HORNETS ARE A' BUZZ'N AT DCS

While many 14-year-olds spend their summer break riding bikes or skate boards or maybe spending endless hours playing video games, Benjr Herbert has been busy trying to win a championship... as a race car driver.

Herbert, the youngest rookie competing in the Hornet class, raced his 1988 Toyota Corolla to victory Saturday night at the Douglas County Speedway. The soon-to-be Oakland High freshman staved off David Lyons, a six-time main event winner this season, in a wild, last lap to the checkered flag.

Benjamin R. Herbert, the fourth in the family tree, was focused on protecting the bottom of the track and force Lyons to pass him on the outside. When the lead pack came into slower traffic, Herbert and father Benjamin D. Herbert both dove low into the final turn as Larry Ding lost control of his car and drove Lyons into the upper retaining wall. The collision allowed a one-two-finish for the son and father and sent Lyons reeling back to sixth.

“That was the best finish that could have happened,” Benjr said. “I was watching David ( Lyons ) in my mirrors and knew he was going to make a run at me. When I came around to the finish line, I didn’t know what to think. I was so excited.”

Ben ‘Jammin’ Herbert said he had the perfect view of the final circuit.

“I could tell something was going to happen. I was running fourth and when we came up to the slower cars in Turn 3, Benjr and I both hit the bottom line. The guys got tangled up on the high side and Benjr and I came through unscathed. We took the right line at the right time.”

After 10 of 13 race dates, Benjr leads Lyons in the points race for the season championship by a narrow 10-point margin. The season champ is supposed to move up in class the following year, but the rules don’t account for a driver who just turned 14 during opening month.

“He’s progressed so fast in his first year,” Jammin said. “We’ve kept it a secret, but we’re definitely exploring Street Stock or Mini Stock options for next season.”

With the prospects of his son advancing in car classes, Jammin, who won the 2004 J-Car points championship, knows his time behind the wheel could be dwindling. “It (driving) will be a lot less or non existent,” he said.

Following the Herberts to the checkered was another son and father. James and Dave Jobe finished third and fourth respectively. There were a season-high 17 cars that took the green flag in the 20-lap main.

Jeff Solberg was the Hornet fast qualifier. Rodney Rasmussen, Jammin Herbert and Dave Jobe all won heat races. Lyons captured the trophy dash. The soft spoken Benjr is not shy in confidence.

“I’m real comfortable in the Hornet, but I’m ready to move up,” he said. “I want more power and I want to go faster.”

In the Street Stock 40-lap main, Roseburg ’s Dan Fouts was first to the finish line, but was penalized two spots after the race by track officials. Following a caution on Lap 36, Fouts trailed Gary Perry and passed the Winston racer between the start line beyond Turn 4 and the front stretch finish line. Perry was awarded the win, Rick Jump, Grants Pass , was second and Fouts placed third.

The finish spoiled a complete sweep for Fouts, who earlier was the fast qualifier and won the dash and fast heat race.

The top three trophies from the Mini Stock main were all won by out-of-town drivers. Grants Pass ’ Dave Wilson won the race, followed by Jason Gotz, Damascus , and Jason Sanders, Boise , Idaho , respectively.

Dennis Minter won the Old Time Racers of Oregon main event.

Racing resumes Saturday at the ASA Sanctioned Douglas County Speedway featuring the inaugural Eve of Destruction and fireworks. The J-Car Trailer Race of Destruction will highlight the race card along with the Hornet Gauntlet Race, the Steel wall Crash, the ASA Late model 35 and the Outlaw Compact/Mini 100.

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