NASCAR AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY A FEW GROWING PAINS HERTA FINISHES FIFTH IN DEBUT.Byline: Tim Haddock Staff Writer FONTANA - Mistakes are expected from NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. rookies, especially those driving on the Winston West Series. Valencia's Bryan Herta Bryan Herta (b. May 23 1970, Warren, Michigan) is an American race car driver. He currently drives for Andretti Green Racing, which is co-owned by former CART and IRL driver Michael Andretti, in the ALMS, although his career has primarily been spent in open-wheel cars , who was making his NASCAR debut Saturday in the Winston West Pontiac Wide Track Grand Prix Grand Prix n. pl. Grand Prix Any of several competitive international road races for sports cars of specific engine size over an exacting, usually risky course. 200 at California Speedway The California Speedway is a two-mile, low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California, similar to that of "sister track" Michigan International Speedway. It is located approximately 40 miles east of Los Angeles on the site of the former Kaiser Steel mill. , said he made more than his share in practice sessions, qualifying and during the race. One of them came immediately after finishing fifth, when he drove his No. 12 Bill McAnally Racing Chevy to his team's hauler in the garage instead of to the inspection center. It was hardly enough to dampen his spirits, though. ``This was about trying it out and seeing how much I enjoy it,'' said Herta, a Hart High graduate. ``I made every mistake you can make this week. I was a real fish out of water. I was black-flagged two times (in practice) when I came out of pit road because I didn't get my tires checked. I thought they did that in the pit stalls.'' A veteran of the open-wheel CART Champ Car “CART” redirects here. For other uses, see CART (disambiguation). Champ Car, an abbreviation of "Championship Car", has been the name for a class and specification of cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades. Series and the sports car American Le Mans Series The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. , Herta is no stranger to auto racing. The 32- year-old driver won two races while driving on the CART Champ Car Series and will be competing later this year in his second 24 Hours of Le Mans. He also has been in four races in the Champ Car series at California Speedway. But this was his first time finishing in the top five at the two- mile, D-shaped oval. ``That was so much fun, unbelievable,'' Herta said. ``Everything was so new. We had a great time here. We are really happy with how we did. This was my first stock-car race ever. The car was running great. We ran with the fast cars at the end. You can't ask for much more than that.'' Steve Portenga of Sparks, Nev., driver of the No. 77 King Taco Ford, won the race, making a pass for the lead against NASCAR Winston Cup driver Ken Schrader on lap 92 of the 100-lap event. ``There is a lot of give and take out there,'' said Portenga, who also took over the points lead in the series. Herta started the race 16th but quickly moved up the field. He broke into the top 10 after the first pits stops on lap 35 and climbed as high as sixth on lap 60. Rookie Scott Lynch spun in turn two on lap 88 and brought out the third caution flag of the race. The rest of the cars pitted again, with Herta coming out in fifth. He held his position for the last 10 laps of the race. ``It was fun because we were in the hunt and you don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what to expect,'' Herta said. ``I needed a 200-lap race. I wasn't done learning enough yet.'' Frank Deiny Jr., who won his first race at Saugus Speedway in an MSRA MSRA Microsoft Research Asia MsrA Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase MSRA Microsoft Security Response Alliance MSRA Minnesota Street Rod Association MSRA Manitoba Street Rod Association MSRA Mississippi Restaurant Association MSRA Maryland State Retirement Agency Pro 4 Modified race, finished ninth. CAPTION(S): box Box: TOP 10 |
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