HART HIGH GRAD REVVING UP FOR NASCAR DEBUT.

Byline: Tim Haddock Staff Writer

FONTANA - Bryan Herta has spent his entire auto racing career in open- wheel and sports cars. He has raced in the Indianapolis 500, Long Beach Grand Prix and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He even tested a Formula One car for Team Minardi last year in an attempt to move up to the highest level of open-wheel racing in the world.

But he never had an interest in stock car racing.

That all changed two weeks ago.

Herta, a Hart High of Newhall graduate and Valencia resident, will be making his NASCAR debut in today's Winston West race at California Speedway in Fontana. He will be driving the No. 12 Chevy Monte Carlo for Bill McAnally Racing in the Pontiac Grand Prix Wide Track 200, the third race of the Winston West season.

``I've only had 10 laps out there total,'' Herta said Thursday. ``It's still new to me. But I knew the track. I knew where to be and what line to take. I didn't have to take time to learn that.''

Herta qualified 16th on Friday and will start on the outside of row eight for the race. He turned his fastest lap at 166.532 mph. Johnny Borneman won the pole with a lap at 173.544 mph.

While Herta is a newcomer to NASCAR, California Speedway, a 2-mile D-shaped oval, is old hat. He has raced there four times as a driver on the Championship Auto Racing Teams series.

But this was his first time turning laps at California Speedway in a stock car.

Herta couldn't have found a better team to make his debut. Bill McAnally Racing has won Winston West championships with Saugus High graduate Sean Woodside and Brendan Gaughan as drivers. Current BMR driver Jim Inglebright is the Winston West Series points leader.

Herta will be driving one of three cars BMR will have in the race. Eric Norris, the defending Winston West Series champion, will also be driving for McAnally.

Norris, son of actor Chuck Norris, will be substituting for Austin Cameron, who was recently diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma cancer. He began treatments Wednesday at Grossmont Cancer Center. Cameron, a 26-year-old driver from El Cajon who was the runner-up in the Winston West Series last season, was advised by his doctor not to race this weekend.

``It's got everybody reeling right now,'' Herta said. ``It's something you just don't ever expect. I know Austin is very well-liked by everyone on the team.''

Herta's first laps in a stock car came in Cameron's Chevy at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last week. His 10-lap test was enough to convince McAnally that Herta was ready to race one of his cars.

``BMR is happy to prepare a car for Bryan and looks forward to running with three cars out front,'' McAnally said. ``I think it brings a lot to the series to have a driver of that caliber to be a part of this NASCAR Winston West Series event.''

Despite growing up with Saugus Speedway, a third-mile NASCAR track in his hometown, Herta opted to race open-wheel machines and worked his way through the Barber Saab Pro and Indy Lights series. He worked his way to the CART Champ Car series, where he won two races, both at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey.

His last year racing on the CART series was 2001. Last season he raced for Panoz Motor Sports on the American Le Mans Series.

With no commitments to any team or series this year, Herta was open to offers to race anywhere. He competed in the American Le Mans Series season opener at Sebring International Raceway in Florida. He has also committed to racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June for Team Nasamax, the same team with which he raced at Sebring.

When McAnally offered him a chance to start a career in NASCAR, Herta embraced the opportunity. But it took more than an impressive test to get in the driver's seat.

A pair of retired NASCAR short track veterans came to Herta's aid in the form of sponsorship dollars. Canyon Country's Jerry Cain, a former Winston West Series driver, and Valencia's Marty Stowell, who raced on the Southwest Series and in late models at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, offered to finance part of Herta's ride in the race. His car will have their businesses logos, Central Bank Card and Aqua Dream Pools, on it.

``Jerry and Marty are the real impetus for making this happen for me,'' Herta said. ``I can't wait to race with some of these guys. I think it's going to be an enjoyable experience.''

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Photo:

(color) Bryan Herta sits in his No. 12 Chevy Monte Carlo while crew members Tim Smith and Brian Kennon change a tire before Herta's 16th-place qualifier.

Will Lester/Staff Photographer

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