Pro Cup driver Drew Herring to make Nationwide Series debut at Iowa for Baker Curb Racing
Drew Herring, who at 23 years old is coming off a third-place finish in the USAR Pro Cup Series last year, will make his Nationwide Series debut this weekend in the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway.
Herring will drive the No. 27 Baker Curb Racing car, which had been driven primarily by Greg Biffle earlier in the season and is 10th in the owner standings. The organization had its best finish of the 2009 season at Iowa when Jason Keller finished sixth.
“I’ve been racing since I was 9 or 10 years old and this has been my dream to be part of a great team like this and a good group of guys – they’re a top-10 Nationwide car,” Herring said. “This is one of those deals where it could be a make-or-break deal for me.
“I’m just looking forward to getting there and having that good run I know we’re capable of doing.”
Whether this leads to more races for Herring remains to be seen.
“I’m not sure right now,” Herring said when asked about how many races he could run with the organization. “We’re going to this one race and [we’re] focusing on this. … I’ve been struggling for the past four or five years to get an opportunity like this.
“Now I finally do, and I’m going to do everything I can within my power to show I deserve to be up there. I know with the group of guys I have behind me, there shouldn’t be any problem for us to go out there and have a really solid day.”
A native of Benson, N.C., Herring began racing in the Bandolero Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the age of 10. He is a junior at N.C. State University where he is studying mechanical engineering.
Herring does have some experience at Iowa. Last year in the Pro Cup race, he won the pole, led 128 of 200 laps and finished second.
“It’s been a good track for me and a good track for them,” Herring said. “I couldn’t be more excited about this weekend. I know we have a chance to go out there and really run well. I’m ready to get strapped in and go to work.”
