What Tire Size?

Concord, NC – May 1, 2009 – USARacing Pro Cup Series driver, Drew Herring, is on top of his game after pulling off a spectacular win in the Sunoco 250 at South Georgia Motorsports Park on April 25. The 21-year-old Benson, NC native captured the Strutmasters.com pole and became the seventh different winner in as many races after leading 137 laps and earning his very first victory in the USARacing Pro Cup Series.

A week has passed but Herring is still riding high on a performance which has boosted him to the top seat in the Pro Cup Series point standings.

“I couldn’t feel any better about that win, it’s awesome,” said the driver of the No. 22s BTS Tire&Wheel Distributors Ford Fusion. “There were several times last year where we were so close, so close, and I felt like we should have had two or three wins. But, of course, it didn’t go that way for us then so this win is redemption for our team. These guys deserved it; they worked hard all weekend.”

Herring is quick to credit crew chief, Mike Hester, for the team’s recent success. “I’ve said it before, there’s nobody that can put a car together like Mike Hester. He’s amazing, he knows everything about them. He brought a perfect car to South Georgia; it was on a rail from the time we unloaded. We did only minor tweaking on it all weekend. It’s rare to have a car that you just unload and its lightning fast like that car was.”

Herring is looking for the momentum of the team’s first Pro Cup win of 2009 to carry them to the next stop on the Series schedule, Langley Speedway in Hampton, VA. on May 23. The Pro Cup Series last competed at the .4-mile Speedway in May, 1998.

“I’m trying to get my mind set back and get ready for the race at Langley,” he said. “We’ve got that coming up so it’s anybody’s game again. We’re going to test there just to run some laps because I’ve never seen the track and Mike’s never seen the track, so it’s going to be pretty interesting. But I know I’ve got the right people behind me to get out there and get the job done so I’m looking forward to it.”

This young superstar is only in his second season of competition with the USAR Pro Cup Series, but he’s hardly a rookie racer. Herring’s career began in 1998 at age ten when his parents purchased a Bandolero car for him to race. “I was invited to run the very first Bandolero race and I finished third,” said Herring. “My parents bought the second Bandolero car they ever sold. I had always been interested in racing, I always watched it on Sunday?speed, that’s just me. So after my first race in the Bandolero car, I was hooked.”

Herring spent the next ten years competing in the Bandolero series, the Allison Legacy ranks, Late Model Stocks, and running for various track championships before competing full time in the USARacing Pro Cup Series in 2008. “I’m very proud of my accomplishments in every series I have run,” he said. “Each was a necessary stepping stone that has provided me with the experience to run competitively in the Pro Cup Series. I love this Series and I enjoy racing with these guys. The competition level challenges your abilities and that’s what racing is all about.”

Herring feels fortunate to have the support from his parents, Mark and Sylvia Herring. “My parents are the best parents in the world,” Herring said. “I absolutely love both of them for all that they’ve done for me; they’ve been there for me since day one. They’re behind me 110% in whatever I want to do and I’m truly blessed to have the family that I have.”

Black’s Tire Service (BTS Tire&Wheel Distributor) provides sponsorship to the No. 22s team. In addition, BTS will be the presenting sponsor for the Pro Cup Series race at Myrtle Beach Speedway on June 20.

“Ricky and Diane Benton and everyone at Black’s Tire Service are just a great group of people,” states Herring. “Every year they host a charity golf tournament a few days before the Myrtle Beach race to benefit the Boys and Girls Homes of NC. This year’s tournament is scheduled for June 19 at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club. I’m real excited to be involved with Mr. Ricky, period. He does so many good things for the community and he’s such a great guy. We are so proud to have their support for our racing program.”

You can catch Drew Herring and the No. 22s BTS Tire&Wheel Distributors team at the next USARacing Pro Cup Series event scheduled for May 23 at Langley Speedway in Hampton, VA. For ticket information, visit www.langley-speedway.com. For additional information on Drew Herring or Black’s Tire Service, visit www.drewherring.net and www.blackstire.com.

Cecil, GA (April 25, 2009) – It was a steaming hot day at the South Georgia Motorsports Park on Saturday for the Sunoco 250, and things continued to heat up on the track as the green flag waved for the second race of the 2009 season. The track crowned its seventh different winner in as many races when polesitter, Drew Herring, took the win after leading 137 laps and earning his very first victory in the USARacing Pro Cup Series.

“This really is a great victory for us,” commented the driver of the No. 22 BTS Tire&Wheel Distributors Ford Fusion. “This win was a long time coming.”

Herring brought the field to the green and dominated the first 137 laps before giving up the lead to come into the pits for fresh tires. Back out on the track and back in the pack, Herring would have to work his way back up through the field. The No. 54s of Clay Rogers, who was leading at the time, hit the wall on the frontstretch on lap 242, handing the lead to Herring with just seven laps to go.

“I really didn’t want to win like that and I’m glad Clay is alright,” said Herring. “I wanted to race him for the win. I just really want to thank everyone for making this happen and for standing behind me.”

The day began with a clean practice session as the track began to get toasty by the time qualifying began. Drew Herring posted the quickest lap time and was awarded the http://www.Strutmasters.com Pole Award.

“We were really fast all day,” Herring said. “I think we would have been disappointed if we didn’t get the pole. Now we just have to go out there and keep our nose clean and bring home a good finish.”

As the start of the race approached, the field lined up in the “Missing Man” formation on the frontstretch for the autograph session before the race in memory of former Pro Cup competitor, Matt Hawkins, who lost his life earlier this year.

“He was a good friend and a good competitor,” commented Derek Kale, driver of the No. 22n Heritage Truck Centers Chevy Impala. “We all have memory decals on the car this weekend. It’s a cool thing to remember him by.”

The green flag waves and with only one caution in the first 54 laps of the Sunoco 250, Herring looked to have the car to beat without much pressure from behind. But once that second caution flag flew, the spins and cautions kept on flying, tightening up the field each time. The No. 06s USG Sheetrock Ford Fusion of Bobby Gill was able to pull up to the back bumper of Herring, but was unable to pull off the pass when another caution came out for the No. 22s who had spun in Turn 2.

Most of the lead lap cars come into pit on lap 133 except the No. 00 of Rookie, Lucas Ransone, and No. 15s of Bill Plemons. Ransone would lead for the next 21 laps before a tire issue put him into the wall in Turn 2. This would allow Plemons to lead the race for nearly 46 laps when Clay Rogers would then take over the lead.

Rogers seemed to be taking off once taking the lead, but the No. 73n of Jeff Agnew had a Victory in mind. It was a heated battle between the two for several laps when Agnew suddenly developed a vibration, causing him to drop back through the field.

Despite the already caution-filled race, there was one more caution to be had and that belonged to the leader of Rogers. Rogers hits the wall hard and brings out a red flag. It also brings Herring back to the lead. Herring makes one last clean restart and is able to hold off the No. 28s of Billy Bigley, Jr. for the win and a champagne celebration in Victory Lane.

Next up for the USARacing Pro Cup Series is Langley Speedway in Hampton, VA on Saturday, May 23rd.