Herrera tops Gulf South crowd in Beaumont

Johnny Herrera earned his first victory of the 2013 season in ASCS competition on Friday, May 3 with the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas. (ASCS / Ron Skinner Photo)
Johnny Herrera earned his first victory of the 2013 season in ASCS competition on Friday, May 3 with the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas. (ASCS / Ron Skinner Photo)
Johnny Herrera earned his first victory of the 2013 season in ASCS competition on Friday, May 3 with the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas. (ASCS / Ron Skinner Photo)

From Bryan Hulbert

Beaumont, TX — (May 3, 2013) — The Golden Triangle Raceway Park was the site of the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region on Friday, May 3 and a breakthrough moment for Johnny Herrera as the man called “Hollywood” survived several harrowing starts to claim his first victory of 2013 in ASCS competition.

Calling back the initial start as the No. 52 of Roger Oakes ended his night upside down; the second attempt would end with another red flag as pole sitter Tommy Bryant went upside down. The third attempt yielded no charm as Brandi Jass punted an infield tire onto the track, ending the night of the No. 24 with a broken wheel.

It wasn’t until the fourth attempt that the green lights stayed on around the Golden Triangle Raceway Park as Herrera, who was slated to start fourth, found himself on the front row. In prime position, the Albuquerque native bolted into the race lead, keeping pace over the No. 87 of Aaron Retuzel who chased the Print Place No. 45x across the stripe. Ray Allen Kulhanek came from sixth to the final podium step.

Winning the B-Feature, Logan Forler dashed from fifteenth to fourth with Tony Bruce, Jr. completing the top five from twelfth. The top ten rounded out with Wes Miller, J.J. Simmons, Beau Smith, Channin Tankersley, and Josh Baughman.

The Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region heads to the Battleground Speedway on Saturday, May 4.

Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region
Golden Triangle Raceway Park – Beaumont, Texas
Friday, May 3, 2013

Car Count: 27

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 45X-Johnny Herrera; 2. 4X-Shawn Petersen; 3. 71-Channin Tankersley; 4. 18-Tony Bruce Jr; 5. 2L-Logan Forler; 6. 31-Brandon Berryman; 7. 28H-Mark Harris; 8. B51-Johnny Brown; 9. 24-Brandie Jass

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel; 2. 2-Wes Miller; 3. 17X-Josh Baughman; 4. 66-J.J. Simmons; 5. 28-Tommy Bryant; 6. 19-Klint Angelette; 7. 88-Scottie McDonald; 8. 17-Blake Hahn; DNF 15T-Travis Elliott

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek; 2. 51-Beau Smith; 3. 21-Kyle Sager; 4. 17T-Bruce Griffith Jr; 5. 52-Roger Oakes; 6. 7W-Dustin Welch; 7. 02-Harry Yerrington; 8. 92-Tony Russell; DNF 69-Larry Howery

B Feature (12 Laps): 1. 2L-Logan Forler; 2. 31-Brandon Berryman; 3. 88-Scottie McDonald; 4. 18-Tony Bruce Jr; 5. 17-Blake Hahn; 6. 24-Brandie Jass; 7. 15T-Travis Elliott; 8. 69-Larry Howery; 9. 28H-Mark Harris; 10. B51-Johnny Brown; 11. 02-Harry Yerrington; DNF 7W-Dustin Welch; DNS 92-Tony Russell

A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 45X-Johnny Herrera; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel; 3. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek; 4. 2L-Logan Forler; 5. 18-Tony Bruce Jr; 6. 2-Wes Miller; 7. 66-J.J. Simmons; 8. 51-Beau Smith; 9. 71-Channin Tankersley; 10. 17X-Josh Baughman; 11. 28-Tommy Bryant; 12. 17-Blake Hahn; 13. 19-Klint Angelette; 14. 4X-Shawn Petersen; 15. 17T-Bruce Griffith Jr; DNF 31-Brandon Berryman; DNF 24-Brandie Jass; DNF 88-Scottie McDonald; DNF 21-Kyle Sager; DNF 52-Roger Oakes

Lap Leader(s): Johnny Herrera (1-30)