Drew Herring Pilots First of Two Races in No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota

By:
On:
In: Xfinity Series News

his week the No. 54 Monster Energy seat will see a new driver when 26-year-old Drew Herring tackles the first of two-scheduled races, both 2013 Iowa events, in the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) winning Camry. Herring, a familiar face at JGR, along with the six-time 2013 winners look forward to week 12 running the DuPont Pioneer 250 at Iowa Speedway in Newton. Despite the team’s fifth-place finish last week at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, the Joe Gibbs Racing group and owner J.D. Gibbs maintained first place in the series’ Owner’s Championship points. This week they look to extend that lead with the help of Herring, who while young, has good statistics as a driver in Iowa.

In 2010 Benson, N.C. native Herring began his NASCAR Nationwide Series career at Baker Curb Racing with his debut race at Iowa Speedway. He accomplished a 15th-place finish in that inaugural series run and then continued the year with two top-20 finishes in four series starts.

The next year Herring connected with Joe Gibbs Racing and finished 12th or better in all four of his Nationwide Series starts. In the spring 2011 race, Herring started from the pole position, since the No. 20 team was leading the Owner’s Point Standings at the time, and qualifying was rained out. He led 39 laps that event and finished 12th. Overall in 2011, Herring improved his statistics by achieving two top-10 finishes in four starts and completing all 929 event laps.

2012 brought continued growth for Herring when he made his first start in the No. 18 JGR entry at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, where he qualified fourth, led two laps and brought home a fourth-place finish. This was also the year when Herring made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut with Kyle Busch Motorsports, back at Iowa Speedway for the fall race. His first foray into truck racing accomplished a 17th-place start, 19 laps led and a seventh-place finish.

In addition to filling test session duties for both Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports now, Herring is also a shop employee within JGR, where he works the CNC machine making internal parts for the race team and learning more about each team member’s role. His goal has been to make himself available for any driving opportunities and this year he’ll compete in three Nationwide Series events with the high-performing JGR Nationwide shop.

Since the Series’ inaugural Iowa race in 2009, JGR’s Nationwide Series program has conducted 16 starts, one win, three top-five finishes, nine top-10 finishes and one pole across seven different drivers. Those drivers have led a combined 404 laps at the .875-mile track and completed 3,982 of 4,000 (99.6%) event circuits. If Herring has his way, more race laps led will be had, adding to the team’s stat box and Herring hopes he’s just the man to do it.

KBM PR

Speedway Digest Staff
Follow Me
Latest posts by Speedway Digest Staff (see all)
Post Views: 55