at this point it's time to make sure your strapped in your seat! 

When the green flag would wave Herman would steadily work his way up to 12^th place before the coaster would top out and head back down hill.

'It was a really tough race in the beginning.  The sun was blinding going into turn one and not to mention my windshield was covered in oil from a blown motor,' said Herman.  'On top of it all the car went loose on me about 40 laps into the race.  At that point I knew we would have to pit early to work on it.'

Herman would bring the Fireside machine to pit road for 2 right side tires and a chassis adjustment in an attempt to tighten the chassis up.

Now back on track Herman would once again start to pick off the competition.  This time he would climb to the top of the mountain to lead the race on lap 98.

If you thought the roller coaster was nearing the end, think again.  With the sun still out and the abrasive surface at Peach State Speedway chewing up the tires Herman would once again find himself on the down turn fighting a loose condition.

'I knew our left rear tire was shot and I was just hanging on for dear life.  It was one of the most wicked loose feelings I've ever had in the car.  I knew I was in trouble when we went down a lap.  Then I knew things were really going to be bad because I saw the 44 in my rear view mirror which would have put us 2 laps down,' Herman commented.

Luckily a timely caution flag would allow Herman to make his final pit stop of the night.  Crew Chief Ben Warner would call for 4 new BF Goodrich tires which would rocket the roller coaster back up hill.

So at this point it is time to hold your hands up high.  Herman would sail through the field and pass the leader to get back on the lead lap.  Now under the cool of darkness the Fireside car was a totally different animal.  Herman would pick off cars one by one and with the help of a long green flag run he would find himself back in contention to take the lead.

'I knew we could make up some ground with our new tires but I never dreamed that we would pass the leader and come all the way around the track to catch him again,' an amazed Herman stated.  'That's when I really started to believe we had a chance to win the race.'

Before Herman could take the lead another caution would fly which would see the night's contenders head to pit road for fresh tires.  The race was now a battle between old tires and new.  Now in the lead at lap 211 Herman would try to hold off the fast cars on new tires for the next 39 laps.

Swapping the lead for 10 laps with Dange Hanniford in the #22 Herman would regain the lead on lap 229.  The roller coaster ride would continue going up until a late caution would bunch the field up for one final restart.

The cars with fresher tires would line up behind Herman ready to capitalize on the opportunity to take away what once appeared to be certain victory for Herman.

'I knew I was a sitting duck out there.  If the race would have only gone green they would have never caught us.  I wasn't looking back but we had to be about a straightaway out front,' Herman commented.  'When the race went back green my tires were pretty much shot.  The 44 got a run on me off of turn 4.  I wasn't going to lay over and quit but I didn't want to crash either.  The guys have been working on this car too hard lately to crash it.  I tried to block Clay down the front stretch but I knew I was going to get a bump going into turn one.  I did and it got us up out of the groove but luckily we held on for a top 5.  It's disappointing not to win being that we were so close but still, it's a great run for the Fireside team.'

Now that one wild ride is over Team Fireside will turn their attention to another track that has been described as a roller coaster – Concord (NC) Motorsports Park.  With momentum from a good finish under their belts returning to Mike Herman's home track on April 29^th will be a welcomed stop on the grueling USAR ProCup Series schedule.

For additional media stories from the Naturally Fresh Foods 250 at Peach State Speedway please click the following links:

http://www.speed51.com/2006stories/ProCup/south/peachstate_april.html

http://usarprocup.com/view_article.asp?id=1550

Be sure to watch the nationally televised broadcast of the Naturally Fresh 250 on Wednesday April 12^th at 5pm EST on the SPEED Channel and once again on Friday April 14^th at Noon EST.

Fireside Hearth & Home is a division of Hearth & Home Technologies, the world's largest fireplace manufacturer.  They specialize in installing and servicing the fireplace, one of the most desirable options in new homes.  They are the only major installing distributor that also manufactures fireplace systems. Fireside Hearth & Home offers the most recognized and innovative brands in the industry, competitive pricing, professional installation and service for life.

  To learn more about Mike Herman Racing and Fireside Hearth & Home please log onto www.mikeherman.com

Fireside Hearth & Home driver Mike Herman, Jr. battles Clay Rogers (#44) for the win late in the race at Peach State Speedway in Jefferson, GA.

'It took us nearly all summer to move the team from Bakersfield to Huntersville. We sold all of our cars in California and got Billy Hess to build us a Pro Cup car here. The whole process seemed to take forever and I didn't race a lap all summer. I couldn't wait to get to Peach State.'

Mason turned his first-ever competitive laps in a USAR Hooters Pro Cup car in practice at Peach State steadily working his way up the timing and scoring charts. In qualifying, he turned a 19.643-second lap around the half-mile track.

Unfortunately, the effort proved to be a scant .008-seconds short of making the event on time and put the young driver on the trailer for the night as Mason had no provisional starting spots available to him to put him in the race.

'It was an eye-opener,' said Mason. 'We should have seen it coming. We did the same thing the first time we ran a touring car race back in California. We weren't as prepared as we could be and we didn't make the race the first time out. The car wasn't ready and neither was I. We should have known better. Fortunately, things have changed a lot since and we hope to do a lot better when we go back this time.'

To say Mason has been better prepared since then is an understatement as he has qualified for all four USAR Hooters Pro Cup races he's entered. Included in that run is a pair of Top-10 qualifying efforts (Lakeland, South Georgia) this season.

The leader of the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Southern Division Rookie of the Year Award standings heading into this weekend's race, Mason has scored Top-15 finishes in all four of his starts since not making the show in his series debut at Peach State last year.

Most impressively, Mason has been able to complete all but one of the 1,017 laps contested in his four USAR Hooters Pro Cup outings dating back to the final South Division regular season event at Lakeland last season and the first three races of the 2006 South Division campaign.

'We have been real fortunate to finish almost every lap,' said Mason. 'In that respect, we've achieved our goal for every race to complete all the laps. We're new to this series. We want to learn and you can't do that on the back of the wrecker. We're still racing hard, but we're trying to race as smart as we can.'

Mason, who turned 19 years old (March 29) since the last race at Montgomery Motor Speedway, thinks he can put the experience gained since his Peach State debut to good use this time around at the Georgia oval.

'You can't even compare where we are now to last August,' said Mason. 'First, my team is much better organized. Mark Huff and Charlie Stevens have assembled a mix of veteran and young guys who know how to make our car go fast. They've given me a Top-10 car each week. We've done a good job in qualifying and we've raced well and safely. We're leading the rookie points and we're 12th in the championship standings, just 22 points out of 10th place. We're headed in the right direction.'

That's a direction Mason hopes to continue at Peach State.

'I kind of feel like Peach State owes me one,' Mason concluded. 'That track took advantage of me and my team's inexperience last time we were there. It would be great to get our first Top-10 finish there Saturday night. It would be a nice way to take a little something back.'

Mason and his No. 75 Mason Motorsports Ford Taurus will take the green flag at Peach State Speedway this Saturday, April 8, at 7 p.m. The 250-lap USAR Hooters Pro Cup event will be supported by a 50-lap Allison Legacy race.

Peach State Speedway is located east of Atlanta off I-85 at Exit 140. The event will be telecast by The SPEED Channel on a taped-delayed basis on Wednesday, April 12, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.