HERTA HAS WINNER OF A RIDE.

Byline: TIM HADDOCK Motor Sports

For the first time in three years, Valencia's Bryan Herta has a legitimate shot at winning some races.

Herta, a Hart High of Newhall graduate, will be driving for Andretti Green Racing of the Indy Racing League for the remainder of the season. He is replacing injured Dario Franchitti, the team's winningest driver, who is having season-ending surgery on his back, a result of a motorcycle accident this year.

Herta subbed for Franchitti at the IRL race at Texas Motor Speedway on June 7. Franchitti returned for the next IRL race at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado, then decided to have surgery.

Not since he was driving for Bobby Rahal on the CART Champ Car Series has Herta been with a team that has the resources and equipment to give the veteran open-wheel racer a chance to win.

Herta will make his second start of the season for Andretti Green Racing in tonight's SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

``I like these night races; it gives me a chance to sleep in,'' Herta said. ``I have never raced at Richmond and it is only a two-day show, so there is very limited track time.''

Herta will be joining Andretti Green Racing drivers Tony Kanaan, the series points leader, and rookie Dan Wheldon in a three-car team for owners Michael Andretti and Kim Green.

``The team has tested there and Tony found some things, so I think we will be all right,'' Herta said about racing at the three-quarter-mile oval in Richmond. ``I would be more worried if working with the team was completely new, but after working with them in May and at Texas, I know if we can unload a good car off the trailer, we will be fine.''

In addition to racing for Andretti Green at Texas, where he finished fifth in his IRL debut, Herta was the backup driver for Robby Gordon, who drove for the team in the Indianapolis 500.

``Bryan did a great job for us in testing and during the race at Texas,'' Andretti said. ``He fits in well with the team and with Tony and Dan. One of the things that makes our team successful is the relationship and trust each of the drivers have with one another. With one race and a couple of tests under his belt with AGR, Bryan has shown he works well in the environment.''

--Irwindale Speedway: Flat tires have given Greg Pursley headaches all season at Irwindale Speedway. But the NASCAR Super Late Model driver from Canyon Country hasn't let them keep him from surging to the head of the standings.

A flat in last Saturday night's Super Late Model race led to Pursley's 14th-place finish. But he is still in the hunt for the Super Late Model championship, 42 points behind class leader and defending champion Rip Michels of Mission Hills.

The Super Late Model season continues tonight, with Pursley looking to win his fourth race of the season and his third in four races.

``I think we've had a good car. It's been consistent,'' Pursley said. ``We've had a car to be there every race.''

Pursley won two races in a row before his latest setback. He also has two second-place finishes. But a flat tire in the season opener led to a disappointing outing and put Pursley in a hole in points that he has been trying to climb out of ever since.

He has managed to get back in the mix, but the competition is tough in the top class of stock car racing at Irwindale.

``It's real hard,'' Pursley said. ``Probably the top eight guys can win a race any night. You have to be ready to go. We've had the car right and ready to go the last four races.''

Tonight's race is also round six of the Super Late Model Miller Lite Big 10 Challenge, a series of 10 selected races with an added prize-money bonus going to the top drivers at the end of the season.

Pursley leads the Big 10 Challenge with a 28-point edge over Dana Moore of Burbank. In addition, Pursley has a three-race win streak intact. But Pursley doesn't want to talk much about leading the Big 10 Challenge.

``Any points race, you try not to points-race,'' Pursley said. ``I try to come here and win every race. If you can be consistent and race with your head, the points will take care of themselves. I'm going to come here to win races, not points-race.''

Rod Johnson of Canyon Country posted his second top-three finish in as many Super Late Model races, coming in third in last Saturday's action.

In other races at Irwindale Speedway, Guy Tripp of Saugus was 12th and Dave Hessing of Canyon Country was 14th in the NASCAR Late Model race.

Travis Thirkettle of Newhall won the NASCAR Grand American Modified race, his second win of the season and his second Grand Am victory in a row. Johnson, the Grand Am points leader tied with Simi Valley's Andrew Phipps, was third. John Watkinson of Canyon Country was fourth; Dennis Eckert of Canyon Country was eighth; and Roger Carufel Jr. of Saugus was 17th.

Chris Houwen of Canyon Country was 20th in the NASCAR Super Stock race.

Racing continues at 6 p.m. tonight at Irwindale with the USAC Ford Focus Midgets, NASCAR Super Late Models, Ultra Wheel Super Trucks, West Coast Pro Trucks and Legend Cars.

--NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series: Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield will host The Firecracker 150 tonight with a handful of area drivers entered in the race.

Ben Walker of Santa Clarita, a regular in the NASCAR Super Late Model class at Irwindale Speedway, will be driving the No. 16 CBA Motorsports Chevrolet.

In addition, Bob Lyon of Agua Dulce and Frank Deiny Jr. of Mechanicsville, Va., who got his start in auto racing at Saugus Speedway, are expected to race in the Mesa Marin event.

Auggie Vidovich of Lakeside leads the Southwest Series with a 99-point edge over Eric Holmes of Escalon.

The race starts at 9 p.m.

--NASCAR Busch Series: Former Saugus Speedway champion Ron Hornaday Jr. will be making his 99th career NASCAR Busch Series start at The Milwaukee Mile on Sunday.

Hornaday, driver of the No. 2 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing, is fourth in points and has one win this season.

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

Dario Franchitti, center, will have season-ending surgery, and Valencia's Bryan Herta will take over for him in the Indy Racing League.

Robert Scheer/Associated Press

Box:

(1) INDY RACING LEAGUE

(2) IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY STANDINGS